During the festival, festivalgoers can participate in various events and leisure sports including, of course, trout fishing. (image: Pyeongchang Trout Festival)
PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Dec. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Pyeongchang, famous as the host city for the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympic Games, is awaiting festivalgoers who will brave harsh winter winds and snow in hopes of catching some trout.
The preparatory committee for the Pyeongchang Trout Festival announced that it would hold the event from December 20 to February 8, 2015 in Jinbu, Pyeongchang County.
During the festival, festivalgoers can participate in various events and leisure sports including, of course, trout fishing. Considered as one of three winter festivals along with Hwacheon Sancheoneo (trout) Festival and Inje Icefish Festival, the event also was selected as one of “20 winter festivals worth visiting” by the Korea Tourism Organization in 2013.
During the winter, many visitors come to the snow town of Pyeongchang, to ski and visit the nearby East Sea coast. New tour packages and events are attracting more and more visitors.
At the trout festival, visitors can watch trout swim under the frozen-over Odaecheon stream, and if they’re strong enough to brave the elements, try to land some for their own consumption. Any trout caught in the icy waters can be served fresh on the spot, grilled or raw for those lucky enough to see their patience rewarded.
Along with ice fishing, the festival offers various other activities for family members to enjoy together, including snow sculpting, bare-handed trout fishing, sliding, skating, ice carting, ATV riding and snow rafting.
Choi Kyo-soon, chairperson of the festival preparatory committee, said, “Pyeongchang opened the first trout farm in Korea, and Pyeongchang’s trout is famous for its chewy texture. As trout only live in fresh and clean running water in lower temperatures between 7 to 13 degrees Celsius, anyone can enjoy the fish whether is cooked or raw.”
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
