Moving, Romantic, and Exciting! Wintertime in Gyeonggi Province: Part 2

Paju Trout Festival
Paju Gwangtan Leisure Town will host its third Paju Trout Festival this winter. The main programs include ice fishing for trout, snow sledding, traditional ice sledding, and flying kites.

Period: Dec 16, 2012– Feb 26, 2013
Venue: 194-42, Buheung-ro, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-1588-7526

Yangju Snow Flower Festival
This festival is held at Daejanggeum Theme Park where visitors can enjoy the winter season by snow tubing, riding carriages pulled by donkeys, playing paint ball or playing the game where you throw sticks into the barrel.
 
Period: Jan 5 – Feb 11, 2013
Venue: 207, Samsung-dong, Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-821-2200
 
Pocheon Bears Town
Bears Town is located in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province. Only fifty minutes from Seoul by car, the resort has its own ski slopes, condominiums, youth hostels, and convenient facilities that can cater to large groups of friends and families or couples out for some winter fun.
There are a total of eleven slopes, of which six have been authorized by the National Ski Association, as well as other slopes that are reserved for professional skiers. Eight lifts operate throughout the resort, including the express lift. The slopes are illuminated in the evening for those who would prefer to ski at night.
 
Address: 295, Sohak-ri, Naechon-myeon, Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-644-1200
 

Yongin Yangji Pine Resort
Yangji Pine Resort in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province has a total of nine slopes and seven lifts. Notable is the beautiful Avec Course greatly appreciated among the more experienced skiers for its difficult curves and slopes. Only forty minutes away from Seoul by car, the slopes are lit at night for skiers and snowboarders who want to enjoy the seasonal sports to their fullest.
 
Address: 34-1, Namgok-ri, Yangji-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-338-2001Icheon Jisan Forest Resort
Jisan Forest is a resort located close to the metropolitan capital with a snowboarder-only slope that has sport enthusiasts flocking to for one-day excursions. Skiing and snowboarding clubs come in large groups, being only forty minutes by bus from Gangnam, Seoul’s busiest district. The resort started offering Haesimgwon Entry Tickets for the hours of 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM geared towards those who work typical office hours. There are five heated five-speed lifts, the first of their kind in Korea, to help skiers enjoy their favorite winter sport.
 
Address: San 28-1, Haewol-ri, Majang-myeon, Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-644-1200Namyangju Starhill Resort
Starhill Resort is one of the most popular winter destinations in the metropolitan area. The most frequently visited slope is the D-line intermediate course, which is perfect for seasoned skiers and beginners alike. Anyone who learns how to ski or snowboard on this slope will find themselves hooked in no time. Star Hill Resort, newly named from Cheonmasan Resort, opened in 1982 in Gangwon-do and has garnered devoted fans with their interesting slopes.
 
Address: 548, Mukhyeon-ri, Hwado-eup, Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-2233-5311
 
Tips for the Winter Vacation Season!
1. Never let a child ride alone.
Children may find it difficult to steer the sled in the right direction. Always make sure they do not slip or lose control. Children under five years of age should not ride on the sled alone.

2. Do not wear lose garments such as long scarves.
Do not wear anything that could drag on the ground when riding the sled, to prevent catching and tangling on the sled blade.
 
3. Wear waterproof clothes.
Your hands, feet, and bottom will get wet in the snow. If moisture seeps through the fabric it will cause frostbite and/or a fever. If you do not have waterproof clothes, bring an extra change of clothes.
 
4. Ride in the same direction as others.
Skiing or snowboarding in the same direction with fellow skiers and snowboarders will reduce the chance of accidents. Remember to keep a safe distance from the person ahead of you.

5. Take a 10-minute break every hour.
Take a 10-minute break every hour to warm up with hot drinks when out in the cold, whether you are out on the slopes or the ice-skating rink. This will make lessen any fatigue and give the body a rest.

6. Teach your children what to do in emergencies.
Learn what to do in emergencies and let your children know what they must do. For instance, if a sled is heading towards a person and cannot be stopped from impact, brace and roll off the sled immediately.
 
Rumble and Tumble at the Sled Slope and Ice Rink
There is no better way to fend off the winter chill than to go out into the snow with a sled. The ice-skating resort is usually bustling with activity during the winter vacation season. Introducing some reasonable outdoor sledding and skating locations for wintertime.

Gapyeong Snow Sled Slope
Gapyeong Snow Sled Slope uses recycled plastic to create the smooth gliding experience of sledding down a powdery snow-covered hill. Sledding is available all year round here, with water sledding and tubby sledding for spring, summer and autumn, and snow in the winter. There are two slopes—intermediate at 130m long and 25m wide, and novice at 102m long and 25m wide. Moving walkers will carry you up the hill. There is a changing room, shower booths, outdoor pool, shaded patios, resting area, and restaurants to cater to the patrons.
Inquiries: +82-31-585-8991
 
Ansan Four Season Sled Slope
Ansan Four Season Sled Slope is close to Gongdan Subway station line no. 4. It operates as a snow slope in the winter, and a water slide in summer. Twenty-five thousand people flock the urban theme park every year from Ansan, Suwon, Sihueng, Gwangmyeong, and other satellite cities of the like. The adult fee is KRW 7,000, teens KRW 5,000, and children KRW 4,000. Groups can qualify for a 50% discount on weekdays when booked in advanced.
Inquiries: +82-31-492-3265
 
Seongnam Sports Complex Sled Slope
Seongnam Sports Complex turns its grounds into a 4,000m² snow covered slope for sledding every winter. The adult slope is 20m wide and 46m long, while the children’s slope is made of five 10m wide and 14m long lanes.
There are two air-bounce facilities for children. The complex is open from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM in four hour and forty minute intervals. The intervals are increased to five on the weekends when the complex closes at 7:10 PM. Entrance (air-bounce included) costs are KRW 1,000 per person.
Inquiries: +82-31-754-3100 (Seongnam Sports Complex).Suwon Hwaseong Ice Sledding
The square before Hwaseong Temporary Palace transforms into an ice rink every winter from end of December to the following February. There are no entrance fees. Visitors can also fly kites, spin tops, or drive hoops. If the weather is too chilly, visit the nearby Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Museum.
Inquiries: +82-31-251-4435, 4425 (Suwon Hwaseong Management Foundation)
 
Seongnam City Hall Outdoor Ice Rink
Seongnam City Hall Outdoor Ice Rink is 3,349 m² in floor space, and 30X60m in diameter. The rink can accommodate up to 300 skaters at once. The rink is open from 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM all winter season in six 1.5 hour intervals during winter vacation and five intervals to 7:00 PM. Entry costs are KRW 1,000, which include rentals for helmets and skates. Skating classes are available for children over six years of age at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM that last a week. Classes are KRW 10,000 per student.
Inquiries: +82-1577-3100 (Seongnam City Hall)
 
Yangju Singsing Ice Sledding
Singsing Ice Sledding started as a charity for needy neighbors by the Yangju Fire Station. It utilizes dormant fields behind Yangju Station. The sleds are rented out for free and the area is safely guarded by firefighters. Do not forget to donate some money by leaving some change in the donation box.
Inquiries: +82-31-849-8312 (Yangju Fire Station)