HWACHEON, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, South Korea’s flagship winter event, has already welcomed over 180,000 visitors just two days after its opening.
Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province estimated around 82,000 attendees on the second day alone, adding to the 101,340 visitors from the opening day, bringing the total count to 183,000. Including the 44,016 who attended during the pre-festival period, the total number of visitors has already surpassed the 225,000 mark.
On the morning of the festival, the ice-covered Hwacheon stream in Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon County, was bustling with fishing enthusiasts from all over the country. Crowds gathered at various ice fishing spots, exclaiming with joy as they pulled in sancheoneo (Korean mountain trout) from beneath the ice.
Despite the morning temperature dropping to around -7 degrees Celsius, the festival’s excitement made the frigid cold seem inconsequential. Some dedicated anglers lay flat on the frozen stream, eagerly watching for sancheoneo to pass by their fishing holes.
Children joined their parents in cheers as they witnessed the trout falling for the bait. Those who missed their catch expressed disappointment, but the festival grounds were lively with people clad in colorful winter gear. Parking areas and side roads near the fishing sites were packed with cars.
Children, decked out in fur hats, gloves, and insulated boots, were also deeply engaged in ice fishing. Ten-year-old Kim Yeon-ji, who attended the festival with her parents, exclaimed, “I caught a trout faster than dad! It’s my first time catching a fish, and it’s so much fun!”
The festival also featured a hands-on trout catching event, where brave participants jumped into the cold water in short sleeves and shorts. Steam rose off their drenched bodies as they chased the nimble trout underwater. Some participants quickly retreated from the cold water, unable to bear the chill.
Hungry visitors enjoyed freshly grilled Sancheoneo, indulging in the festival’s culinary offerings. Various experiential events like snow sledding, ice sledding, and an ice sculpture park attracted crowds throughout the festival grounds.
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, which began in 2003 and has been drawing over a million visitors annually since 2005, is recognized as a global winter festival by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
To ensure visitor safety, Hwacheon County conducts daily underwater checks of the ice and monitors the pumping facilities, waterways, and drainage in real-time using CCTV. This year, due to the mild winter weather, the spacing between fishing holes has been increased from 2 meters to 4 meters to prevent accidents from overcrowding.
Visitors take a look at ice sculptures at the annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon in Gangwon Province, about 90 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on Jan. 6, 2024, in this photo provided by Hwacheon county.
The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will continue until January 28.
Image credit: Hwacheon County, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
