Asia > South Korea > Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is the high, cool corner of Gangwon that South Korea put on world television during the 2018 Winter Olympics. The county is scattered rather than urban: ski bases, temple valleys, ranch slopes, and small towns sit across the Taebaek Mountains at elevations that make winter feel serious.
The best day starts away from the Olympic branding, in Odaesan National Park and at Woljeongsa Temple, where the fir-tree path and old Buddhist halls give Pyeongchang real depth. Daegwallyeong adds a different texture: wind, open pasture, sheep and cattle ranches, and wide views toward the east coast.
Pyeongchang is not a compact sightseeing town. It works best with a car, a ski plan, or a clear route between Jinbu, Daegwallyeong, and Bongpyeong. Give it a day if you are already in Gangwon and want mountains with more identity than a resort strip.