Yongpyong Resort, Renamed Mona Yongpyong for Its 50th Anniversary
It had been a while since we last visited a ski resort. Yongpyong Resort in Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, has been reborn as "Mona Yongpyong" for its 50th anniversary. Our family stayed one night at the Greenpia Condo in Mona Yongpyong, in a 38-pyeong (about 125 m²) Building A unit with a slope view.
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Condo
Parking: You can use the indoor parking garage (B4 to B1) or the outdoor lot. The garage is so full that you may have to go up to B2 to find a space.
Check-in: Check-in starts at 2 p.m. by mobile check-in or on-site kiosk. The front desk doesn't handle check-in or check-out. I'd booked a mountain view and paid KRW 10,000 extra to switch to a slope view, and mobile check-in gave us a 7th-floor room.
A Word of Caution: With the slope view you may hear machine noise from grooming the slopes at night, along with parking lot noise. I wouldn't recommend it for light sleepers or for lower floors.
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Building A, 38-pyeong slope-view living room
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Building A, 38-pyeong slope-view bedroom
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Building A, 38-pyeong slope-view bedroom bathroom
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Building A, 38-pyeong slope-view living room bathroom
Mona Yongpyong Greenpia Building A, 38-pyeong slope-view ondol room
The Room: The condition of the 38-pyeong Building A slope-view unit is "not bad." With one bedroom, one ondol (heated-floor) room, and two bathrooms, it suits larger groups. The Greenpia condo isn't great, but its advantage is that you can stay close to the ski slopes at a reasonable price.
Getting Around: From Greenpia you can reach the slope directly from B3 through an arcade. To get to Dragon Plaza, the building for ski equipment rental and ticket purchases, it's best to go through B4.
Balwangsan Cable Car
While the kids were in ski lessons, we decided to ride the Balwangsan sightseeing cable car. A round trip costs KRW 25,000 per adult.
Saving Money: The price is high, so look into the various discounts, such as county or provincial resident discounts and hotel guest discounts.
Check Ahead: The cable car can close temporarily depending on the weather, so check before you go.
The cable car ride takes about 18 minutes and brings you to the 1,458 m summit of Balwangsan. After getting off at Dragon Castle at the top, you can enjoy a spectacular snowy mountain view from the observation deck on the 3rd floor. The summit is said to be beautiful in every season, so I recommend experiencing it. The Sky Walk was closed because of wind and ice, which was a pity, but walking through trees blooming with clear ice flowers made for an unforgettable time.
Essential Visitor Info
- 📍 Location: Mona Yongpyong, Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do
- 🛏️ Room: Greenpia Condo, Building A, 38-pyeong slope view (1 bedroom, 1 ondol room, 2 bathrooms)
- 🕑 Check-in: From 2 p.m., mobile or kiosk
- 🅿️ Parking: Indoor garage B4 to B1, plus an outdoor lot
- 🚠 Balwangsan Cable Car: KRW 25,000 round trip per adult; about 18 minutes to the 1,458 m summit
Final Verdict
Greenpia isn't luxurious, but it puts you next to the slopes at a fair price, and the Balwangsan cable car is a perfect break while the kids are in lessons. If you go, pick a higher floor and check the cable car's weather status first.
Skiing or snowy-summit views, which do you prefer? Tell me in the comments!
 and the Balwangsan Cable Car: A Review){kind=link}