South Korea has been a popular travel destination, especially for K-Pop (annyeong BTS ARMY!) and K-Drama fans. If you're considering visiting soon, how about experiencing this beautiful country in the winter? You'll get to escape the heat, get away from the city, immerse in nature and enjoy the many winter festivities! While you’re there, here are 7 winter experiences for you in South Korea that you can’t get anywhere else!
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1. Fun Ski Event @ Yongpyong Resort
Credit: @whiteskykorea on Instagram
It’s an unspoken rule among adventurous travellers to go skiing when you’re visiting a country during the winter season! You can join in the fun at the Fun Ski Event by Yongpyong Resort nestled at the foot of Balwangsan Mountain where many visit to experience snow. 😊 This area gets heavy snowfall each year and has a place in the local’s hearts for being South Korea’s very first ski resort which opened in 1975.
Credit: Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organisation
During winter, Yongpyong Resort has free skiing programmes and competitions (for ski and boards)! Afterwards you can attend an awards ceremony for winners of the competitions, watch spectacular performances and much more! 😄 Make sure you attend the winter festival and traditional marketplace afterwards to get the optimal winter experience.
Fun Ski Event @ Yongpyong Resort
Address: 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Distance from Seoul: about 2.5 hours by car
Check out these travel agents:
Chan Brothers Travel | CTC Travel
2. Gogo Ski @ High1 Resort
Credit: Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organisation
Want a skiing experience that’s similar to the ones you’ve seen in the movies? The Gogo Ski event happening at High1 Ski Resort lets you immerse yourself in the full skiing experience! Hop onto one of their 3 ski lifts which will take you up to the slopes. Not to mention, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a few pictures of yourself going up on the lift to keep as a fun and IG-worthy memory! 😍 From above, you’ll be able to see other resort go-ers zipping down the slope too which is super entertaining to watch.
Credit: Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organisation
If you’re an amateur at skiing, don't worry! The Gogo Ski event has several types of slopes for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced skiers, making it an enjoyable environment for the whole family. 😄 If you're trying to travel more sustainably, you'll want to stay at the High1 Ski Resort as it has been crowned crowned the most environmentally-friendly resort in the country!
Gogo Ski @ High1 Resort
Address: 265-1 High1-gil, 고한읍 Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Distance from Seoul: about 3 hours by car
Check out these travel agents:
EU Holidays | Hong Thai Travel | Super Travels
3. Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Credit: visitkorea.com
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is truly an exciting experience for the whole family! If you’re looking for some icy fun to wake you up on a cold day, ice fishing is one of the popular programs at this festival. 😁 Dig holes in the ice to fish for Trout or brave the cold and try barehanded fishing where you’ll have to catch the fishes using your bare hands in a huge man made pool (beware of the cold and slipperiness)!
Fun fact: Did you know ice fishing is a hundred year old tradition? Besides ice fishing, you can try your hand at snow or ice sledding, ice soccer and make ice sculptures.
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Address: South Korea, Gangwon-do, Hwacheon-gun, Sangseung-ro, 122-6 KR
Distance from Seoul: about 1.5 hours by public transportation
4. Hongcheon River Ginseng Trout Festival
Credit: zaubee.com
South Koreans take their fishes very seriously! So serious in fact, that there’s a festival that happens in the winter dedicated to a very specific fish - the Ginseng Trout. 🤔 Every year, tourists (and locals) flock to Hongcheon River to carve into the ice and catch the famed Ginseng Trout which got their name from the mixed feed they consume that includes 6-year-old ginseng (talk about being well fed! 🤩). Other activities and attractions include barehanded trout fishing, ice soccer, winter photo zone, taking pictures with views of thatched cottages and much more!
P.S. Halal food is hard to come by at these events as they are further away from the city, we suggest packing food with you when visiting.
Hongcheon River Ginseng Trout Festival
Address: Hongcheongang River, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do
Distance from Seoul: about 1 hour
5. Herb Island Festival
Night owls and fans of evening events will love the Herb Island Festival! From November till April, Pocheon Herb Island will be transformed into a brightly lit festival village once the sun goes down. 🤩 The whimsical decorations are a welcome addition to the cold atmosphere and will make you feel warm and cosy on the inside as you walk through the dozens of light installations around the island! Besides its lighting display, look forward to a year-round display of aromatic herbs from spring to fall. Come winter time, the gardens and flower beds are replaced with sparkling and romantic lights! ✨
Herb Island Festival
Address: 35, Cheongsin-ro 947beon-gil, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Pocheon Herb Island
Distance from Seoul: about 2-3 hours by car
6. Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
Credit: carnifest.com
If you’re visiting South Korea early in the year, Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival is an event you have to check out! 🤗 This event was cancelled during the pandemic but it’s back till early 2023 and has something exciting for everyone regardless of your age. Taking place at Taebaeksan National Park, the festival not only showcases large-scale snow sculptures of snowmen and animals in park but at Jungang-ro, Hwangji Pond and other downtown areas too - so there’s ALOT to see! Take your pick on the variety of snow activities like snow sled, ice slide, igloo cafe, live musical performances and more! 😉
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
Address: 168, Cheonjedan-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do - Taebaeksan National Park, Hwangji Pond
Distance from Seoul: about 4 hours by public transport
7. Ansan Sunrise Event
Credit: @ansan_mountain on Instagram
On cold winter nights, there’s nothing more you can do than wait for the sun to rise and hope for it to get warmer… But is that really all you can do? 😎 The Ansan Sunrise Event is a memorable way to greet the new year in Korea! Watching the New Year Sunrise is a traditional experience you can take part in at Seodaemun-gu's Ansan Bongsudae, summit of Mt. Ansan. Even if you’re not the most outdoorsy person, it’s a relatively easy mountain to reach! And at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Seoul as the very first thing you’ll set your sights on in the new year.
Ansan Sunrise Event
Address: Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Distance from Seoul: about 1 hour 20 minutes by car
If you’re someone who loves the cold and taking part in fun seasonal activities, you can’t miss out on these exciting events exclusive to South Korea during the winter months! Make sure to SHARE this article with someone who loves travelling and exploring new places and experiences.
This article was brought to you by Korea Tourism Organization.
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