Yong Pyeong- Seoul-Busan-Jeju Doable in 9 days?

My friend and I plan to travel to Korea from Dec 27-Jan. 4 for the holidays. We want to go skiing in Yong Pyeong since my friend is also interested to see the scenes from Winter Sonata drama series. So I was hoping if you guys can help me out.

Is it possible to go directly from Incheon airport to Yong Pyeong stay one night there then ski the next morning (we%26#39;re beginners)? We%26#39;re sort of in a budget though. Not sure where we can stay there. Haven%26#39;t done my research for skiing.

We already have a hotel booking in Dongdaemon from Dec. 28-30. Then we plan to take the train/subway to Busan stay for 2 nights then take a ferry to Jeju Island for 2 nights then fly back to Seoul. (Haven%26#39;t done any hotels or train bookings yet though.) Should we book this in advance? We%26#39;re not sure about the number of people travelling to Busan during the New Yea.

Yong Pyeong- Seoul-Busan-Jeju Doable in 9 days?

New year is not really much in Korea; Lunar New year (or ';Chinese New year';) is the festival. So I don%26#39;t think train (KTX?) to Busan is a problem.

why stay Busan?

Unless you%26#39;ve a friend or relative there, I wouldn%26#39;t see it as a great destination. Might well be cheaper and more conveneint to take a plane from Gimpo airport direct to Jeju, IMHO.

I know I keep advocating it, but Gyeongju- not THAT far from Busan - would be a far better destination; you could then either fly from Busan airport, or I think Ulsan airport has flights to Jeju.

Yong Pyeong- Seoul-Busan-Jeju Doable in 9 days?

Actually I beg to differ with above comments about New year%26#39;s day. Although it isn%26#39;t big as Lunar new year%26#39;s celebration, it%26#39;s still a holiday, so many koreans will be out traveling, especially to popular destination like Jeju island. I always hear about traffic jams and big crowds at hotel and resorts from Korean TV news. I would book my flight soon since you got two weeks left. Since you are traveling in winter why not pop a visit to Hot spring? If you are going to Yong Pyeong you are not too far from Seorak-san National Park (http://www.lifeinkorea.com/travel2/Nparks/296) which has spectacular winter scenery and hot spring resort like Seorak Waterpia (…visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp…)

agree re flights; however KTX should be ok up to the day of travel if you%26#39;re prepared to be flexible on times.

You should bustle up booking everything - flights, accommodation and local transportation - before you come to Korea for the year-end season. Many Koreans are traveling around to celebrate new year%26#39;s eve.

Agreed. You should book now for the New Year%26#39;s sitch. But also reconsider the Incheon to Yongpyong deal. What time do you get in to Incheon? If you can get to the Kosukterminal in Seoul by, um, 7 or 8 PM, maybe. Still, that bus will be to Kangnung on the coast. Train? Forget it. Better to shack it up in Seoul and early morning bus (public) or set up a package to Hwaengnae (Yongpyung base). Also, the accommodation situation at Yongpyung WILL be booked through Feb. That is, unless you are prepared to pay in the amount of three hundred or so U.S. Better to stay in Hwaegae at the bottom of the mountain in the village at a yogwon for thirty or forty thousand won, rent your skis there which will save you another half compared to renting at the slopes and grab a bus, shuttle, or even taxi up. But, do be careful with the transport to, within, and from Yongpyong if you go that route. Of course, there is always Yangjae resort just south of Suwon, south Seoul with great slopes and less crowded environs for ya....