Two hotel rooms add up fast for a family of five or more. How Korea's resort condos, privately owned condo units and pension houses compare, and what "pyeong" sizes mean.
For a family of five or more, booking two hotel rooms gets expensive quickly. Korea's condo system was built for exactly this kind of group, but the terms are confusing at first. What is the difference between a resort condo, a privately owned condo and a pension? Here is how to house everyone without overspending.
These are apartment-style units run by the resort itself, such as the condo buildings at Yongpyong or Phoenix Park. You can usually book them on the resort's own site or on large booking platforms. Rooms are standardised and clean, usually with a kitchenette, a living area with floor bedding, and one or two bathrooms depending on size.
The catch is occupancy. Every room type has a set maximum number of guests, and resorts enforce it. If your group is larger than the limit, you may be refused at check-in or asked to book another room. Check the maximum on the booking page, and count small children too.
Many condo buildings are partly owned by individuals who rent out their units, a little like an apartment rental. You find them through Korean rental listings or as pension-style listings on international booking sites. They can be cheaper than booking through the resort, and some owners leave extra bedding or basic kitchen supplies. Quality and house rules vary, so read recent reviews closely and confirm the guest limit in writing before you pay.
Pensions are holiday houses, often in clusters just outside the resort gate. Their big advantage is space: a two-storey house with several rooms and a barbecue deck is common, and larger ones take 8 to 12 people. They suit two or three families travelling together. Look for pension areas near Phoenix Park in Bongpyeong and in Hoenggye near Yongpyong. You'll usually need a car or a taxi to reach the slopes.
Korean listings often give room size in pyeong. One pyeong is about 3.3 square metres. As a rough guide:
| Size | Floor area | Typical layout |
|---|---|---|
| 20 pyeong | about 66 m² | 1 bedroom plus living room |
| 30 pyeong | about 100 m² | 2 bedrooms, often 2 bathrooms |
| 40 pyeong and up | about 130 m² and up | large or suite-style units |
For four people or fewer, a standard resort condo is the simplest choice. For six or more, compare a large condo unit with a pension house outside the gate, which can cost about the same as two hotel rooms for a whole house. Our accommodation guide explains where to stay at each resort, and the guide to villas for large groups goes further for groups of 8 or more.