Sports for Children, Seoul    

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Sports for children

There are various places where you can take your child/children to watch sporting events (see spectators sports). There are also sports teams at the international schools. Over and above that, some parents have also gotten together to form sports teams including:

TEAMS:
Ice Hockey – The Jr. Kings Korea is a Korean junior team for 6-year olds and up that practices and plays in English at the Mokdong Arena on the south side of the river (about 5km south of Yoido). Ice time is in the evenings. The team manager, Mr. Cho, can sometimes provide slightly used hockey gear on first come, first served basis. For schedules and other information, go to http://www.jrkingskorea.com/ The Mokdong rink is about a ten-minute walk from Omokyo Station (stop 521) exits 2/3

Touch and Tag Rugby for kids –
The Han River Pirates touch and tag rugby for kids practice from 9:00 to 11:00 on Sundays at Dulwich College in Banpo Seoul. HRP is a volunteer club run by families for children to learn and partake in touch rugby. The children taking part range from 7 to 14 y-o-a, are a mix of boys and girst and are coached by family group members and members of the Seoul Survivors Rugby Club. The group runs two 10-week session a year - Spring & Fall and run/partake in  3 or 4 touch tournaments. Contact: hrp.touchrugby@gmail.com. Registration fee: W30,000.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES:
MINI GOLF:
Putt-Putt (7th Floor Yongsang Station I'Park Mall)) Yongsan Stop 136 or Shinyongsan Stop 429. Tel: 02-2012-0262. Website: www.puttputt.co.kr (korean only)

ICE SKATING RINKS:
Ice Skating is available on rinks all over the outskirts of Seoul in the winter, as well in at some location inside the city. Since skating is a popular activity here, rink is quite crowded particularly during the Korean school winter breaks. You can buy ice-skates at reasonable location in many locations including Dongdaemun Market. They are also available for rent at some rinks.
Skating Rinks:
City Hall Suare public skating rink erected every winter in front of Seoul City Hall
Hangang Riverside Park has two rinks that operate for a short period in winter.
Mokdong Ice Rink is very popular and affordable. To get there go to Omokgyo Station on Line 5 (stop 521), take exits 2/3 and then walk about 10 minutes. Tel: 02-2649-8455/6 (Korean speaker)
Grand Hyatt Hotel in Itaewon converts its outdoor pool into a skating rink from December to March. Tel: 02-799-8112
Lotte World Recreation Center and Shopping Complex has a giant fully enclosed hockey sized ice skating rink that is open year-round on floor B3 of the Lotte World shopping complex (Jamsil Station Lines 2 and 8 Exit 3).
Gwangwhamun Plaza: Located near Gwangwhamun Subway Station, line 5 (stop 533), the Gwanghwamun Plaza ice rink  features three different skating areas: a large rink (1,250 square meters), a medium rink (600 square meters) and a small rink (400 square meters). The small rink is a sledding area for children aged under six and people who cannot skate. Cost W1,000. For more information, call  (02) 2171-2210 or 02-1330. 


SWIMMING POOLS/ LESSONS:
ITAEWON AREA:
Itaewon Elementary School Pool and Swimming Lessons:  The school is located on the rise accross from Noksapyong Subway Station (go to the street along which you find the take-away Buddha's Belly Restaurant, just up from the Post Office heading back toward Itaewon). Lessons are available at the school pool - you may find an instructor who speaks some English, but in my experience swimming lessons can be given despite the language barrier). However, you may want a Korea speaker to help you with the initial call: 02-798-9779. You can also visit the pool/community center in person.

GANGNAM AREA:
Swimming lessons for babies/toddlers: (This is from a posting on the Forum). Although the classes are in Korea, little ones will enjoy the lessons. The pool is located in Yoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu (south of the river) I The following schedule/prices may have changed since this posting, so you may want to check it first:
Baby and Kids Play Swimming
Schedule 1:Tuesday and Friday from 12:00 - 13:00, age group is a combination of 3 month olds to 30 month olds, limited to 20 students per class, price is 120, 000 won a month
Schedule 2: You choose either Tuesday or Friday from 12:00 - 13:00, age group is a combination of 3 month olds to 30 month olds, limited to 20 students per class, price is 80, 000 won a month.
There are also lessons available for older children at this facility.
New classes start on the first of every month (You should register during the previous month)
The phone numbers (Korea speakers only) are:
Pool number 02 559 5114  (if you contact 1330 (02-1330 from cell phone) they will contact the pool and translate for you).
Coach's number 011 9917 2829 (you must contact this person to sign up - speaks some English, but not much.
Map (in Korean) http://www.dyfitness.com/map.htm

Note:  For more click on http://www.korea4expats.com/article-sports-seoul.html

NB: hours and contact details may have changed since this info was posted - if you find that to be the case, please let us know at info@korea4expats.com so that we can update the page.