Phoenix Park and Monayongpyeong Open First
High1 and Gonjiam Resort Prepare to Open Slopes
As the winter season begins in earnest, major ski resorts are sequentially opening for the winter season.
According to industry sources on November 20, Phoenix Snowpark in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, will kick off its 2025-2026 ski season starting November 21. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Phoenix Park accelerated snowmaking operations as temperatures dropped below freezing this week, moving up its opening date by eight days compared to last year.
On the opening day, an opening event will be held at the Hawk Slope, and a “First Bread Event” will take place at the ski house. Fortune cookies, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, will contain one of about ten different prizes at random, including hotel party suite vouchers, lift tickets, Blue Canyon and Snow Village admission tickets, and more. For the opening day only, all on-site lift tickets will be offered at a discounted price of 30,000 won, regardless of ticket type.
Monayongpyeong will also open its slopes starting November 21. On the first day, the Pink Slope (beginner/intermediate) will be available out of the 28 total slopes, and the resort plans to initially operate courses where stable snow quality can be ensured. Depending on changes in temperature and snowfall, all slopes are scheduled to open sequentially by the end of the year.
This winter season will feature a variety of programs not only for skiers but also for families. On December 24, a Christmas musical gala show featuring musical actress Hong Jimin will be held, and year-end festivities will include busking performances, a fireworks show, and a sunrise cable car ride as part of the New Year’s countdown program. In February next year, the “Foreigners’ Ski Festival,” an event with a 43-year tradition, will take place, with about 500 participants including diplomats and expatriate families in Korea. At the end of February, the season finale will be marked by “Balwangsu Splash,” Korea’s only pond-skimming performance ski event.
High1 Resort, operated by Kangwon Land, has begun snowmaking operations to open its ski resort from November 28. This is about 22 days earlier than last year. High1 Resort aims to create optimal skiing conditions by operating a customized snowmaking system that comprehensively analyzes daily average temperature, humidity, wind speed, and other factors to maintain high-quality snow.
In addition, Gwangju Gonjiam Resort Ski Resort in Gyeonggi Province and Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, plan to open their slopes in early December. Gonjiam Resort, under the new season’s concept of “the one and only premium ski resort woven into the skier’s daily life,” has greatly improved convenience for beginner and intermediate skiers. The resort will operate a private slope exclusively for youth and beginners to learn to ski safely, and beginner/intermediate skiers can enjoy the “Panorama Slope,” a gentle slope that is longer and wider from the summit to the base. In addition, with the introduction of Korea’s first “Ski Mobile Quick Pass,” guests can complete everything from lift ticket reservations and payments to rentals and entry in one go through a mobile application (app).
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