GroundK runs a smart shuttle network on its T-RiseUp mobility system, connecting major hubs in Seoul with seven ski resorts across Korea. Two to three optimized routes were designed for each resort based on demand and travel patterns, and the T-RiseUp TMS unifies booking, ticket validation, and settlement in one digital flow. Select routes add direct shuttles from Incheon International Airport to widen access for travelers arriving from abroad.
The problem with reaching the slopes in winter
Most ski resorts in Korea sit in the mountainous parts of Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province, well outside the cities. The scenery is the draw, but the location is also the obstacle: without a private car, the resorts are hard to reach. Few hubs connect by public transit, and the transfers are awkward, so getting there often becomes the hardest part of a winter trip.
GroundK answered that gap with shuttles. Rather than simply adding vehicles, our team analyzed demand and travel patterns at each resort, then designed two to three optimized routes per destination. The aim was to shorten each rider's journey and link hub to slope by the most direct path, so a single shuttle replaces the planning and the driving.
How the seven-resort network is built
The backbone is a route structure that connects major hubs in Seoul directly to seven ski resorts. With two to three routes per resort, demand is distributed across hubs and each trip runs without a break from origin to destination. Riders skip the transfers and route-planning and reach the slopes on one shuttle.
That route operation runs on GroundK's mobility system, T-RiseUp TMS. Routes are designed from demand data and travel patterns, and operations are managed for efficiency through the same system, which keeps service steady even through the concentrated demand of the winter season.
One system for booking, validation, and settlement
At the center of this case is the TMS, which manages the full cycle of booking, ticket validation, and settlement as a single digital flow. Pulling those once-separate steps into one system secured both operational efficiency and reliability. On site, reservation status, boarding, and settlement move together without manual handling.
A white-label capability sits on top of that. Each resort gets a dedicated booking page that reflects its own brand identity, so riders reserve inside the resort's official environment without anything feeling out of place. For the operator, that means a consistent brand experience even while an external system runs underneath: the booking screen wears the resort's face, while the TMS handles the operation behind it.
Airport-direct routes and one-way or round-trip choice
GroundK also broadened the choices for riders. Routes are set up so travelers can pick one-way or round-trip freely, and select routes add a direct shuttle from Incheon International Airport. A line that runs straight from the airport to the resort matters most for visitors arriving from abroad and for long-distance travelers, who can head for the slopes right after landing without a tangle of transfers.
This raises access for international skiers and, at the same time, opens a direct channel for inbound winter tourism. Hubs, the airport, and the resorts are tied into one shuttle network that carries the rider from the first leg of the trip to the last.
Beyond one season, as a mobility partner
GroundK's seasonal shuttle does not stop at winter. The same operating model extends to other settings where large, season-driven demand appears.
"We will establish ourselves as a reliable mobility partner not only for winter ski resorts but across all kinds of seasonal large-scale travel demand, including summer water parks." — Kim Seong-bok, CSO
The demand analysis, route design, and integrated operation that ties booking through settlement apply just as well to water parks, festivals, and other venues that need seasonal transport. Building on this experience, GroundK continues to position itself as a mobility partner that moves with the seasons.