Winter is a season of festivities all over the world. When the shadows of all that had gone wrong get illuminated with lights of peace and happiness. A season that lets hope and optimism triumph over everything else. Adorned with colorful lights and festive decorations, the arrival of winter in Korea is a celebration. Embark on a journey through Korea’s winter wonderland where the spirit of its people matches with the cheerful festive mood.
Whether you’re a fan of icy adventures or prefer cozy cultural experiences, Korea’s winter festivals promise something truly special for every visitor. The jovial events that take place all over the country offer a unique glimpse into Korea’s cultural richness. Here are some of the best winter festivals in Korea that open the window to the vast diversity of this nation.
Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm
The winter season is the time when the streets start to shine with all the lights. It is that time of the year when all around Korea starts the preparations for many lighting festivals. Among such spectacular celebrations, the Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm stands out as the most fabulous event. It is an evening event that covers an area of nearly 330,000 ㎡ with light decorations.
The gleaming lights add a festive glow to the natural beauty of the garden throughout the winter season. It usually begins in December and goes till the end of March. The lighting hours are from 17:00 to 21:00, with extended hours until 23:00 on Saturday. Held at the Garden of Morning Calm, the Lighting Festival is touted as one of the best winter festivals in Korea.
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Of all the winter festivals that take the stage during the onset of winter in Korea, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival well and truly encapsulates the spirit of this joyful season. The festival celebrates the region’s tradition of–Ice fishing–enduring through harsh winters. This is a family-friendly event that welcomes people of all ages to partake and foster a sense of togetherness in the community.
With over a million visitors each year assembling to catch mountain trout from the frozen river, the splendid Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a grand spectacle never to be missed. The sheer exciting atmosphere amidst the stunning frozen landscape and the vibrant cultural experiences make this one of the world’s biggest winter festivals and surely one of the best winter festivals in Korea.
Pyeongchang Trout Festival
Pyeongchang is a town that is known all over the world for being a fantastic host for the Winter Olympics. The town is also home to another grand spectacle during the winter The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is a fishing-centred festival that lures tourists from around the world. Visitors can try their hand at ice fishing while enjoying traditional folk games, and live music. The town is nestled about 700 meters above the sea level.
Once the trout fishing delights are over then the visitors can enjoy the mouth-watering traditional dishes from the nearby restaurants. All kinds of local dishes that are uniquely offered in this region during the winter will be on the menu. The festival also includes a variety of exciting programs such as ice and lure fishing for trout, music fests, folk programs, and other cultural activities.
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
The great Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival offers an array of events and activities that are sure to entertain visitors of all ages. Located against the stunning background of Taebaeksan Mountain, this popular festival transforms the entire region into a winter wonderland. With intricate snow sculptures, ice slides, and a vibrant parade showcasing local culture and tradition, the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival is a grand experience to explore.
What makes this winter festival truly special is that visitors can enjoy performances, exquisite snow sculptures, and snow sledding, all with the beautiful Taebaeksan Mountain covered in snow as their backdrop. A lighting festival will also be taking place around the same time at Hwangji Pond, with lanterns in a range of shapes and sizes. It is one of the grandest winter festivals in Korea.
Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival
Winter’s arrival at the Alps village in Cheongyang turns the region into a frozen wonderland. The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival creates an amazing winter landscape against the background of majestic mountains. The frozen fountains and sculptures made of snow all add allure to the winter charm. All the sculptures carved on the pure white snow take on many shapes and sizes of different cartoon characters.
In addition to the visual treat, the festival also offers many exciting activities such as bobsleighing, ice sleds, a zip track, and a children’s train. It is the ideal destination for a day out with friends and family. Visitors can enjoy classic winter delicacies like freshly roasted chestnuts, deep-fried smelt, and sweet potatoes. All of them will be on offer in the nearby local restaurants.
Seongsan Sunrise Festival
There is nothing more blissful than to spend the last days of the year getting close to nature. Welcome the first day of the year with a stunning sunrise at Jeju Island. The Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak has an interesting event that unfolds towards the end of the year. Seongsan Sunrise Festival welcomes tourists from all across the globe to catch the first sunrise of the year from the majestic Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak.
A midnight fireworks set the mood for the festival on New Year’s Eve. This then sets the mood for highly euphoric musical performances by the local artists, a torch replay, New Year’s Countdown, and many other events. A grand celebration to end the day and welcome the new year, as the sunrise approaches, everyone hikes up to the Seongsna Ilchulbong Peak–a UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site.
Jeju Fire Festival
Jeju Fire Festival, known as Jeongwol Daeboreum in Korea, is a vibrant celebration held on South Korea’s Jeju Island. An age-old tradition where the farmers set their fields on fire that kills pests and old weeds and grass, marks the end of winter. Celebrated on the first full moon of the lunar calendar year, usually in February, the Jeju Fire Festival marks the traditional end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Daeboreum, which means “great full moon”, is a nationwide observance, but on Jeju Island, the festival has a distinctive charm. The traditional performances, spectacular fire displays, and cultural activities paint the night sky with warmth and color. It’s a festival that brings the community together to pray for a better tomorrow showered with prosperity and good health. Here the festival aims to pray for good harvests, ward off evil spirits, and bring good luck.
Boseong Green Tea Light Festival
Amidst the lush ground rounded hills and tea fields, a luminescent festival takes over the Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation, which is one of the largest tea plantations in Korea. Since 2000, the Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival has been boasted as one of the grandest winter festivals in Korea. The tea fields illuminated by a variety of lights and decorations are a sight to behold for visitors from all around the globe.
The Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival turns tea fields and the nearby Yulpo Beach into a dazzling spectacle with thousands of lights, creating a serene and mystical atmosphere. Besides the visual spectacle and the serene natural landscape, visitors can also engage in cultural performances showcasing Korean culture and tradition. Other fun activities such as tea picking, tea tasting, and tea ceremonies all add more excitement to this festive mood.
