[Jo Yongjun's Travel Journey] Shall We Enjoy the 'Pristine Snowfield' at Ski Resorts Armed with Quarantine Measures?

As Gonjian Resort, the largest ski resort in the Seoul metropolitan area, has opened for the season, a skier is enjoying snowboarding.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yongjun Cho]A pristine white world has opened. Ski resorts across the country are bustling with skiers eager to enjoy the thrilling sensation of racing across the silver snowfields. However, tension is rising due to the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

In response, each ski resort is operating a thorough quarantine system. Basic measures include temperature checks, mandatory mask-wearing, automatic fever screening on main routes, and visitor access management through electronic entry logs, all aimed at 'safe skiing.' Additionally, to enhance user convenience and naturally enforce social distancing, time-based lift tickets are operated, allowing free time selection and staggered boarding times.

Visitor density is minimized through unmanned lift ticket vending machines and non-face-to-face identity verification for season pass holders using vein recognition technology. Some places have installed stakes every 1 to 2 meters in front of lifts where long queues form to encourage social distancing.

Personal hygiene is also essential. Social distancing and mask-wearing must be observed at lift and gondola boarding areas and sledding slopes. Extra caution is advised in crowded locker rooms and restaurants. It is preferable to use personal ski equipment whenever possible.

Moreover, it is recommended to avoid large group visits such as clubs or gatherings and to return home immediately after visiting.

Gonjiam Resort, the largest ski resort in the metropolitan area, opened the '21/22 ski season' last week. It welcomed skiers who have been waiting for winter by opening two slopes, Whistle and Zeta 2.

Located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Gonjiam Resort's greatest advantage is accessibility. It takes 40 minutes from Gangnam and Jamsil, and about an hour from the metropolitan and Chungcheong areas. This attracts office workers who want to enjoy night skiing after work and family skiers who want to avoid weekend traffic delays.

Contactless Safe Room Service at Gonjiam Resort

This season, Gonjiam Resort's ski operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., allowing ample time to enjoy not only night skiing but also early morning skiing.

Gonjiam Resort features top-tier ski facilities, including nine wide slopes with a maximum width of 154 meters, ultra-high-speed lifts that transport up to 15,000 people per hour to the summit, and a wireless remote-controlled snowmaking system.

It offers Korea's first time-based lift tickets and operates a slope capacity system limiting entry to 3,500 people per time slot, allowing guests to fully enjoy premium skiing at leisure.

Additionally, a newly launched integrated ski reservation site enables contactless one-stop private skiing. Using a mobile app, resort guests can check in and out in advance and use mobile keys for room access, making for a more convenient refreshment experience.

Even guests who do not ski can enjoy plenty of fun activities on the white snowfields. Newly renovated sledding hills and snow playgrounds provide various snow experience facilities that offer winter-only enjoyment.

Alongside this, a new street food zone called 'Forestreet' near the ski lifts offers over 20 types of diverse snacks, delighting skiers' palates throughout the winter.

Thanks to a thorough quarantine management system, skiing can be enjoyed safely. Over 30 thermal imaging cameras are installed at entrances and exits of key resort facilities such as the ski house, condo lobby, and dining areas for fever checks. More than 200 disinfection devices, including Cesco UV air sterilizers and escalator hand sanitizers, are installed in common areas, elevators, and dining venues to provide safer and more comfortable indoor air.

Known as a ski resort accessible by subway from Seoul, Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort has opened four beginner slopes. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with extended hours until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays.

Located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Elysian Gangchon is reachable within an hour from Seoul via the Gyeongchun Line subway. The ski resort is right in front of the station when the train stops at Elysian Gangchon Station (Baekyang-ri Station).

Last season, Elysian Gangchon already provided tailored services for beginner skiers. After installing moving walkways and completing additional slope construction, it announced specialized training programs for beginners using the ski resort for the first time.

Elysian Gangchon, accessible by subway, is popular for customized lessons tailored for children and beginners.

Snow Hill & Fun Park will be operated for children and family customers who find skiing burdensome. This play area includes a sledding hill suitable for all ages and a tube sledding area offering dynamic thrills.

An official from Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort said, "In line with GS's reputation, we have prepared thorough quarantine measures so that anyone can visit and enjoy the ski resort with peace of mind," adding, "We are ready to welcome customers to a safer ski resort."

Daemyung Vivaldi Park has opened the 'Ballad,' 'Techno,' and 'Jazz' slopes. Vivaldi Park has a total of 12 slopes with a combined length of 6,784 meters, categorized by difficulty and riding style. The slopes are divided into Ballad and Blues (beginner), Jazz (intermediate), Classic, Reggae, Hip-hop 1 & 2 (intermediate-advanced), Funky, Techno 1 & 2 (advanced), and Rock (expert).

This year, the newly launched Winter Pass includes all-day access plus one visit per day to Snowy Land, attracting great interest from families seeking winter activities. Time passes, available in 2, 4, 6, and 8-hour increments, have also become steady sellers, allowing use at any time regardless of operating hours.

Skiers visiting Daemyung Vivaldi Park are riding the lift to go up the slope.

For safe facility use, kiosks for lift ticket issuance and returns are also operated. As part of contactless services, kiosks help prevent crowding in specific areas and reduce waiting times during facility use, making them very useful.

Additionally, Korea's largest snow theme park, Snowy Land, has opened. It features a vast, clean natural area covered in snow, with sledding hills, an igloo rest zone, character photo zones, and various play facilities for children. Vivaldi Park also operates free shuttle buses from opening to closing.

Jeongseon High1 Ski Resort has opened the Athena II and III slopes and will operate a total of 12 slopes sequentially. It focuses its efforts on 'safe skiing' by deploying quarantine equipment and personnel throughout all routes. Even if gondola operations are suspended due to bad weather, tube sledding facilities from the Snow World sledding area have been relocated to the Mountain Base to provide entertainment for guests.

Visitors can also enjoy Snow World, a snow theme park where they can experience the silver snowfields without skiing or snowboarding.

Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang has opened the Pink Slope for beginners and intermediates. For the 21/22 season, Yongpyong Resort is hosting various events, including a customer welcome event to experience the frost flowers and sea of clouds on Balwangsan Mountain, a ski festival for foreigners residing in Korea, and a splash event crossing puddles.

Wonju Oak Valley Ski Resort will officially open on the 17th. It plans to operate three slopes, including a beginner-friendly slope 620 meters long, 120 meters wide, and with a 5-degree incline. As a family-oriented ski resort, it offers tube sledding and ice fishing experiences for families with young children who are not yet able to ski.

Yongjun Cho, travel specialist jun21@