Considered to be the very first ice fishing festival in South Korea, the Inje Pond Smelt Festival takes place on Pond Smelt Lake, a body of water artificially created through the construction of a reservoir in Inje County, Gangwon Province. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — As the hugely successful Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival draws to a close, the 18th Inje Pond Smelt Festival is set to kick off on January 27, running until February 4.
Considered to be the very first ice fishing festival in South Korea, the Inje Pond Smelt Festival takes place on Pond Smelt Lake, a body of water artificially created through the construction of a reservoir in Inje County, Gangwon Province.
To prepare for the influx of eager fishermen and women, the festival organizers will drill over 5,000 holes throughout the fishing grounds the day before commencement. (Image: Yonhap)
The trapped freshwater from the 12-meter-high, 220-meter-long reservoir (named Bupyeong-bo) was christened Pond Smelt Lake. At maximum capacity, Pond Smelt Lake holds 3 million tons of water, which can create a 800,000㎡ surface of frozen solid ice in the winter, a “natural theme park” as the festival’s slogan attests to.
Inje County has taken the safest area on the ice and divided it into an ice fishing ground, sledding slopes, skating rinks, a soccer “field”, and other venues for activities.
Inje County has taken the safest area on the ice and divided it into an ice fishing ground, sledding slopes, skating rinks, a soccer “field”, and other venues for activities.
With the ice over 30cm thick according to Inje County, visitors need not fear for their safety when venturing out onto Pond Smelt Lake.
Measuring 52,500㎡, the ice fishing ground is immense, exceeding the expanse of seven soccer fields put together. Thanks to its vast grounds, 5,000 to 6,000 people can fish at the same time. To prepare for the influx of eager fishermen and women, the festival organizers will drill over 5,000 holes throughout the fishing grounds the day before commencement.
To ensure visitors will be able to eat their catch as “hweh”, raw fish à la Japanese sashimi, Inje County invites the Institute of Health and Environment of Gangwon Province to conduct safety inspections on their pond smelt on a yearly basis. (Image: Yonhap)
The local fishing industry plying their trade in downstream Soyangho Lake have already released 10 tons of pond smelt into the waters below the icy surface of the ice fishing grounds and installed nets to prevent the catch from leaving Pond Smelt Lake altogether.
To ensure visitors will be able to eat their catch as “hweh”, raw fish à la Japanese sashimi, Inje County invites the Institute of Health and Environment of Gangwon Province to conduct safety inspections on their pond smelt on a yearly basis.
Following the hugely successful Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, the 18th Inje Pond Smelt Festival will kick off on January 27, running until February 4. (Image: Yonhap)
The latest test discovered no trace of five major germs and declared the fish safe to eat.
An interesting tidbit, locals refer to the pond smelt found in Soyangho Lake as “the fairies of the lake”, signifying the importance the fish holds to the community especially during the harsh winter months.
S.B.W. (sbw266@koreabizwire.com)
