The Inje Icefish Festival held in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Inje County)
INJE, Jan. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Inje Icefish Festival, long considered a hallmark of winter tourism, has been canceled for a third consecutive year, as warming winters and unstable ice conditions underscore the growing toll of climate change on seasonal events.
The Inje County Cultural Foundation said Monday that it would not hold the 2026 festival after determining that safety conditions could not be met. Officials cited insufficient freezing caused by higher-than-expected water levels at the Soyang River Dam and persistently mild winter temperatures, which have left parts of the planned venue submerged and prevented the formation of stable ice.
Maintaining safe ice conditions would require the dam’s water level to remain near 183 meters, but it has hovered in the mid-185-meter range, the foundation said. Even with a sudden cold spell, officials concluded, there would be little chance of securing adequate ice thickness in time.
A summer festival held in Inje. (Photo courtesy of Inje County)
The cancellation marks a painful milestone for the festival, which last took place in 2023 and once drew some 200,000 visitors, providing a major boost to the local economy. Residents and business owners have expressed growing disappointment as the winter centerpiece continues to falter.
Facing that reality, Inje County is reshaping its tourism strategy to reduce reliance on winter-only attractions. Officials have begun expanding festivals and tourism offerings across all four seasons, launching a summer camping festival in 2024 and rebranding it last year as a signature warm-weather event. An autumn flower festival has also gained popularity, with visitor numbers rising steadily each year.
At the center of the new approach is a long-term plan to develop Soyang Lake into a year-round destination, featuring lakeside walking trails, observation decks and eco-friendly experiential spaces. Local authorities say the goal is to build a sustainable tourism base that can withstand climate volatility while keeping visitors coming throughout the year.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
