Winter might be cold but the winter season will not be complete without enjoying it. Here are the 5 ways to enjoy winter in South Korea.
Not all people love the cold season especially here in Korea. The weather during winter is dry, cold, and windy. Even though there’s an available heater or hot water it is still hard to take a bath or even take a shower. The cold weather will make you lazy and will make you stay in bed all day. But do you know that to fight the cold weather you need to go outside? You can put on your winter jackets, gloves, and winter shoes to go outside, walk around or play.
My first winter in Korea was in 2016 and that year we experienced more snow fell than this winter. It was really exciting to watch the snow falling down and make your own snowman which you just have seen in movies like the movie Frozen. Aside from that, there are other ways to enjoy winter in Korea. Let’s check it out!
5 Ways to Enjoy Winter in South Korea
1. Sledding
Aside from the famous Everland, there are some sledding parks in Seoul like the Seoul Land (서울랜드), Ttukseom Han River Park Snow Slope (뚝섬 한강공원 눈썰매장), Children’s Grand Park (서울어린이대공원), Yangjaecheon Ice Sledding Rink (양재천 얼음썰매장) and Dorimcheon Children’s Ice Sledding Rink 도림천 얼음 썰매장.
Sledding slope is one of the activities that both adults and children can enjoy. They are usually open from December to February but opening and closing dates vary from one year to another. So before visiting check out the site of the sledding park you wanted to visit.
2. Ski and Snowboarding
Korea has a lot of mountains that’s why skiing and snowboarding are the best activities to do during winter. If you are a beginner you must visit a ski resort with easy slopes like Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort. If you are going together with family and kids, choose the ski resort which is family-friendly like the Yongpyong Ski Resort. But if you are looking for an adrenaline rush you must visit a thrill-filled attraction like Vivaldi Park Ski Resort.
If you are confused and can’t choose which one you wanted to do. Check out the difference between ski and snowboarding. In terms of difficulty, the ski is easier than snowboarding. But you want a challenging one you can choose from snowboarding. You can freely move your hands and feet with a ski while snowboarding your hands are free to move but your feet are fastened to the board. Another thing is with ski you can enjoy the feeling of excitement when skiing through the slopes while snowboarding you can able to do jump tricks.
3. Ice Fishing Festivals
Aside from snow sledding, ski and snowboarding, the ice fishing festival is famous too. Pyeongchang is one of the most visited Ice Fishing Festival in Korea. But if you don’t want to go too far, going to Gapyeong will be fine.
The fishing entrance fee is usually 15,000 won and you can only bring up to 2 fish. You can catch as many as you can but you cannot bring all of it. You can also bring the fish to the nearby restaurant to clean it and cut it so you can eat it raw or ask them to grill it and you need to pay about 5,000 won.
At first, I find the fishing festival so boring since you need to wait till you catch a fish but honestly it’s fun. There’s a lot of people enjoying it from kids to adults. Aside from that, there are other things that you can enjoy aside from fishing like snow sledding or playing dart games, ball games, and of course, eat until you get full.
4. Outdoor Ice Skating
If you can’t able to go fishing or ski, you can try outdoor skating in Seoul. The city government always opens the skating ring during winter at the Seoul Plaza in front of the Seoul City hall. Aside from the Seoul Plaza ice skating rink, there’s one available in COEX in Gangnam.
5. Enjoy Winter Streetfoods
Street foods might be open all through the year but there are foods that can be seen and eaten during winter. These foods include hotteok (pancakes), chestnuts, and sweet potatoes.
Honestly, I love visiting Myeongdong just to buy and eat sweet potatoes which cost about 3,000 won for one piece. Though I find the sweet potatoes in 7-eleven cheaper. Not all branches are selling sweet potatoes so to satisfy my craving I just go to Myeongdong.
Hotteok is a sweet Korean pancake with is best eaten when served hot. The street of Seoul will not be complete without the chestnuts roasted in coal.
There are many activities that can be done during winter. So instead of staying at home get out and enjoy! Winter will never be fun without enjoying the season.
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Xoxo, Hyejin
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Weeh! This is what I want my coco to experience! Soon Soon! by the way, ano bang duration ng winter in soKor?
December to March po.
Since I was young, I’ve always dreamed of travelling to Korea or Japan during winter. I’ve always wondered what it is like to play around in snow and do other outdoor activities. Thanks for sharing.
Nakakenjoy super.
I tried all of them! Sinulit ko talaga stay ko sa Korea. I created a Winter Bucket List three years ago hehe.
Super lucky ka nga kasi na try mo na lahat!
If ever na makapunta ako sa South Korea during winter malamang yung #5 lang ma-eenjoy ko! Pero sana yung first na punta ko dyan di ko itataon na winter… lamigin kasi akong tao.
Medyo scary pero I wanna try to check off this on my bucket list! Also, ang cute ni baby!!! Hehe
Hindi ko pa natry ung ski at snowboarding kasi takot ako. hahaha
baka mabalian ako ng buto 😀
I can’t see the fun in ice fishing no matter how great the photos are, hahaha… I can’t stand waiting while freezing. At kung sobrang malas ka (madami ang malas, hihihi), walang ni isang fish na magpapakonswelo sa u. Halos wala tayong snow this winter, noh?
Wala nga nahuli si baby ko.
Sabi niya pa bilisan daw paghuli nung wala siya nahuli umalis na siya 😀
I’ve tried sledding and skiing in Russia before. I wonder how it’ll be different if I try it in Korea. 🙂
These are all fun stuff we see ourselves doing if we do find ourselves in Korea in the winter. Mahal kasi, plus VISA pa. Might try Jeju Island first.
Free visa sa Jeju pero mahal din. Magkakalayo din ung tourists spots so need mo mag rent ng car or try tour package para less stress.
May public transport pero medyo matagal yung pag aantay ng bus.
This was such a fun read and i felt like i was experiencing winter in korea for the first time. I would love to see snow finally and do all of the activities listed here. Maybe soon. Haha
It’s my dream to go to Korea, but I find it expensive to go there. This blog post made me respark that dream again!
Wow! I would love to experience winter in Korea, too. Haven’t been there. I wish talaga makapunta kami next year. 🙂
I just hope this 2020 will be the year that I get to visit Korea. I am curious how delicious the winter street foods are
Learning skiing is a bit scary but I still want to try! Have you tried the winter snacks? I would love to know your most favorite!
Yes, I love the sweet potatoes during winter. Medyo pricey lang so sometimes I just do some homemade.
Parang gusto ko na ring pumunta dyan sa Korea ng winter season. Andaming pwedeng gawin na new activities for me since wala namang winter season dito sa Pinas.
Wow! I would love to exp all of them! Especially the ice fishing! Would also love to build an ice snowman 🥰♥️
Yes mamsh masaya din mag ice fishing pag winter yun nga lang magtiis ka sa lamig hehehe
Gusto ko ma experience ang winter🥰 worth to red po ito para mas lalong ma enjoy namin na first kung sakali ang maka experience 🥰
Wow I wanna experience these activities myself. These are all fun, enjoyable and exciting.
Wow so exciting and so much fun for sure. Thank you for sharing this blog Ms.Abby.
Loved to experience this too.🤗❤️
Woww naman po,nakakaenjoy ganitong activities 💕
So much fun!!😍 grabe dami pwede gawin at mag enjoy dyan😊 thanks for sharing po, appreciate this blog💖
Love the snow. Hoping soon maexperience with my family ❤️
Ang sayang experience ng winter , ang daming activities na ma eenjoy . Gusto ko ung mga winter street foods ❤️
Grabe Ang Nice nman pala talaga jan Ms. Jin, Malamig pero truly na eenjoyin mo yung Moment, daming Pwedeng gawing Activities at Sasarap ng mga Foods