By Hwang Ihn-taek
Intern
The three-day Ice Festival opens on Jan. 20 at the World Cup Park's Pyeonghwa Square, in the western part of Seoul.
The ice sculpture exhibition is the highlight of the festival, a city spokesperson said. National Treasure No. 1, Sungnyemun gate, which burnt down last February, will be revived as an ice sculpture. Other ice sculptures will include a large ice bag of luck to greet the New Year, a giant ox to celebrate the year of the ox and an icehouse with ice furniture, he said.
Visitors will enjoy sparkling night views thanks to lighting installed on the sculptures. The ice sculpting will be open to the public on Jan. 20.
``Children in particular will like the festival, not only because of the ice slide, large ice dinosaurs, penguins and polar bears but also because they will be given chances to participate in the sculpting,'' he said,
The free ice sculpting class for children is to be held from Jan. 21 to 23, four times daily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Up to 40 children may attend each class to create ice dolls or ice flowers. Registration will be accepted on the spot.
Children and other visitors may also try traditional Lunar New Year games such as yut, top spinning and a Korean seesaw.
Additionally, there will be a photo exhibition featuring Seoul in the early 1900s. Rare photos of skating on the Han River and carrying ice via oxcart will conjure up memories of bygone days.