Yongpyong Ski Resort

Yongpyong opened in 1975 as the first modern ski resort in Korea and remains the largest by trail count - twenty-eight slopes on the flanks of Balwangsan, served by a gondola that runs to about 1,458 metres. It hosted the alpine technical events, slalom and giant slalom, at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and the KTX line built for those Games is what makes it reachable from Seoul in under two hours, which changed the resort completely. The season runs roughly December to early March on heavily supplemented artificial snow; Korean resorts run night skiing as standard, which is worth knowing since evening sessions are cheaper and less crowded. Out of season the gondola runs to the summit for a walk on the ridge, and the resort has been a drama filming location often enough that some visitors come for that alone. It is a large, well-equipped, entirely modern resort with no village character.

What you actually see

• The twenty-eight slopes - the largest trail network in the country.
• The summit gondola - to about 1,458 metres, running year round.
• Night skiing - standard here, cheaper and quieter than daytime.
• The 2018 legacy - the alpine technical courses and the KTX link.

When to go

December to early March for skiing, with January the reliable month; June to October for the gondola and the ridge walk. Weekends and holidays are very busy - night sessions are the workaround.

Honest expectations

Snow is largely artificial and the season is short. Lift passes, rental and lessons add up quickly. There is no village - it is a self-contained resort complex, and everything on site is priced accordingly.

Nearby

Daegwallyeong sheep farm, Woljeongsa and the Odaesan trails are close; Gangneung and the coast are 40 km east.