The article highlights the impact of climate change on South Korea's ski industry, focusing on the Alpensia Resort in Pyeongchang, which hosted events during the 2018 Winter Olympics. With global warming causing winters to become increasingly warmer and leading to less natural snowfall, ski resorts are experiencing significant challenges. The senior official at Alpensia Resort noted that without artificial snow, it would be nearly impossible to operate the ski facilities.

Historically, regions like Daegwallyeong, known for heavy snowfall, are now seeing average winter temperatures rise, leading to ‘snowless winters’. Comparisons were drawn between average temperatures from 2014 to 2024, illustrating a troubling warming trend of nearly 2.7 degrees Celsius in Pyeongchang alone. In areas with lower elevations, such as Gyeonggi Province, the rise in temperatures is even more pronounced, further threatening the viability of ski resorts in a region that once boasted reliable winter conditions.

This growing climate crisis poses an existential threat to South Korea's ski industry, which has long been a symbol of winter sports in the country. As natural snow diminishes and winters warm, operators now find themselves increasingly reliant on costly artificial snow production, which could ultimately make it financially unfeasible to maintain ski operations. Consequently, the ski industry in South Korea stands at a critical crossroads, needing to adapt rapidly to these environmental changes to survive.