Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: Make Your Trip To Korea Extra Cool With Ice Fishing

Planning a trip to Korea? You need to check out one of Korea’s premier festivals: The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

At the start of every year, visit the Hwacheon county in Gangwon-do to experience a different kind of winter at this unique festival. The festival gets its name from the mountain trout (Sancheoneo) that swim to this region every January, when the water is the freshest.

Winter causes the Hwacheon-cheon stream to freeze and form a 40cm layer of ice, making way for a few rather interesting activities.

The main activity at this festival is all about Sancheoneo Fishing, and you get to experience it first-hand. Challenge yourself in the popular barehanded fishing arena, as you struggle to catch the slippery trout in front of a crowd of onlookers.

Or simply put your patience to the test while you fish on ice. It doesn’t look easy but it sure looks fun!

If you’re not keen on fishy business, this festival also promises to enrich your winter holiday experience with thrilling snow sleigh and bobsleigh rides. You can then visit the Sancheoneo Coffee Museum and the Hwacheon Ecology gallery centre back in town.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival provides a myriad of activities for you to beat the cold and try something different during winter in Korea.

Dates: Mid January – February every year (dates vary)

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: Hwacheon, South Korea: Directions | Website