HWACHEON, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – The ’2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival,’ a flagship winter event in South Korea, is bustling with the transfer and cultivation of mountain trout in preparation for the festival period.
This year’s festival, set to run from January 6 to 28, spanning 23 days, will unfold around the Hwacheon stream area.
As of December 2, Hwacheon County reports that since November 23, mountain trout from aquafarms across various regions such as Chuncheon, Uljin, Bonghwa, Gangneung, and Yeongwol have been sequentially relocated to the Nongmiri cultivation site in Hanam-myeon.
About 160 tons of mountain trout, which accounts for over 90% of the trout cultivated nationwide, are earmarked for use in the festival.
The cultivated mountain trout, ranging in size from approximately 250 to 500 grams, are scheduled to be pre-released at the festival site starting from January 3, three days before the opening of the event.
After acclimatization to the water temperature and environment for a certain period, these trouts will be released into Hwacheon stream.
Previously, Hwacheon County had sent samples of these trouts to the Gangwon Provincial Institute of Health & Environment for testing. The results confirmed the absence of harmful substances like parasites, melanin, and malachite green.
During the festival, each fishing site division is planned to have up to six releases of trouts daily. The county is prepared to increase the release frequency based on the influx of tourists and other relevant factors.
Choi Moon-soon, the head of Hwacheon County, expressed his commitment to providing the highest quality and freshest mountain trout at the festival. “We aim to delight the visitors not only with the taste but also with the joy of fishing,” he stated.
Image credit: Hwacheon County / photonews@koreabizwire.com
