Brush Off Chill With Winter Festivals
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The wind is blowing and the temperature is still low, but instead of hiding from the chill, how about enjoying the winter season to the utmost? Gangwon Province is especially famous for its chilly winds and abundance of snow, and various festivals are waiting for winter fans to leap into fishing, traditional activities and other fun events.
Pyeongchang Trout Festival
Pyeongchang has one of the heaviest snowfall areas in the nation. Every year, it celebrates winter with a festival of ice, snow and trout fishing. For fishing fans, Pyeongchang will be a treat, as it is the first place where a trout hatchery was created, meaning that there will be a lot in store. Visitors can enjoy ice fishing, fishing with their bare hands and also a get-together with family members as they wait for a bite. Fishing equipment will be offered at the venue, and participants can immediately have a taste of freshly caught trout by roasting them or served as sushi.
At the ice and snow sites, friends and family can enjoy sleigh rides, motor cart races and even snow rafting.
On Jan. 17-18, the festival committee will hold the 2009 Korea Snow Rally, with more than 80 teams participating.
The festival will continue until Feb. 1. Fishing costs 10,000 won and the family program 30,000 won. To get to the festival site, ride a bus from East Seoul Bus Terminal heading to Jinbu Terminal in Pyeongchang, a two-hour ride from Seoul. For more information, visit https://festival700.or.kr/trout/ or call (033) 336-4000. (Korean)
Inje Bingeo Festival
Inje offers its 12th Bingeo Festival from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Bingeo, or smelt, is a small silver fish that swims in large schools and the festival has prepared fun and interacting games that will entertain the crowd. Fishing is the most fun part with many visitors scrambling toward the small holes the committee drills on the frozen river. The ice is thick enough to hold all people there, and following simple instructions, visitors can watch, catch and taste fresh bingeo.
Bingeo are small and clean enough to be eaten right after they are caught, so don't feel afraid to poke them into red pepper paste and then straight into your mouth, like many locals do.
Fishing equipment can be rented for 2,000 won to 3,000 won, and bait for 2,000 won. The festival committee advises visitors to bring supplies that may keep them warm, such as a thermos flask, extra socks and gloves. To get there, take a bus headed to Inje from the East Seoul Bus Terminal for a two-hour ride. For more information, visit https://www.injefestival.co.kr/ or call (033) 460-2082.
Daegwallyeong Snow Festival
Daegwallyeong is famous for its alpine hills and beautiful scenery with snow covering the area during this time of the year, and visitors can visit a winter wonderland festival hidden within the tall trees and mountains.
The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival will be held from Jan. 15 to Jan. 19 with interesting activities, shows and exhibitions. Express your feelings with words at the festival's composition contest, or visit the Museum of ski history, the photo exhibition and the snow sculpture display. Foreign visitors and kids can enjoy the numerous activities like making traditional kites, rice cakes, traditional toffee, bows, tofu and masks.
The five villages located near Daegwallyeong will also offer different activities and events, giving participants the chance to choose depending on their preferences.
The first village Hoenggye 3-ri boasts a beautiful a sheep farm. Visit the sheep on the hills of Daegwallyeong, take photos and even feed them with the crystal clear snow as a backdrop. For more information, visit www.yangtte.co.kr.
The second village is Hoenggye 2-ri, or the ``wind village,'' where you can enjoy various sports and activities like sleigh rides, snowmobiles, bobsleighs and even make some cheese and strawberry jam. For more information, visit www.windvil.com.
At Chahang 1-ri, visitors can learn about hwangtae, or pollack, which is one of the favorite fish enjoyed at this time of the year. From special recipes to cooking pollack, learn everything there is to know about fish at the Hwangtae Village. For more information, visit https://chahang.co.kr.
Chahang 2-ri will welcome visitors with traditional activities such as traditional sleigh rides and hunting, while horse lovers can ride horses along the snow-covered roads. There will also be a small petting zoo where kids can pet and feed animals such as deer, goats, rabbits and even baby boars. For more information, visit www.snowtown.co.kr.
The last village is Suha-ri, and this is the place where visitors can fish for trout. Catch the fish and enjoy them fried, as sushi or barbequed. For more information, visit www.trouticefishing.co.kr.
The events held at the villages will continue until February. For more information about the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, visit https://www.snowfestival.net.
Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival
Hwacheon is also holding a special festival under the slogan ``Unfrozen Hearts, Unforgettable Memories.'' Before starting to fish, visitors must buy tickets, as there are only 9,000 ``holes'' on the thick ice that used to be Hwacheon Stream available. Families can also reserve tickets before they arrive at the venue via the Internet. The festival committee warns that the slots fill quickly during the weekends, so it is a good idea to reserve beforehand, or arrive early.
Tickets for fishing costs 12,000 won for adults on the weekends and 10,000 won on weekdays. Foreign visitors can fish by only paying 5,000 won, both weekends and weekdays.
The festival will start Jan. 10 and continue through Jan. 27. To get to Hwacheon, hop on the bus headed for the destination from East Seoul Bus Terminal. For more information, visit https://ice.narafestival.com.
Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival
For a trip for snow, visit the Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival, which will be held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8 at Mt. Taebaek National Park.
At the Snowflake Square, visitors can make snowmen, carve their own ice sculpture and enjoy other activities as well. Also try some of the local food and recipes at the festival venue, along with games, concerts and performances. Take photos with the beautiful snow covered scenery, and also with sculptures as a backdrop. To get to Mt. Taebaek, take a bus or train and head to Taebaek city. For more information, visit https://festival.taebaek.go.kr.