We propose and experimentally demonstrate a ring resonator with sharp U-turns fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate; the resonator was designed as a key part of an optical, dynamic data storage device. We discuss the optical properties of the fabricated ring resonator from the viewpoint of equi-frequency-contour behavior in a dispersion space. We successfully characterize its optical characteristics on the basis of photonic crystal physics. It is suggested that the photonic ring resonator will be applicable to optical, dynamic memory devices for optical communication systems.