Last checked: October 29, 2026. Details can change, so confirm with the organizer before you go.
Hwacheon’s ice festival, in Gangwon-do, was named one of the “seven wonders of winter” by CNN in 2011. Visitors fish for sancheoneo (mountain trout) through holes in the frozen Hwacheon stream, and the festival draws over a million visitors a year, per the official listing.
Key info
- Dates: January 9-31, 2027
- Place: Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Sancheoneo-gil 137, Hwacheon-eup. The map pin is approximate, near central Hwacheon.
- Entry: Paid. See the festival website for the 2027 fee.
- Organizer contact: Hwacheon County, +82-1688-3005
What to do
- Sancheoneo experiences: Ice fishing (on-site or reserved), barehanded catching, lure fishing.
- Snow and ice play: Sledding, ice sledding, ice soccer, curling, figure skating and bubble suits on the ice.
- Food: A sancheoneo restaurant, raw-fish center and grill area for the catch.
- Nearby: Lantern street festival, an indoor ice sculpture plaza, Santa Post Office and the Baegamsan cable car are listed.
2027 changes under review
- The listing shows 2026 content; the 2027 program was still being updated.
- A local news report in October says the county is considering raising the adult experience fee from 15,000 KRW to about 25,000 KRW, with a larger rebate paid in local vouchers. This was not final. Check the official site before booking.
Tips
- Dress for January in Gangwon: thermal layers, gloves and waterproof boots.
- Ticket and reservation systems may change for 2027, so book only through the official site.
- I could not confirm transport, but the official listing says the festival has an information center.