Getting There
Other than the airport at Yangyang, the only airport in the province is Wonju Airport (WJU), 366, Toegye-dong, Chuncheon-si (tel. 033/344-3311). Located between Wonju and Hoengseong, it has one flight daily to and from Jeju-do and one from Seoul, served by Korean Airlines. City bus no. 62 goes from the airport to the Hoengseong Intercity Bus Terminal, as well as the train station and Wonju Bus Terminal. The bus stop is located to the right after you come out of the airport.
Bus lines to Gangwon-do start from Seoul's Express Bus Terminal, 19-3 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu (tel. 02/535-4151), or the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, 546-1 Guui-dong, Seongdong-gu (tel. 02/446-8000), for locales in the northern part of the province.
The Jung-ang Rail Line cuts across the southwestern corner of the province running through Wonju on its way down to Busan. Two rail lines cut through the Taebaek Mountains to the coast. The older, more scenic route is the Yeongdong Line that runs south. It starts in Yeongju (in Gyeongsangbuk-do) and goes via Cheolam to Gangneung. The Taebaek Line branches off from Jecheon (in Chungcheongbuk-do) and goes through Yeongwol, meeting the Yeongdong line at Baeksan. The short Gyeongchun Line connects Chuncheon to Cheongnyangni and the Jung-ang Line.
Driving through the province, the two expressways are the 50 that runs from Seoul through Wonju to Gangneung, connecting to the short 65 expressway that goes north to Hyeonnam and south to Donghae. The Jung-ang Expressway (road 55) starts from Chuncheon and runs through Wonju all the way south down to Busan.
Getting Around
Intercity buses connect cities and small towns to each other, but local buses run less frequently through much of the province. If visiting far-flung sites, plan ahead and check the time of your return bus so that you're not stranded in some remote mountain locale at the end of the day. Taxis are available outside of all bus and train stations and airports, but you'll pay a bit more than you would in Seoul or the larger cities, since the drivers know that sometimes you don't have a choice but to use their services. Negotiate your price with the driver before heading off in any direction.
Visitor Information
The Gangwon-do Tourist Information Office (tel] 033/244-0088) provides booths and information centers in front of most major transportation hubs and main tourist attractions. Most of them are staffed by helpful, English-speaking guides. Be sure to get maps and local bus schedules. You can also dial the Korea Travel Phone (tel. 1330) anywhere in the country for travel assistance in English.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs Most banks throughout the province are open 9:30am to 4pm weekdays.
Business Hours Government offices are usually open weekdays from 9am to 6pm March through October, and until 5pm November through February. Major department stores are open daily 10:30am to 7:30pm, even Sundays. Smaller shops tend to be open from early morning until later in the evening.
Internet Access If you're traveling with a laptop, you may be able to get high-speed Internet access from your hotel, since most upscale hotels (and even lower-priced love motels) provide Internet access. Otherwise, step into any number of PC bahngs, usually located in the downtown area of towns, where you can rent a computer with Internet access for a small fee per hour.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
