Exploring Korea: Frozen Footsteps – Along a Snow-White Road to Adventure

By Neha Bisht

Every winter in South Korea brings its own kind of magic, but nothing compares to the charm of the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Tucked away in the chilly valleys of Gangwon-do, Hwacheon transforms into a glittering winter playground where thousands gather to celebrate snow, ice, and the star of the season: sancheoneo, the local mountain trout.

Last winter, I set out to experience the festival for myself, not just as a visitor but as someone eager to dive into the cold, the culture, and the adventure it promised.

The Journey: A Snow-White Road to Winter Fun

I left early in the morning with my friends, wrapped in layers to fight the harsh winter chill. Outside, the world was covered in snow, and the cold breeze felt sharp on our skin. Along the way, we stopped to warm ourselves with hot drinks and snacks – small comforts that made the freezing morning more bearable.

The drive itself was magical. Every tree and road along the route was covered in white snow, turning the whole landscape into a winter postcard. As we got closer to Hwacheon, our excitement grew with every snowy turn.

Arrival: Stepping into a Frozen Festival World

Once we reached the festival grounds, the destination looked even more incredible than I had expected. The Hwacheon River was completely frozen over, and many round holes were carved into the ice where visitors could try their luck at catching the famous local trout. The area was full of people, and from the festival ground up to the main road, you could see a lively crowd enjoying the winter festivities.

On the other side, a lively sliding zone was set up with different snowy activities. The air was filled with laughter, excitement, and the sound of winter adventure. Before jumping into the fun, we bought our festival tickets, and then headed straight to the game zones.

We tried the snow sleigh, ice sliding, ice skating, and the snow zipline. Each activity brought endless fun. We screamed, we laughed, and we slipped and fell on the ice together. Despite the freezing air, our energy and joy kept us warm.

Barehanded Fishing: The Coldest Adventure of All

Then came the highlight – and the wildest challenge – catching fish with your bare hands in icy cold water. It was an individual challenge: whoever caught the most fish got to keep them.

My friends bravely joined the competition. Watching them jump into the freezing water made me shiver from the sidelines. It was incredibly hard to catch the slippery trout, especially while your hands felt like ice. Still, my friends didn’t give up. After multiple attempts, they proudly managed to catch one fish, while some experienced participants caught two or three.

Once the competition was over, the participants were treated to hot coffee and a warm water bath to help their bodies recover from the extreme cold. This barehanded fishing event truly stood out as the unique main attraction of the entire festival.

Food, Warmth, and Winter Comforts

After all the excitement – and with our bodies shivering from the cold – we headed to the food zone. A long row of local food stalls filled the air with warm, inviting smells.

We tried their tteokbokki and some hot beverages, perfect for melting the cold away. My friends grilled and ate the fish they had won in the challenge, enjoying it with great pride. The combination of warmth, food, and shared laughter created a cozy moment in the middle of the icy festival grounds.

After enjoying the food and warming our bodies, we headed to the indoor ice sculpture plaza, which was also a part of the Hwacheon festival. Inside the museum, all the sculptures were made entirely of ice – carved into beautiful shapes of monuments, idols, characters, and other artistic forms. The place was even colder than the festival grounds, so we walked around quickly, admired the icy artwork, took a few pictures, and then hurried back out to get warm with another cup of hot coffee.

Final Reflections: A Winter Memory for a Lifetime

As we left the festival grounds, the streets of Hwacheon welcomed us with a breathtaking sight. The entire area was decorated with magical lights – twinkling like stars and shaped like sparkling fish floating across the night sky. The roads themselves looked mesmerizing, glowing softly under the winter air. Nearby, the night market was just beginning to set up, filling the streets with warm lights and the promise of more delicious food and winter fun.

We truly wanted to stay longer, but we had to head back to Gwangju – and honestly, we had no energy left to keep our bodies warm after an entire day of icy adventures. The festival was so amazing that none of us wanted to leave, but our situation didn’t allow us to stay any longer.

Still, as we walked away, I felt deeply grateful for the memories we created together. Korea’s winters may be cold, but places like Hwacheon fill them with warmth, laughter, and stories worth remembering.

This year the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival runs from January 10 to February 1. For more details visit https://www.narafestival.com

Cover Photo: The festival ground full of people trying to catch fish and enjoying the winter. (Neha Bisht)