Beat the winter blues in Gangwon

The winter season can be mercilessly bleak, or it can conjure up romantic images of snow flakes cascading from the starry nighttime sky. Yet for many men and women in Korea the winter is more about walking to work in the cold and less about playing in the snow.

That is enough for anyone to be hit with the winter blues. But instead of feeling grouchy in the cold months ahead, why not plan a weekend trip to the various winter festivals going on in Gangwon Province.



Ice fishing festivals



Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival (until Jan. 27)

Sancheoneo is Korean for mountain trout. The 7th annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is not just a celebration of the winter season, but a celebration of mountain trout.

Strange as that may sound, once you witness thousands of families grilling fish on rows of complimentary grills set-up alongside the fishing zones - not to mention the mouth-watering aroma of the grilled fish - it will have you convinced.

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Kicked-off a week ago, the festival is located on a lake that stretches 2km in length and 110m in width. The frozen lake bed is divided into different zones for different activities. According to festival organizers, the fishing zone is robust with mountain trout throughout the winter. Officials estimate 12,000 visit during weekdays and 24,000 on weekends.

About 12,000 holes were drilled. Entrance to the festival is free except for trout fishing and bare-hand fishing zones which cost 10,000 won each during weekdays and 12,000 won on weekends. For children, seniors, and foreigners, it is 5,000 won. Families must book in advance. For comfortable accommodation, each fishing zone boasts heated tents.

If ice fishing is not your preference, there are loads of other activities to partake in.

Activities like snow-sleighing, bobsledding, ice soccer, and ice sculpture exhibitions are available as alternatives.

Still not interested? If those activities are not enticing, how about being a culinary risk-taker and try out a flock of live candlefish that are about the size of a pinky finger served in a silver bowl. For more information on the festival, contact (033) 441-7574.

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Pyeongchang Trout Festival

(until Feb. 1)

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival commenced its sophomore event at the beginning of the New Year. Located in the Odaesan stream of Pyeongchang County deep in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province, the festival is 180km east of the capital. Four decades ago, the county began farming and breeding the fresh water fish for its lake and river streams. High in protein, resilient and large, it was the perfect fish for human consumption. The fish adapted well to the environment and have since been a representative food throughout the region. The festival site boasts stunning views of snow-capped mountains and lake beds.

The Odae stream, where the festival is being held, stretches 700m in length and 100m in width. There are two activity zones. The first zone, where all of the fishing is done, is separated into four with a single designated area for families, while the second zone is reserved for a variety of snow-based activities such as ATV-riding, traditional sleighing, ice-train riding, and sled dog racing.

The cost of fishing at the festival varies with families required to make reservations. For parties of two it costs 30,000 won and 10,000 won for any additional members. The snow-based activities are priced between 2,000 won and 10,000 won. For all children under the age of 4, access to all activities is free.

Although very similar with the Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival, the Pyeongchang fest is more family and couple-friendly. Large tents and canopies envelope the fishing zones with heaters to fight the Gangwon-do cold.

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According to one of the lifeguards at the fishing site, the best time to come for some good fishing is between 9-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. as the trout that are released onto the lake come from farms where they are routinely fed during that time. Today and tomorrow, there will be a special snow car race open to everyone. For more information, call (033) 336-4000.



12th Inje Candlefish Festival

By now, you must be saying, "Great, another ice-fishing festival." But the Inje festival is somewhat different from the previous two - the glaring difference being freshwater candlefish as opposed to trout. This festival is also different in that the activities focus heavily on consumption and competition. Off-kilter contests such as bobbing-for-candlefish, candlefish transporting, barehanded candlefish fishing, a candlefish eating contest, and catching them with chopsticks are among the odd activities in store for visitors. What makes it all the more enticing is all of the aforementioned competitions cost nothing to enter.

But if competing using the tiny fishes is far from your ideal snow activity, you might want to participate in human bowling, tight-rope walking or curling. These events cost 5,000 won.

Located in the Bupyeong region of Inje County, the festival will kick-off at the end of the month until Feb. 22 on top of the 2,450 acre frozen river bed of Soyang. All ice fishing here is free of charge.

For more information, call (033) 460-2082.

By Song Woong-ki



(kws@heraldm.com)