Winter sports fans welcome drop in temperature

It has been an unusually long fall but as the country finally saw subzero temperatures last week, recreational facilities are opening their doors to eager winter sports enthusiasts. Phoenix Pyeongchang and Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon, the...

Skiers on the slopes of Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon, on Dec. 2 [YONHAP]

It has been an unusually long fall but as the country finally saw subzero temperatures last week, recreational facilities are opening their doors to eager winter sports enthusiasts.

Phoenix Pyeongchang and Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon, the northernmost province of the country, kicked off the ski season on Dec. 2.

Nearly all ski resorts in the province have had to delay opening their slopes because of the lack of snowfall and the warm weather which melts the artificial snow.

In previous years, they had opened sometime between October and late November, depending on the weather.

Three more slopes in Gangwon — Alpensia Ski Resort, Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski Resort and Wellihillipark — opened on Dec. 3.

Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort and High1 Ski Resort will let in skiers and snowboarders from Dec. 9.

Ice skating is popular among locals in the city.

Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan District, central Seoul, opened its ice rink on Dec. 2.

The ice rink is 990 square meters (10,656 square feet). Some 1,300 people have already purchased tickets to visit the rink, according to an employee of the hotel.

Grand Hyatt Seoul also offers a Winter On Ice package which includes a one-night stay, skate rentals for two, and two cups of hot chocolate. The package is available through Feb. 26, 2023.

Single-day tickets for regular visitors are 13,000 won on weekdays and 15,000 won on weekends and holidays. Skaters can use the facility for up to two hours. Monthly and seasonal tickets are available as well. More information is available on Grand Hyatt’s official website.

The ice rink at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, in Yongsan District, central Seoul [GRAND HYATT SEOUL]

The public ice rink in front of the Seoul City Hall in Jung District, central Seoul, is set to open on Dec. 16.

It is the first time that the rink is opening since it abruptly closed in January 2020 due to Covid-19.

The ice rink is 13,207 square meters and there is a separate rink for children.

It is open from Sunday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends and holidays. On Christmas and Dec. 31, hours are expected to be extended until 1 a.m.

The entry fee is 1,000 won per person, including skate rental costs for one hour. The rink will operate through Feb. 5.

However, it will not open on days when the fine dust level surpasses a certain point. For more information, visit www.seoul.go.kr.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]