As the air becomes drier, temperatures fall, and winter dawns upon South Korea, the quiet country of Hwacheon-gun begins to prepare for something extraordinary. Beneath the frozen Hwacheon stream, hundreds of fish known as sancheoneo swim in the icy cold waters, unaware that their home will soon become the heart of one of the nation’s most beloved winter celebrations: the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.
Starting in January, this three-week festival turns the rural, calm setting of the Gangwon Province into a vibrant, bustling, winter environment connecting people to nature, tradition, and community. Recognized by the American media company, CNN (Cable News Network), as one of the “Seven Wonders of Winter,” the festival attracts more than a million visitors each year. Families, travelers, and locals gather around the frozen river to participate in this annual event.
Hwacheon-gun, located in South Korea’s northernmost region (right by the demilitarized zone), is surrounded by many mountains and some of the country’s cleanest rivers. The presence of sancheoneo hints at the purity of the waters, as the fish species can only survive in waters colder than twenty degrees Celsius with lots of oxygen.
As winter approaches and the festivities begin, the river freezes up to fifty centimeters thick, and the surface soon becomes a field of fishing holes arranged in neat patterns. The village transforms the rural landscape into a venue that celebrates both nature’s beauty and human activity. The central event of the festival is the tradition of ice fishing for sancheoneo. People drop their lines into the holes on the frozen river, waiting in anticipation to feel a tug and receive a catch. Those who succeed in pulling out a fish can even grill their catch immediately at the festival’s grilling stations or even eat them raw as sashimi. The sancheoneo isn’t admired just for its nutritional value (which is rich in protein and amino acids), but for its symbolism. Its shimmering scales represent purity and vitality as it embodies the relationship between life and the environment.
Following through with its title of being an ice festival, the event doesn’t simply just offer ice fishing. There are many more activities available, such as sledding, ice skating, walking through ice castles, playing ice soccer, and even playing a fun bubble-suit game (where elementary schoolers can wear bubble suits and safety helmets and have fun bumping into one another on the ice). The venue also activates many colorful nights as the sun goes down, creating a magical glow reflecting off the icy surfaces. There are also local vendors present, selling handmade items like wool hats and regional specialties such as agricultural products and foods such as roasted chestnuts, sancheoneo shaped waffles and buns, as well as a variety of fish cakes (also known as eomuk or odeng).
In a world increasingly affected and reliant on technology, the festival’s simplicity feels revolutionary in a way. It’s amazing not just because of the spectacle created, but because of the shared experiences in fishing besides strangers and the warmth of bonding with others. For a few weeks, Hwacheon-gun becomes more than just a town. It becomes a symbol of unity. Differences can dissolve into celebration.
The festival also carries a deeper meaning than people may think. The sancheoneo’s survival depends on cold, unpolluted waters, so local authorities carefully monitor these conditions each year to ensure ecological sustainability. Regulations on fishing, waste management, and educational programs about freshwater conservation turn the event into an act of advocacy. The festival demonstrates that celebration and conservation don’t have to be separate, but that they can coexist and strengthen the meaning of each other.
Additionally, the festival has economically reshaped Hwacheon-gun’s identity. The village which was once a simple agricultural environment transforms each winter into a thriving venue with guesthouses, restaurants, and other various businesses generating high revenues as they welcome visitors from across the world. Yet, while its economical impact is significant, the festival’s cultural impact is possibly even more impactful. The Korean concept of “jeong” is applied, as a deep sense of emotional connection and shared humanity draws people together. Regardless of whether a person is a local or a visitor from another country, everyone participates in celebrating happily. Under the winter sky, social hierarchies can fade and be replaced by a collective sense of belonging.
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival emphasizes the juxtaposition of nature and humanity. There is both stillness and movement as there is cold and warmth. The life of sancheoneo flows beneath the frozen river while the lives of people gather together to celebrate. The festival is more than a seasonal event. It’s a reminder that the greatest beauty often lies beneath the surface, patiently waiting to be seen
By: Mackenzie Kim
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