South Korea is beautiful year-round, but in winter – especially when it snows – the country’s landscape is magical. Seoul is a wonderful base for your South Korean winter adventure, but if you want some serious action, head out of the capital to ski resorts and national parks for amazing skiing and hiking opportunities.
Winter is also festival time, with seasonal events that showcase spectacular light displays and snow sculptures. Whether ice skating at a former Olympics venue or hopping on a thrill ride at one of the world’s largest amusement parks, South Korea is your go-to for an awesome winter holiday.
1. Take on the slopes at Yongpyong
If you want to tackle the same slopes as world-class athletes did during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Yongpyong Ski Resort is the place to put your skiing skills to the test. This 1,740-hectare resort – South Korea’s largest – offers plenty of ski trails, including the Rainbow Paradise slope, which winds 5,600 metres down a mountain.
Its location in northeastern Gangwon-do province, where winter temperatures frequently plunge below zero, allows for a longer ski season that runs from mid-November to early April. As a bonus for K-drama fans, scenes from the iconic 2002 Korean drama Winter Sonata were filmed here.
2. See The Garden of Morning Calm light up
Situated two hours east of Seoul, The Garden of Morning Calm is a lovely place for a stroll, particularly in winter when the landscape is transformed into an illuminated wonderland with thousands of environmentally friendly LED lights. The arboretum lights up every year from December to March and features lighting installations that revolve around annual themes like love, flora and fauna.
Surrounded by snow-covered mountains in the wintertime, the garden is just as picturesque during the day, but it is even more sparkling when night falls and the lights come on. Go early to experience the garden’s natural snowy landscape and watch it light up – you won’t regret it.
3. Visit the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
With snow-capped peaks as the backdrop, the much-anticipated Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival is highly recommended, particularly for its snow sculptures.
Held every January, the highlight of this festival is the massive snow sculptures that decorate Taebaeksan National Park and feature everything from iconic buildings to K-pop stars.
After gawking at these temporary works of art, visitors can have a go on the ice slide – a fun experience that will unleash your inner child – and participate in traditional winter games or enjoy sledging.
4. Hike through Seoraksan National Park
Hikers will enjoy traversing the trails of Seoraksan National Park, South Korea’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that encompasses some 30 peaks and myriad breathtaking spots. Soaring 1,708 metres above sea level, the highest peak, Daecheongbong, commands magnificent views of the snow-covered mountains and the East Sea.
Hiking trails here span 92 kilometres of rugged terrain and range from easy to expert levels. If you’re planning a hike, be sure to pencil in stops at Biryongpokpo Falls, Heundeulbawi Rock and Geumganggul Cave in your itinerary. Not a hiker? Cable cars whisk visitors to Gwongeumseong Fortress, where they can take in panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
5. Relax and rejuvenate at a jimjilbang
When the weather gets chilly, South Koreans head for their neighbourhood jjimjilbang or public bathhouses that typically feature gender-segregated pools. For a rejuvenating soak in luxurious settings, one of the top spots is Aquafield Goyang, a jjimjilbang that is part of a sprawling mall complex on Seoul’s northwest fringe.
Here, you can indulge in long soaks in indoor pools, enjoy a sauna in rooms clad in local materials like Elvan stone – said to aid waste removal when heated – and have an ajumma (auntie) give you a vigorous body scrub to boost circulation. Aquafield also sports a foot spa and a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the majestic Bukhansan mountain.
6. Gear up for thrills at Lotte World
If you’re in Seoul, you won’t want to miss a trip to the city’s Lotte World amusement park, one of the world’s largest. With its fairytale-inspired castle, the park is truly enchanting, especially in December when it is dressed up for Christmas and illuminated with twinkling lights.
The park itself is divided into Adventure Land – an indoor games venue that features themed rides and theatres – and Magic Island, the spot for outdoor attractions like the exhilarating Gyro Swing pendulum ride.
7. Go ice skating at Olympic Park
If you’re game for a bit of fun on the ice, ice skating at Seoul Olympic Park is the perfect outdoor activity for both kids and adults. Located at the park’s Peace Square, the ice skating rink is open from January to early February when temperatures can dip into the negative, so be sure to rug up.
The square is lit at night, so ardent skaters can practise their turns and jumps when it is less crowded. Seoul Olympic Park was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics but has since been converted into a public park featuring installations and sculptures.
8. Warm up with traditional rice wine
South Korea is famed for soju, but makgeolli, a sweet fermented rice wine, is a favourite for cold days and even colder nights. Nowadays, you can find this delicious alcoholic beverage at bottle shops and bars all across South Korea, but if you’re keen on understanding how it is traditionally made, sign up for a class.
Seoul brewery, The Sool Company, offers a comprehensive one-day brewing class that takes guests through the fundamentals of making makgeolli via a hands-on interactive session. Best of all, you get a bottle of the stuff or a brewing kit to take home after the class.
This story by Chitra Santhinathan was originally published on AirAsia. Zafigo republished this story in full with permission from the publisher, simply because good stories should be read by as many people as possible! If you have stories that will be of interest and useful to women travellers, especially in Asia, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
