Ticket Site for 4CC Gangneung

To be honest, I really want to go to this competition. Alas, work and school wins here again.

http://ticket.interpark.com/Contents/Promotion/PyeongChang?SportsItem=fs&Language=en

Note: this is actually the official English version of what Hailey has linked in the former thread.
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Edit: Hailey, I'm gonna need you to be in this competition because you make awesome live reports!

Oh, how I would love to go to 4CC this year... I think all the "big names" are going to go there because it is a "test event" for the Olympics in 2018, and they will want to familiarise themselves with the venue. I think it will be a great competition!

But alas. Too many other competitions this season, close to home... have gutted the bank account...

I actually looked into possibly going to 4CCs this season, before giving it up. Why? Because trying to find information about how to get to Gangneung and accommodation there, in English, actually bookable by foreigners, was next to impossible. There is no information available. They want to be a tourist destination, they want to host the winter games, but I can't even find a place to stay.

The only way it looks like a foreigner could do it would be to contact about the "travel packages". But even then there's no outright information, just a contact address for queries. This is seriously poor organisation.

karne said:

I actually looked into possibly going to 4CCs this season, before giving it up. Why? Because trying to find information about how to get to Gangneung and accommodation there, in English, actually bookable by foreigners, was next to impossible. There is no information available. They want to be a tourist destination, they want to host the winter games, but I can't even find a place to stay.

The only way it looks like a foreigner could do it would be to contact about the "travel packages". But even then there's no outright information, just a contact address for queries. This is seriously poor organisation.

Click to expand...

Wow. That doesn't sound good...

YesWay said:

Wow. That doesn't sound good...

Click to expand...

It's not that bad. It is a Ticketmaster site not an official 4cc site. Gangneung is a very popular tourist city. Easy to find the info in English. Just not one stop for all booking that's all.

Uhm, a simple google search does wonders when traveling to Korea. I found this website less than a minute, and it gives a detailed information on hotels, attractions, and restaurants.

Just checked back at the ISU page of 4CC and they have a first information pdf now linked.

It does show which hotels ISU officials and federations can use for the competition.

karne said:

I actually looked into possibly going to 4CCs this season, before giving it up. Why? Because trying to find information about how to get to Gangneung and accommodation there, in English, actually bookable by foreigners, was next to impossible. There is no information available. They want to be a tourist destination, they want to host the winter games, but I can't even find a place to stay.

The only way it looks like a foreigner could do it would be to contact about the "travel packages". But even then there's no outright information, just a contact address for queries. This is seriously poor organisation.

Click to expand...

I agree. The preparation for the Olympics is not going well. It has been a scandal in Korea. Anyway, for the information you are looking for...


1) Gangneung itself is a minor business city, not a big resort city. Though it is surrounded with tourist destinations. There are many pensions (aka inns) and small hotels in Gangneung, but they don't do advance reservations. I heard they may start getting reservations by phone in January, so I am waiting for it.


2) The official package

ETD: As of January 18, 2017

http://pyeongchang.kaltour.com/images/html/pyeongchang/list.asp

You have to click "피겨 스케이팅 Figure Skating" to find the packages for 4CC.

Various combinations of Class B tickets (Apparently they do not have Class A tickets.), transportation, and hotel are shown, but the options including hotel are already closed. For your information, the offered hotel was from Feb. 16 Thur evening till Feb. 19 Sun morning, with two people sharing and breakfast included.

Airport - Gangneung Terminal

Gangneung Bus Schedule as of November 29, 2016

Incheon Airport - Gimpo Airport - Gangneung Inter-City Bus Terminal
Total 4 hours
30,000 Korean won ~ 27 USD.
Platform No. 9C

http://www.airport.kr/pa/en/d/3/1/1/index.jsp#none

Leave at
07:30
09:30
11:00
13:00
15:00
16:30
19:30
21:30


Gangneung Inter-City Bus Terminal - Gimpo Airport - Incheon Airport
Three and half hours to Gimpo Airport. Total 4 hours to Incheon Airport
30,000 Korean won ~ 27 USD.
Platform No. 0

http://www.gangneungterminal.co.kr/index.php?mp=p2_1&cmd=oneway&subcmd=detail&sp=16462&ep=16404
(Click the button "상세정보")

Leave at
04:00 (does not stop at Gimpo Airport)
06:00
08:00
09:00
10:00
12:00
14:00
16:00

This is an English reservation site for Gangneung to Incheon Airport, up to one week in advance. But it seems that you need a Korean telephone number to reserve it. At least one can check how many seats are available.
https://www.bustago.or.kr/newweb/en/ticket/ticket.do


Note: During the ski season, the buses stop by the ski resorts, too.


=================================================

Gangneung Bus Terminal is a combination of two buildings. Seen from the outside,

• Left Wing = Gangneung Express Bus Terminal: Buses to Seoul Express Bus Terminal and East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Express Line
• Right Wing = Gangneung Inter-city Bus Terminal: Buses to East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Inter-city Line and Incheon Airport/Gimpo Airport

Thanks very much seabm7 for the info! I bought tickets the day sales started and have booked a pension/motel via agoda by comparing its location on the map with the map in the official info :think: but have yet to look into the bus schedules from seoul to gangneung. It does appear that a lot of the infrastructure isn't in place yet and trying to figure out how to get to the venue from the inn has been very difficult but I have hope that it will be better by next year. I saw that the arena is hosting a speed skating competition next month so hopefully more info about access to the venue will be available soon.

Train (not recommended)

They are upgrading the train tracks and stations for the Olympics. Therefore, Gangneung Station is closed until the end of 2017. They will run special express trains between Incheon Airport and Gangneung Station during the Olympics.

Unfortunately, this means that train will be the least favorable transportation option during 4CC. Currently, the nearest train station in the Gangneung area is Jeongdongjin Station. There are shuttle buses between Jeongdongjin Station and Gangneung. Anyway, if you happen to use this option, it will go in this way.

1) Incheon Airport (West end of Seoul) - Cheongnyangni Station (East end of Seoul)

Duration: One hour and 40 minutes by Bus No. 6002.

Frequency: Every 10 to 20 minutes during the daytime.
http://www.airportlimousine.co.kr/lbr/lbr03_1_2.php
The left column is from Cheongnyangni Station to Incheon Airport. The right column is from Incheon Airport to Cheongnyangni Station.
Black letters: Weekdays. Red letters: Saturday, Sunday, and holidays

Cost: 10,000 Korean Won

2) Cheongnyangni Station - Jeongdongjin Station

Duration: 5 to 6 hours.

Frequency: Depends on the season.
One or two times in the morning. One or two times in the afternoon.
One night train from Cheongnyangni to Jeongdongjin, but not the other way. This night train is for the people who wants to see the sunrise at the sea. Jeongdongjin is famous for the beautiful sunrise scene.

Cost: Around 22,000 Korean Won

3) Jeongdongjin Station - Gangneung Station

Shuttle bus
Duration: 25 minutes

Frequency: Depends on the train schedule.
The bus to Gangneun leaves about 10 minutes after the train arrives.
The bus to Jeongdongjin leaves about 40-50 minutes before the train leaves.

Cost: 2,000 Korean Won.

East Seoul - Gangneung

Survival guide (Version 1) when you cannot get the Gangneung bus at the airport:

They have frequent bus services at the East Seoul Bus Terminal.


Note 1) I realized that Seoul Express Bus Terminal would be a better option for most of the people, so I created Version 2. You can find the information at
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sh...CC-Gangneung&p=1569654&viewfull=1#post1569654

Note 2) East Seoul Bus Terminal is also called Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. Korean "Dong" means "East".

Note 3) East Seoul Bus Terminal serves both inter-city and express bus lines.

Note 4) The terminal building is old and crowded. The restrooms are not clean.



1) Incheon Airport - East Seoul Bus Terminal

First Option: Take Bus 6705 (KAL Limousine). This line stops at several hotels in Seoul.
http://www.kallimousine.com/eng/guide01_en.html
Duration: 90 minutes
Frequency: 10 to 20 minutes during the daytime. First bus at 04:53. Last bus at 22:46.
Cost: 16,000 Korean Won


Second Option: They also have direct line between Incheon Airport and East Seoul Bus Terminal
Duration: 90 minutes
Frequency: 40 to 60 minutes during the daytime.
Cost: 11,000 Korean Won


2) East Seoul Bus Terminal - Gangneung Bus Terminal

Inter-city bus option (Ticketing 1st floor)
Duration:

Frequency: 10 to 30 minutes, quite frequent. First bus at 06:22. First direct bus at 06:32. Last bus at 23:05 (As of November 1)
https://www.ti21.co.kr/drive/index.html?Area=%B0%AD%B8%AA
(First column = departure time. 4th column = duration)

Cost: 14,600 - 16,100 Korean Won

Platform no: 1,2, and 3. https://www.ti21.co.kr/terminal/a6.html


Express bus option (Ticketing 2nd floor. They have a path to the platform downstairs.)
Slightly more expensive with better seats than the inter-city bus. Each bus has 28 seats, so they run out quickly.

Duration: Two hours and 30 minutes
Frequency: 40 minutes. First bus at 06:20, last bus at 22:00

Cost: 15,000 - 16,500 Korean Won

Platform: They use a separate area from the inter-city platform. I could not find the graphic info yet.

=================================================

Gangneung Bus Terminal is a combination of two buildings. Seen from the outside,

• Left Wing = Gangneung Express Bus Terminal: Buses to Seoul Express Bus Terminal and East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Express Line
• Right Wing = Gangneung Inter-city Bus Terminal: Buses to East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Inter-city Line and Incheon Airport/Gimpo Airport

Korean words

Gangneung, Gangreung 강릉

Incheon Airport 인천공항

Gimpo Airport 김포공항

Seoul 서울

Gangnam (River South) 강남

Gangbuk (River North) 강북

East Seoul Bus Terminal, Dong Seoul Bus Terminal 동서울버스터미널

Gangneung Ice Arena 강릉아이스아레나

Bus 버스
Express Bus 고속버스 (Express bus is not faster, but more comfortable than inter-city bus)
Inter-city Bus, Cross-country Bus 시외버스

Taxi 택시

Train 열차, 기차

Train Station 열차역, 기차역

Note: Originally, 기차 meant steam trains. Nowadays, it is used as a synonym to 열차.

Hello Seabm7, thank you so much for positing all those useful information. Just wonder whether it is practical to drive from the airport to Gangneung? Would that take longer than the bus?

Car rental

Elaine666 said:

Hello Seabm7, thank you so much for positing all those useful information. Just wonder whether it is practical to drive from the airport to Gangneung? Would that take longer than the bus?

Click to expand...

It will take about the same duration. I haven't rented a car in Korea, so I'm not sure of the service quality. The driving culture is somewhere between Italy and US. To speak the truth, I haven't driven a car since I moved from Chicago to Seoul 5 years ago. The metropolitan area has a very convenient public transportation system. Taxi fare is cheap. However, Gangneung is a different matter. The public transportation is limited in the mountains.

If you are thinking of renting a car, ask the rental service if they provide an English navigation equipment. Google map is not useful, since the company is not allowed to use the detailed Korean map information. I heard Google is not getting well with the Korean Government, due to some tax disputes.

IDP may be needed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

According to this webpage, Herz and Lotte service Incheon Airport:

In English
http://www.airport.kr/pa/en/d/4/2/3/index.jsp

In Japanese
http://www.airport.kr/pa/ja/d/4/2/3/index.jsp

Another website:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TRP/TP_ENG_8_3.jsp

I asked my friends about the highway quality to Gangneung. Some of them do ski trips during the winter. I heard that the highway condition to Gangneung is OK, but you have to careful when you come back from Gangneung. There is a series of steep declines when you come down from the mountains.

=====================================================================

ETD: My friend from Gangneung says it snows a lot and frequently around the city area.

seabm7 said:

Korean Words:

Gangneung 강릉

Incheon Airport 인천공항

Gimpo Airport 김포공항

Seoul 서울

East Seoul Bus Terminal 동서울버스터미널

Gangneung Ice Arena 강릉아이스아레나

Bus 버스

Taxi 택시

Train 열차

Train Station 열차역

Click to expand...

Thanks very much for this! I found an app by Gangneung city hall on the iphone app store that looks like it has transit info within gangneung, some of these words will help me get started on figuring it out ^^

By the way might you know whether the buses from Seoul to Gangneung accept the t-money card? I still have my card from a trip to Korea a couple of years ago though I'll probably ask for smaller denominations at the money changers too just in case.

seabm7 said:

It will take about the same duration. I haven't rented a car in Korea, so I'm not sure of the service quality. The driving culture is somewhere between Italy and US. To speak the truth, I haven't driven a car since I moved from Chicago to Seoul 5 years ago. The metropolitan area has a very convenient public transportation system. Taxi fare is cheap. However, Gangneung is a different matter. The public transportation is limited in the mountains.

If you are thinking of renting a car, ask the rental service if they provide an English navigation equipment. Google map is not useful, since the company is not allowed to use the detailed Korean map information. I heard Google is not getting well with the Korean Government, due to some tax disputes.

IDP may be needed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

According to this webpage, Herz and Lotte service Incheon Airport:

In English
http://www.airport.kr/pa/en/d/4/2/3/index.jsp

In Japanese
http://www.airport.kr/pa/ja/d/4/2/3/index.jsp

Another website:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TRP/TP_ENG_8_3.jsp

I asked my friends about the highway quality to Gangneung. Some of them do ski trips during the winter. I heard that the highway condition to Gangneung is OK, but you have to careful when you come back from Gangneung. There is a series of steep declines when you come down from the mountains.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much! Really appreciate!

merleice said:

By the way might you know whether the buses from Seoul to Gangneung accept the t-money card? I still have my card from a trip to Korea a couple of years ago though I'll probably ask for smaller denominations at the money changers too just in case.

Click to expand...

Oh well. The answer is no. The bus company says they prefer cash, and they recommend you to visit the bus ticket booth of Incheon Airport. You can use a credit card at that ticket booth, too.

Thanks seabm7! I think i'll spend a couple of days in Seoul before heading to Gangneung so will probably take the bus from East Seoul bus terminal you mentioned in an earlier post. Really appreciate your sharing of all these info on transit options <3

Seoul/Gangnam - Gangneung

merleice said:

Thanks seabm7! I think i'll spend a couple of days in Seoul before heading to Gangneung so will probably take the bus from East Seoul bus terminal you mentioned in an earlier post. Really appreciate your sharing of all these info on transit options <3

Click to expand...

I see. In such a case, Seoul (Gangnam) Express Bus Terminal could be a better option than East Seoul Bus Terminal, depending on the location of your stay. The Seoul Express Bus Terminal is located at the southern part of the city. I will look for the bus schedule from this terminal to Gangneung and be back.

For the time being,

http://www.kobus.co.kr/web/eng_new/schedule.jsp (in English).


=========================================================

ETD: OK. The details.


Survival guide (Version 2) when you cannot get the Gangneung bus at the airport:



They have frequent bus services at Seoul Express Bus Terminal.

1) Incheon Airport - Gangnam Bus Terminal

Gangnam Bus Terminal actually means several adjacent structures at Gangnam:

• Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu Line, Yeongdong Line) : Bus to Gangneung departs from here.
  http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1116940
• Central City Bus Terminal (Honam Line) + Shinsegae Department Store
• JW Marriott Hotel
• Underground shopping mall

Take Bus 6020 at the Airport, Platform No. 4B or 11A
http://www.seoulbus.co.kr/eng/index/airportbus_01_1.php?val=11

Duration: 50 -60 minutes
Frequency: 15 to 25 minutes. First bus at 05:25. Last bus at 23:10 (As of November 6)
Cost: 15,000 Korean Won

Gangnam Terminal is the third stop from the Airport. Tell (or show) the bus driver you are going to Gangnam Terminal. They stop only at requests.
http://www.seoulbus.co.kr/BlueAD/admin/station/upload/0.19252900 1393463659.jpg (in English)
http://www.seoulbus.co.kr/BlueAD/admin/station/upload/0.49025200 1313747333.jpg (in Korean)
Large circles indicate subway stations. Bus terminals are small building blocks.
When you compare two images, you would find they forgot drawing the bus stop (i.e., get off point) in front of Gangnam Terminal in the English version.

When you get off from the bus, look for a building looking like this,
https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/파일:서울고속버스터미날_02.jpg

2) Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Yeongdong Line) - Gangneung Express Bus Terminal

Duration: Two hours and 40 minutes
Frequency: 20 to 30 minutes. First bus at 06:00. Last bus at 23:30 (As of November 6)
http://www.kobus.co.kr/web/eng_new/schedule.jsp

Cost: 14,600 - 23,600 Korean Won

Platform No. 22 http://www.exterminal.co.kr/take.asp


=================================================

Gangneung Bus Terminal is a combination of two buildings. Seen from the front outside,

• Left Wing = Gangneung Express Bus Terminal: Buses to Seoul Express Bus Terminal and East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Express Line
• Right Wing = Gangneung Inter-city Bus Terminal: Buses to East (Dong) Seoul Bus Terminal Inter-city Line and Incheon Airport/Gimpo Airport

=================================================

ETD: They have a night bus line from Incheon Airport to Gangnam Bus Terminal. But I'm not sure if it would be safe for a foreign tourist to stay at the Gangnam Bus Terminal area during the night. Part of the terminal including restaurants are open 24 hours.