Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Hi guys,

I've never done skiing and REALLY wanna learn this winter. I am thinking of booking into a resort and doing a week of training on my holiday. But I have afew questions...

Being in a public school I only get time off when EVERYONE in Korea does, and I know the resorts will up their premiums during this time. How expensive/busy will it be? With that in mind am I simply better off doing it on the weekends in Winter? How long does the Ski season last?

Thanks!

Chris

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

I went once on just a regular weekend to Jisan (I think that's the name) and it was insanely busy. On a holiday, I have a feeling it will be more than insane. Prices for rentals and lift aren't too bad at all (when compared to Whistler, Banff, etc).

If I were you and had my heart set on skiing, go for the best. Yongpyeong, out on the East Coast. I think that's the only place really worth going to in Korea. I don't know from experience but it's the rumor on the street.

oneota · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Korean

I'd like to go skiing this winter - No, I'd dearly love to go skiing. In particular, I'd like to learn to telemark (I've tried it on my own, but neither my down-hill nor my x-country experience stood in good stead). Can any-one steer me in the right direction?

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

If you don't know how to Ski, Asia is the worst place to learn.
It has nothing to do with the hills or anything negative about Koreans...it has to do with the number of people, like yourself, who can't ski.

Now imagine you walking down a crowded street in Seoul. Picture yourself being bumped and banged about 50 times.

Now picture yourself on a hill, but these people can't stop themselves and are going about 10 times as fast as usual.

Bunny hills in Korea really suck.

I've usually been home for winter vacation. Real skiing....Canada.

I tried to teach my wife how to ski and we were both injured. I was a ski instructor back home....I like to think I know what I'm doing. But some Kamakazee Korean Ajuma plowing into you full speed...not a chance.

Of course it was my fault for standing in her way...not her fault that she couldn't steer or stop or know enough to fall before hitting a larger object.

If you are going to go...go sometime during the week. if you go on a weekend...you will be knocked around like a pinball.

oneota · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Korean

What ski slopes are there in South Chungchong Province?

PEIGUY · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Omokgyo

there are lots of nice ones in Korea. As one person mentioned it's absolutley crazy on the slopes. Put it this way when you watch Koreans drive t hey do the same things skiing.. cutting you off (snowboarders are the worse), sitting down in the middle of the hill when you're coming down the hill. Yongpyeong is nice, you can get a hotel in Gangnuen which is a nice little town close by. Muju is also supposed to be nice (it's closer to Pusan i think) Vivaldi Park (Daemyung Resort) is ok.. Those are the top three I would say. I've skiied in Vivaldi and Bearstown a number of times and Yongpyeong once (it was beautiful). Don't bother with the ones closer to Seoul, Bearstown(north of Seoul) and Phoenix Park( out by Bundang). Go out and try to learn but it's not easy by any means in terms of space..

oneota · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Korean

I wrote "in Chungchongnam."

By the way, I've skied at Muju. I found the people waiting in line considerate, and I didn't see any kamikazees on the slopes. What are you people writing about?

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

The beginner hills are dangerous. The other hills are fine. It is not a good place to learn.

lostinseoul77777 · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul, Gangnam

I went several times last year and I think Yongpyeong is the best. I agree that the beginner hills are dangerous here. But intermediate slopes are not too bad.

One option for avoiding the crowd is night skiing. At least at Yongpyeong, the skiing sessions are broken into day (8a.m. to 4p.m), evening (6p.m.-10p.m.) and night skiing (I think 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.). I did the evening one and it was great, no lines at all. But I would only suggest doing the night sessions when it's a bit warmer.

rawiri · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Location: Lovely day for a fire drill.

What would accomodation set you back at yongpyong? When i went to muju i stayed in a love motel at about 30 000 a night which was more then reasonable. What about Yongpyong? or the village near it? are the motels rip offs or the normal price?

lostinseoul77777 · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul, Gangnam

I think we paid something around 120,000 won for a room at a pension. It was a nice place but you can get a motel room for significantly less. I think the hotel which is located on the slope goes for around 150,000+ per night. These prices are during the peak of the season.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Friday's The Korea Times has a pull page article about skiing in Korea and lists the resorts.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

I was at Jisan Wednesday night. Not bad. For the first 2 hours the lines were pretty good. Then thing started getting busy, but not as busy as other places I've been.
If you're going to go...go when there's nobody around.
We're going again next week.

On a sidenote, I wasn't paying attention and I got clipped by a fat chick. She knocked me on my a$$ and hurt my back. Boo hoo me.