By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
It drops below zero degrees Celsius in Seoul, sometimes with strong winds making it feel much colder. But that is a good sign for winter sport lovers.
To attract them, local hotels have just transformed their outdoor swimming pools into ice rinks and are offering various events. If you don't have time to escape to ski resorts, such ice rinks can be a good place to enjoy this season.
The Grand Hyatt Seoul's ice rink is approximately 990 square meters in size and can accommodate up to 150 skaters.
Thanks to high-tech ice making equipment, guests can enjoy skating on the ice even when temperatures reach 20 degrees above zero.
The hotel has more than 600 pairs of ice skates for rental, with sizes fitting everyone from four year olds to adults. Private and group lessons are available.
A variety of ice rink events and activities will be also held throughout the winter season including weekday specials, birthday packages and proposal events.
There are special discounts on weekdays such as a 50 percent discount on admission and skate rental for couples on Mondays, complimentary skate rentals from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
For birthday celebrations, it offers packages, priced at 57,000 won and 68,000 won, which includes birthday party decorations, special children's party menu, birthday cake, complimentary ice rink admission and skate rentals.
A proposal event can be the perfect way to propose to a loved one, with romantic music in the background. This service is available between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. when the rink closes.
The Ice Rink Event Package is also available on Dec. 24 and 31, along with special parties on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
The rink opens from noon to 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday to Sunday as well as holidays. For more information, call (02) 799-8112.
The hotel has opened an ice rink under the theme of the children's story from England, ``The Snowman.''
With an area of 1,800 square meters, the hotel's outdoor swimming pool River Park has been transformed into a large oval shaped ice rink, which can fit up to 500 people.
The rink is open until Feb. 17 and its operation hours are from noon to 9 p.m. from Monday
Although the hotel does not have its own ice rink, it has a popular skating spot right in front of it.
Introduced first in 2004 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the outdoor ice rink is a popular spot because of its convenient location and cheap cost.
There is no admission fee, and skates can be rented at an economic price of 1,000 won. It opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. But between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. only people under 15 can use the rink.
The venue is located near City Hall Station on subway lines 1 and 2. For more information, call (02) 2171-2210 or visit www.seoul.go.kr.