Korea Winter Travel:5 Festivals for Ice Fishing, Sledding, and Snow Adventures

The fishing line moves. Someone beside you cheers. A few minutes later, you are comparing catches and deciding whether to try another round or head for something warm to eat.

Winter in Korea is a season to take part in. Beyond Seoul’s lights and shopping streets, regional festivals turn frozen waterways and mountain villages into places for fishing, sledding, and outdoor play. These experiences give you a reason to explore smaller towns—and a memorable way to spend a winter day.

For hands-on Korea winter travel, consider Hwacheon’s Sancheoneo Ice Festival, the Pyeongchang Trout Festival, Hongcheongang’s winter festival, Cheongyang’s ice fountains, and Daegwallyeong’s snow celebrations. Choose your destination around the activities you want to try, then match it to your travel dates.

Seasonal planning note: The activities below reflect established festival programs. Dates, admission arrangements, and individual experiences should be reconfirmed for your travel season, especially where operations depend on ice conditions.

1. Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: Try Fishing Through the Ice

Location: Hwacheon, Gangwon Province
Best for: First-time ice fishers and travelers who want a lively winter festival

There is something absorbing about watching a small hole in the ice, waiting for the slightest movement below.

At the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, the main attraction is fishing for sancheoneo, a type of mountain trout. The festival also features snow sledding, ice sledding, and other winter activities, giving your group plenty to explore beyond the fishing area.

You do not need to make the entire day about catching fish. Spend time learning how the fishing works, try a different activity, and stop for a warming meal. The official festival website also lists cooking areas where visitors can have their catch prepared, subject to the applicable rules and fees.

What to experience

• Try ice fishing in an officially operated fishing zone.
• Add a snow- or ice-sledding session.
• Explore the options for having your catch cooked.

Planning tip: Check which fishing area and admission category apply to you. Equipment, reservations, and cooking services may require separate arrangements.

2. Pyeongchang Trout Festival: Build a Winter Day Around Trout Fishing

Location: Jinbu, Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province
Best for: Families, fishing beginners, and travelers combining a festival with a mountain stay

Pyeongchang offers a winter experience that goes beyond the ski slopes.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival takes place around Odaecheon Stream in Jinbu. Its published programs have included ice fishing, tent fishing, a children’s fishing zone, bare-handed trout catching, and activities on the ice plaza.

The variety matters when you are traveling with people who enjoy different things. One person may happily spend time fishing, while another prefers a shorter introduction followed by winter games and food.

Choose the format that suits your group. Tent fishing may appeal if you would prefer some shelter, but it is still an outdoor winter experience, so warm clothing remains essential.

What to experience

• Try trout fishing through the ice.
• Consider tent fishing if offered for your dates.
• Check the current children’s fishing and winter-play programs.

Planning tip: Jinbu is a useful rail gateway to this part of Pyeongchang. Arrange the onward journey to the festival and your return transport before setting out.

3. Hongcheongang Ggong Ggong Festival: Mix Fishing with Winter Play

Location: Hongcheon, Gangwon Province
Best for: Groups who want several activities within one festival visit

The Hongcheongang Ggong Ggong Festival, also called the Hongcheongang Winter Festival, brings visitors to Hongcheon for trout fishing and seasonal entertainment.

Published programs have included ice fishing, pontoon fishing, indoor fishing, bare-handed trout catching, ice sledding, and experience booths. Food areas and local-product stalls add more reasons to linger.

For a family or a group of friends, that mix can make the day easier to shape. You can focus on fishing, divide your time between activities, or choose a shorter session before enjoying the food and festival atmosphere.

What to experience

• Choose a fishing format suited to your group.
• Try ice sledding when operating.
• Explore the local food stalls between activities.

Planning tip: Confirm which fishing zones are available for the current season. Indoor and pontoon programs have their own schedules and capacity; availability should be checked separately from outdoor ice fishing.

4. Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival: Go Sledding in an Ice-Sculpture Landscape

Location: Alps Village, Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province
Best for: Families, playful travelers, and anyone who prefers snow activities to fishing

For a different regional experience, look southwest of Seoul toward Cheongyang.

At the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival, large frozen fountains and ice formations create the setting, while snow and ice activities give you a reason to stay beyond the first photographs.

Cheongyang’s official tourism information describes tube sledding, ice sledding, and ice bobsledding among the festival’s attractions. Winter snacks, including roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, provide a welcome break between activities.

This is a good choice if your ideal winter day involves moving around, trying different rides, and stopping whenever a particularly striking ice formation catches your attention.

What to experience

• Slide down a snow slope on a tube.
• Try the available ice-sledding activities.
• Explore the frozen fountains and enjoy a warm snack.

Planning tip: Check the difference between entrance tickets and activity packages. Height or age restrictions may apply to individual rides.

5. Daegwallyeong Snow Festival: Play Your Way Through a Mountain Winter

Location: Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province
Best for: Snow lovers and travelers looking for snow play and traditional games

At the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, a mountain-town setting meets a program of seasonal activities. Published programs have included snow tunnels, a stamp tour, traditional games, gentle sledding, and local food.

The appeal is a day with room to move at your own pace. Explore the snow features, join a game, stop for lunch, and return to whichever activity your group enjoyed most.

It can also become part of a longer Pyeongchang stay, provided the festival dates align with your itinerary.

What to experience

• Explore the season’s snow features.
• Join traditional games or a stamp activity.
• Try sledding where available.

Other Planning tip: Looking to explore another side of Korea in winter? Jeju Island offers coastal scenery, seasonal camellias, and citrus-picking experiences. Read our guide to Jeju Island in winter: 5 things to enjoy on your trip to see whether the island fits your Korea winter itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Korea Winter Travel

When Is the Best Time to Visit Korea for Winter Festivals?

January and February are useful months to investigate for ice-fishing and snow festivals. Exact dates vary by event and season, so choose your festival before finalizing the trip.

Can Beginners Try Ice Fishing in Korea?

Yes. These festivals welcome general visitors, including beginners. Check equipment arrangements, instructions, and the most suitable fishing format before booking.

Are Korean Winter Festivals Suitable for Children?

Many offer children’s activities, sledding, or dedicated fishing areas. Suitability depends on the child’s age, the activity rules, and comfort in cold weather.

Can I Visit a Winter Festival on a Day Trip from Seoul?

Some festivals can work as a full-day outing, depending on transport and traffic. A regional overnight stay offers a more relaxed option for destinations farther from your accommodation.

Can Hanway Help Arrange a Winter Festival Trip?

Yes. Hanway can help select a festival, coordinate transport and available reservations, and build the experience into a private Korea itinerary suited to your dates and interests.

Experience a Korean Winter You Can Take Part In

A winter trip can leave you with more than photographs: the anticipation of a first catch, a shared laugh after a sled ride, or the comfort of a hot meal after hours outdoors.

Hanway helps you find the festival that fits your idea of winter. From a fishing day in Gangwon to an ice-filled outing in Cheongyang, we shape the route around your interests, pace, and travel dates.

Tell us what you would love to try, and we will help turn it into a journey.