One of Asia’s most iconic winter events, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, officially opened on Saturday, transforming a quiet mountain town near the inter-Korean border into a bustling international tourism hub.
The 2026 edition of the festival runs through February 1in Hwacheon, located in Gangwon, about 25 kilometers south of the border with North Korea and roughly 90 kilometers northeast of Seoul.
Centered on sancheoneo —a prized trout species found only in exceptionally clean freshwater—the festival spans a 300,000-square-meter site, equivalent to around 40 football fields. From early morning, visitors from across South Korea and abroad streamed into the venue to experience the region’s signature ice fishing and snow-based activities.
“We will do our best to ensure safety and make the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival a winter celebration enjoyed by people around the world,” said Hwacheon Governor Choi Moon-soon during the opening ceremony.
Despite a local population of just over 22,000, organizers expect more than 100,000 international visitorsthis year, underscoring the festival’s growing reputation as a global winter tourism attraction.
Launched in 2003, the festival has become a cornerstone of South Korea’s winter tourism calendar. It was named the country’s best festival by the Ministry of Culture in 2010 and attracted more than one million visitors annually for 13 consecutive years between 2006 and 2019. Last year’s event set a new record with 1.86 million attendees, including 122,000 foreign visitors.
The festival’s most famous attraction remains ice fishing on a vast frozen river, where thousands of participants drill holes through thick ice to catch sancheoneo. Bare-hand fishing, sledding, ice soccer, and snow games add to the lively atmosphere.
This year’s program also features sledding on a 40-meter slope and a 60-meter stretch of frozen river, a spiral-shaped “ice bobsleigh” designed by the Hwacheon County Office, as well as curling and figure skating suitable for families and beginners.
Indoor attractions further elevate the festival experience. The Seohwasan Multipurpose Indoor Plaza showcases a miniature version of Harbin Ice and Snow World, while approximately 30 master ice lantern artists from Harbin present large-scale works at the Indoor Ice Sculpture Plaza, highlighting world-class ice artistry.
With its mix of outdoor adventure, cultural exchange, and family-friendly winter entertainment, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival continues to redefine cold-weather tourism—proving that even the most remote destinations can shine on the global travel stage.
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