Top Winter Activities
Even the most anti-winter, beach-loving, hot weather junkies can find something fun and enjoyable to do here. Take some ideas from Kerri Strothard, who will be entering her fourth Korean winter this year.
The grey skies and cold winds of Korean winters can be hard to shake, but here are some of the best ways to beat the urge to hide in your apartment.
Top Winter Festivals
1. Hit up the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival that runs for three weeks from January 7-29, 2012. Hwacheon is famous for being the first city to ice over in Korea, as it is one of the most northerly cities in Gangwon province, bordering the DMZ. If you’re not ready to find your inner ice-fisher yet, you can enjoy the other festivities by taking your photo with the beautifully detailed ice sculptures, skating outdoors, skiing, and sledding.
2. Visit the green tea fields of Boseong for the romantic Festival of Lights, running from December 9- January 29, 2012. Even if you’ve already visited Boseong in the summer, the fields take on a new magical glow when each row of green tea is covered with bright white lights. You’ll also see fireworks and a giant Christmas tree.
Top Winter Activities
1. Visit a mountain ski resort and put your skis on. Deogyusan Resort in Muju boasts the biggest slopes, and they offer 2 and 3-day rentals and passes for less than 100,000 won. Because they have the biggest runs, Muju can get quite crowded on weekends. If you want something a bit more upscale, Jisan Forest Resort offers high-end accommodations to give you the feeling of a classy weekend getaway. Jisan also has an indoor golf putting course and a bowling alley if you’ve had enough of the snow.
2. Visit an outdoor hot spring to refresh your spirit and skin during the dry winter. There are hot springs all over Korea, but I recommend trying the 600-year old Onyang Hot Spring where Hangeul master King Sejong himself soaked in the health benefits. It offers both outdoor and indoor facilities, and it’s part of the larger outdoor hot springs of Asan, in case you want to check out other local hot springs while you’re there.
3. Visit a snowy temple and feel the quiet patience of winter. Beopjusa temple at Songnisan has a huge standing Buddha statue and many small temples to explore without having to hike too much. If you’re lucky, you can take some beautiful pictures of icicles dangling off the temple roofs. You might also get to eat some healthy temple food to keep you feeling strong and warm.
4. Visit Yeomju Ice Rink or Pung-Am World Cup Stadium and do your best impression of Kim Yuna in rented skates for less than 10,000 won. If you’re really into hockey, you can join a hockey league – there’s one right in Gwangju that meets at the Yeomju ice rink every Saturday. Visit their Facebook page “Hockey Night in Gwangju” and get yourself a stick.
Top in Denial of Winter Activities
1. Warm your hands and feast on bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped sweet red bean cakes), roasted chestnuts, and baked sweet potatoes. Exclusively available in winter, you can buy these snacks on the streets of Gwangju for around 3,000 won. You’ll definitely feel warmer holding these as you walk down the street.
2. Find a bright, sunny café and visit it frequently. Vitamin D helps keep us happy, and a lot of us don’t get enough of it during winter. Try Café Stephanie in downtown Gwangju, and play with the cute dog who lives in the café, while you snuggle up with a novel.
3. Buy a crazy cute winter hat and wear it with pride. If you’re not up for wearing a polar bear hat, or a cow hat, send one home to little ones in your family. They’ll definitely love the novelty and usefulness of the gift, not to mention all the conversations it will start.
4. If you’ve had enough of the snow, why not forget all about it and absorb yourself in the Korean indie music scene at the basement Club Nevermind in Gwangju. Check out their website, choose a band to see and make a plan to meet them after the show.
By Kerrilyn Strothard
A version of this article appeared in the
Gwangju News print edition, December 2011.