When the month of December comes, the temperature would be falling down below zero. Continuing on the theme of ‘Winter Sports’ like I wrote the article titled as ‘Winter Sports: Go Skiing’, I am going to start describing ‘the place for skatin’. Specifically, I want to focus on the places in Seoul for your convenience.
1. Seoul Square Ice Skating Rink (서울광장 스케이트장)
Here is the picture of Seoul Square. As you see in the picture, it is operating outdoors, surrounded with some of the tall buildings. So you can feel awesome night view even though you are standing on the ground. It is composed of two ice-rinks, one for children (Left one in the picture) and one for students and adults (Middle one in the picture). Due to this separated space, your worries of being bumped with children may be lowered.
The price is only 1000 Won per hour, including rental fee of a pair of skates. However, it costs 500 Won to keep your stuff into the safe locker room or to rent a pair of gloves. They serve the helmets or pads at no cost.
The opening date is not announced yet including other skating rinks, but it would be from around the middle of December to the beginning of February, considering many historical data up to now. Usually it has been very crowded on Christmas day or the day before. To check in real time whether it is crowded or not, you can refer to the web-cam by accessing to the official page
[Homepage] http://www.seoulskate.or.kr/2015/info/webcam.html.
[Location]
City Hall Station (시청역) (Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 6.
Gwanghwamun Station (광화문역) (Subway Line 5), Exit 5.
Euljiro 1-ga Station (을지로입구역) (Subway Line 2), Exit 1 or 8.
Getting out of exit 6 at City Hall Station would be one of the convenient ways for foreigners not familiar with the Seoul Bus system.
Source: Google Maps
2. Lotte World Indoor Ice Skating Rink (롯데월드 실내 스케이트장)
Source: http://seyyah.az/news/911
This place has a giant fully enclosed hockey sized ice skating rink that is open year-round on floor B3 of the Lotte World Shopping Complex (롯데월드 타워몰). It is actually indoors, but it receives all the sunlight from the glass dome which makes the atmosphere seem as if it is outdoors. One of the distinctive features that only Lotte World has is that screams of joy from the rides can be heard at the ice rink. This is because the ice rink is in the same building as the amusement park. Thus, people can enjoy skating within an exciting atmosphere and delightful background.
(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=266850)
The cost for 3 hours skating ranges from around 11,000 Won for children to about 10,000 Won for adults – additional time is around 1000 Won per 30 minutes. Skates rent for around 5,000 Won (The price can vary).
[Homepage] www.lotteworld.com
[Location] Jamsil Station (잠실역) (Subway Line 2, 8), Exit 4
Source: Google Maps
3. Grand Hyatt Seoul Ice Skating Rink (그랜드 하얏트 서울 스케이트장)
At the Grand Hyatt Seoul Ice Skating Rink, during each winter season from December to February, the outdoor swimming pool and sun deck is transformed into a 910 square metre ice skating rink. Decorated with up-to-date design and technology, the place has been featured in a number of Korean TV commercials and dramas. It’s particularly popular with couples as the rink’s gorgeous lights, night view of the city, and smooth music makes it very romantic.
The price is not fixed yet this year, but the following is the one for last year.
Mon-Thu (2 hours) Admission 26,000 Won/ Skate rental 20,000 Won
Fri-Sun (2 hours) Admission 30,000 Won / Skate rental 20,000 Won
The price range is relatively higher than upper ones that I mentioned, because it is belonged to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, one of the fancy hotels in Seoul.
[Homepage] www.grandhyattseoul.co.kr
[Location] Hangangjin Station (한강진역) (Subway Line 6), Exit 1
(Much closer to get off at Hangangjin Station, not Itaewon Station (이태원역))
Source: Google Maps
Come and show off how well you can do skating toward your friends. Enjoy and make a special memory in Korea!
Article by SooJung from Korea, a Junior in Business Administration
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