The days where people only knew South Korea for their K-pop idols, K-drama, and kimchi are long over. Wonderful festivals, adrenaline-filled activities, and royal palaces make up Korea’s allure and this is magnified during the winter season.
Even with the brutal temperature, heavy snowpacks that surround the land, and gray clouds, the locals still see a silver lining to the weather. Get ready to experience once-in-a-year indoor and outdoor activities such as ice fishing, arcade gaming, themed cafes, and many more!
So pack your bags and book a flight, because here are 10 activities that get unlocked during the winter at Seoul.
Seoul Searching for That Right Activity
1. Get Hooked on Ice Fishing
Believe it or not, ice fishing is a sport in many countries and especially in South Korea. The question is not whether the ice is safe or not (with 40-centimeter thick ice, it’s completely safe), but whether you’re skillful enough to catch a fish!
Choose from using a fishing rod or just your bare hands, and test your fishing technique by catching the meanest looking fish trout. Book a tour right here to get to this attraction from Seoul!
- Location: 3562, Gyeonggang-ro, Hajinbu-ri, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do 25332, South Korea
2. Plunge Deep into Skiing Activities
Craving for some winter thrills? No matter which city you’re at in South Korea, you’re bound to find one skiing resort nearby. With the country made up of 70% mountains, accompanied by the long and snowy winter, you can understand why skiing is such a popular activity!
Hit the slopes at Jisan Forest Resort ,the closest skiing resort in Seoul. Take in panoramic views of snow-covered valleys as you learn how to ski from a professional and glide down 10 slopes that range from beginner to advanced levels.
For a full guide on South Korean ski and snowboard resorts, check out our article: 10 Best Korea Ski and Snowboard Resorts to Smash this Winter
- Location: 267, Jisan-ro, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do 17390, South Korea
3. Take the Ice Cream in Winter Challenge
No, it’s not crazy to eat ice cream in the cold winter! It’s rather a whole new brain-freezing experience! Take the challenge and pick up one of these creamy dessert snacks from best-selling ice cream outlets such as Milky Bee, Penguin Macaron and Molly’s Pop’s.
Bonus: You don’t have to worry about long lines in stores and your ice creaming melting during winter.
4. Have Your Own Winterfest at a Snow Park
No time to spend a whole day in a ski resort? We’ve got you covered too. If your idea of fun is mounting on rides, touring around on a dog sled, and gazing through sparkling lights all while listening to festive music at the background, then One Mount Snow Park is the right place for you.
Known attractions in this indoor snow park includes ice skating, merry-go-rounds, and looped roller coasters. It is not only family-friendly, but also a great destination to bring that special someone. Book your One Mount tour with us here!
- Location: 300, Hallyu world-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
5. Warm Up with Spicy Korean Street Food
Seoul has so much great dishes and street food that taste even better during winter! If you’re in the mood for savory, keep on the lookout for tteokbokki, which are rice cakes cooked in a spicy chili paste and served with fish cakes. But if you need that daily fix for your sweet tooth, keep your eyes peeled for warm pancakes stuffed with nuts and honey taken in during the winter chill.
6. Stay Indoors with Various Arcade Games
Another way to enjoy the winter is wrapped in warm air from heaters along with a variety of games. For such indoor fun, head over to one of Seoul’s arcades, Rovio Korea. The place is known to be a fusion of a bar and an arcade where you can play tons of different VR games, watch international sporting events, and meet some new faces over a few beers or cocktails.
- Location: 611 Yeongdong-daero, Samseong 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
7. Engage in a Sledding Race at Everland
Okay, we kinda cheated (just a little bit!) for this list. Everland is not in Seoul but it’s only a 30-minute drive away, which is still fairly reachable! Begin your sledding adventure by getting dropped off at Yongin, where you can find the Snow Buster, a hill covered in the thick amount of snow and boasts numerous sled pods/tubes for everybody.
Then finally, once you get to the top, choose a path to plummet on. Some are straight down while some have curves that make you go even faster. Also, if the cold is too much, find some coziness at the inside lounge. There you can buy delicious hot drinks and Korean food at a cafe and a restaurant to.
- Location: Snow Buster, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, Everland
8. Participate in Winter Sports
Want to partake in all Seoul activities but have so little time? There is a place to do it all: ice sledding, ice skating, snow rafting, and more! Experience a day of South Korea’s thrilling winter sports in Vivaldi Park Snowy Land, where you can view awe-inspiring mountainscapes, test your nerves by racing down skiing, and warm up at an igloo rest area nearby.
- Location:６２ Hanchigol-gil, Seo-myeon, Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Grab your coats, put on your mittens, and stroll the snow-covered streets with a brave face. It’s about time to take advantage of South Korea’s weather, where everything, from the spicy food, winter sports, to the indoor activities, get more intense. When are you leaving for South Korea?
Need more help to fill in your South Korean itinerary? Check out:
- South Korea Unlimited 4G/LTE KT Olleh SIM Card
- 1-day tour to Panmunjom and DMZ
- Discounted KORAIL Pass
