{"id":4762,"date":"2026-05-14T17:27:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comeonkorea.com\/?p=4762"},"modified":"2026-06-23T16:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T07:00:29","slug":"hwacheon-sancheoneo-ice-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comeonkorea.com\/en\/hwacheon-sancheoneo-ice-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Ice Fishing and Foreigner Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of Korea’s signature winter events. The 2026 edition ran for 23 days, from January 10 to February 1, and has already wrapped up<\/strong> \u2014 an estimated 1.59 million people attended, including 122,000 international visitors, a big jump from the roughly 85,000 of the previous year. This guide is built on the actual 2026 attendance data and is aimed at international travelers planning for the next edition (expected January 2027). From transport and reservations to on-site activities and cold-weather gear, you can plan your whole trip with this one article. If you’re curious about Korea’s other seasonal festivals, take a look at 6 hands-on festivals across Korea’s four seasons<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: The Essentials<\/h2>\n

Here are the key details, summarized in a table based on the 2026 edition. The 2027 schedule has not been announced yet, but based on past patterns it opens on a Saturday in early January and runs for about three weeks. Confirmed dates are usually posted on the official site sometime between autumn and December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails (based on the 2026 edition)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Official Name<\/strong><\/td>\nIce Country Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival (Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2026 Results<\/strong><\/td>\nJanuary 10 (Sat) \u2013 February 1 (Sun), 2026, 23 days. An estimated 1.59 million visitors, 122,000 of them international<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Next Edition<\/strong><\/td>\nExpected January 2027 (typically opens early January, runs about 3 weeks). Dates not yet announced \u2014 check the official site<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Location<\/strong><\/td>\n137 Sancheoneo-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon State, along Hwacheoncheon Stream<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main Activities<\/strong><\/td>\nIce fishing, bare-hand catching, snow sledding, ice sledding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Operating Hours<\/strong><\/td>\nWeekdays 09:00\u201318:00 (registration from 08:30), weekends 08:30\u201318:00 (registration from 07:00)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ice Fishing Admission<\/strong><\/td>\n15,000 KRW for middle school age and up, 10,000 KRW concession, free for children under elementary age (with a guardian)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Admission Perk<\/strong><\/td>\nOne 5,000 KRW Hwacheon local-produce voucher per admission ticket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online Booking<\/strong><\/td>\nNOL Interpark Ticket (tickets.interpark.com). Up to 10 people can be booked per account<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foreigner Facilities<\/strong><\/td>\nForeigner-only fishing zone (downstream of the suspension bridge), foreigner lounge, Muslim prayer room. Inquiries 033-440-2328 (Hwacheon-gun Global Marketing Team)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Official Website<\/strong><\/td>\nnarafestival.com<\/a> \/ Main inquiries 1688-3005<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What Is Sancheoneo?<\/h2>\n

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Sancheoneo (Korean masu trout) is a freshwater fish in the salmon family that lives only in clean, cold, top-grade water. It usually grows to 20\u201340 cm, has firm flesh and a clean, delicate flavor, and is popular both as raw fish (hoe) and grilled. Hwacheon-gun, a pristine area in the upper reaches of the Bukhan River, offers an ideal habitat for the fish. The sancheoneo used for the festival are farm-raised individuals weighing 200\u2013250 g, grown for a year under contract with fisheries across the country \u2014 roughly 800,000 fish (200 tons) are released into the Hwacheoncheon Stream fishing area in stages during the festival.<\/p>\n

The Main Program: Ice Fishing<\/h2>\n

The festival’s centerpiece is ice fishing on the Hwacheoncheon Stream, which freezes to a thickness of 40 cm or more. The grounds are divided into several zones, including reservation-only, walk-in, and foreigner-only fishing areas.<\/p>\n

Foreigner-Only Ice Fishing Zone<\/h3>\n

A separate fishing area is operated for international visitors (confirmed in operation during the 2026 edition). It’s less crowded than the general zones and comes with its own dedicated facilities. Fees and conditions can change from year to year, so check the official site before your visit or contact the Hwacheon-gun Global Marketing Team (033-440-2328).<\/p>\n