• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.444-460
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• 2010

This study analyzed the changes in climate elements that affects the opening and closing dates of the ski resorts, and the snowmaking. Climatology data from the weather stations adjacent to the ski resorts in the central region of Korea were analysed to understand the snowmakig status. The fan type snowmaker has been used in the capital region (over 94% of the whole snowmaking), while the gun type snowmaker has been used in Yongpyong. There has been obviously an increased trend of the daily minimum temperature in November in Daegwallyeong and a little decreased trend in Icheon after 1980s. That caused the effect on the opening dates of the ski resort in the capital region of Korea during 2000s. Closing dates of ski resorts were earlier in the capital region (with $2{\sim}4^{\circ}C$ of daily maximum temperature in mid-February) than in Yongpyong. The obviously increasing rate of the snowmelting day in Icheon also hardened the management and maintenance of the ski resorts in the capital region of Korea.