Skiing in Korea 2026–27: Best Ski Resorts Near Seoul, Opening Dates & How to Get There

Korea has a short but reliable ski season, with resorts from one to three hours from Seoul. Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, and its resorts are well set up for visitors, with equipment rental, English signage and lessons.

Quick facts

• Season: about late November or December to March
• 2026–27 opening dates: not yet announced as of late October. Resorts usually confirm them in November, and the first openings are often mid-to-late November. Last season Phoenix opened on November 21.
• Snow: mostly machine-made early in the season; January and February are the most reliable months

The main resorts

1. Yongpyong Resort (Pyeongchang)

Korea's largest and best-known resort, with the longest runs. It hosted alpine events at the 2018 Olympics. About 40 minutes from Gangneung or Jinbu (Odaesan) Station on the KTX line.

2. Phoenix Park (Pyeongchang)

Hosted the 2018 freestyle and snowboard events and is popular with snowboarders. Often one of the first resorts to open.

3. High1 Resort (Jeongseon)

High in the mountains with long, wide runs and good snow, but farther from Seoul (about 3 hours).

4. Vivaldi Park (Hongcheon)

About 1.5 hours from Seoul, with a big resort complex. Good for a quick trip.

5. Konjiam Resort (Gwangju, Gyeonggi)

The closest major resort to Seoul, about an hour away. Small but convenient for a half-day or night skiing.

How to get there

• KTX: Seoul Station to Jinbu (Odaesan) or Pyeongchang Station on the Gangneung line, then a resort shuttle or taxi.
• Shuttle buses: most resorts run winter shuttles from Seoul, some free with a lift ticket or hotel booking.
• Tours: day-trip packages from Seoul include transport, rental and sometimes a lesson, the easiest option for first-timers.

Check Seoul ski day trip on Klook ↗ affiliate link

Rental, lessons and costs

• Every resort rents skis, boards and clothing; bring gloves, goggles and warm layers to save money.
• English lessons are offered at the bigger resorts and by tour companies; book ahead for weekends.
• Weekends and Korean school holidays (late December to February) are busiest. Weekdays are much quieter.

Make it a winter trip

Combine a ski day with Gangneung: the East Sea coast, Anmok coffee street and Chodang soft tofu are about 40 minutes from the Pyeongchang resorts. See our Gangneung page or the Winter snow trip idea.

Tips for foreign travelers

• Don't book non-refundable rooms for late November until your resort announces its opening date.
• Temperatures in Pyeongchang often fall well below −10°C in January; heat packs are sold at every convenience store.
• Use Naver Map for KTX and shuttle times; resorts list shuttle schedules on their websites.

Summary

For the full Olympic experience, go to Yongpyong or Phoenix in Pyeongchang; for a quick trip, Vivaldi Park or Konjiam. Plan for January or February for the best snow, and watch for opening announcements in November.