What to do when lifts stop for wind or snow, or a road, train or shuttle fails, and what to check in your insurance. Includes the numbers to call in Korea.
David
Lifts and cable cars at Korean resorts can stop in high wind or heavy snow. The Balwangsan cable car at Mona Yongpyong, for example, stops in both. The roads to Gangwon and the Seoul shuttles are the other usual weak points. This guide covers what to check before you leave, what to do when a road, train or shuttle fails, which second stop to keep in mind, what to ask your insurer and which numbers to call. Start with the resort's own status page, our today page and the live cameras.
Check the resort's status page and the morning camera before you set off. We found no refund rule that applies to every Korean resort, so ask at the ticket window before you buy a multi-day ticket or a time pass. A time pass starts counting at your first lift (ticket types).
Korean law cuts the speed limit in snow. You must drive at 80% of the limit on wet roads or under 20 mm of snow, and at 50% when visibility is 100 m or less, on ice, or in snow 20 mm or deeper. Studded tyres are banned on public roads, so carry chains for mountain roads. Black ice is common after dark, so slow down on bridges and at tunnel exits.
The National Transport Information Center (its.go.kr) shows live traffic and expressway CCTV, and our live cameras include Yongpyong's access road. Seoul to Mona Yongpyong takes about 2 hours 30 minutes without traffic, and Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons can double that (driving guide).
| Route | If it fails | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul ski shuttle | KTX or an intercity bus | A shuttle runs only if someone has booked it. Cancel before 14:00 the day before (Phoenix) or 16:00 KST the day before (Vivaldi) for a full refund. |
| KTX to Jinbu (Yongpyong, Alpensia) | Taxi from Jinbu | About 20 minutes. Alpensia gives about 23,000 won. The resort shuttles from Jinbu run twice a day, for guests with a booking. |
| Elysian Gangchon | The other train line | ITX-Cheongchun and the Gyeongchun Line both stop at Baegyang-ri, next to the resort. |
| Intercity bus to Hoenggye | Taxi to Alpensia | The bus from Dong Seoul takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and tickets are sold at the terminal only. The taxi takes about 15 minutes. |
KTX tickets sell out on winter weekends, so book early. Every route is on the getting around page, and the no-car guide has the times.
Konjiam and Jisan are about 40 minutes from Seoul, and Vivaldi Park is about 1 hour 10 minutes, by the resorts' own figures. In Gangwon, Mona Yongpyong and Alpensia are both about 20 minutes from Jinbu Station, so a stuck lift at one leaves the other.
Off the slopes, Vivaldi Park has the Snowy Land sledding park and the Ocean World water park, and Alpensia has Ocean 700. Which water park zones open in winter changes each season. Nami Island costs 19,000 won with the ferry from Vivaldi Park or Elysian Gangchon (non-ski activities). A bathhouse is the other warm option (bathhouse guide).
The UK government advises that insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency (GOV.UK). Many basic policies exclude skiing or cover it only with a winter-sports add-on. We cannot say what your policy covers, so ask the insurer these questions:
Our medical and safety guide explains what to ask for at the hospital desk.
Dial 119 for an ambulance or fire, and 112 for police. The Korea Tourism Organisation's 1330 helpline answers in several languages including English and can interpret, including three-way calls with emergency services (GOV.UK).
We found no rule that applies to every resort. Ask at the ticket window before you buy a multi-day ticket or a time pass.
Yes. Call 1330 and ask for interpretation, or have resort staff call 119 for you.