KoreaThisWeek
English
← Guides

Korea in winter 2026–27: light festivals, ice fishing and New Year

Seoul's winter light festival starts 11 December and the Hwacheon ice-fishing festival 9 January, both officially announced. Dates, how cold it gets, getting there from Seoul, and booking tips.

Facts checked Oct 21, 2026 · 6 min read

A Korean winter has two big draws: light displays in the city, and festivals where you fish through the ice of a frozen river. Below we separate what has been officially announced as of 21 October 2026 from what has not. Where dates are not out yet, we do not guess; we describe last season instead, clearly labelled.

Seoul: light festival from 11 December (official)

Seoul's winter festival runs this year as the 2026 Seoul Winter Festival, from 11 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 (52 days), according to its official site. The main sites are Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon stream, Seoul Plaza, DDP, Bosingak and the Han River parks.

  • Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (11 Dec – 10 Jan): media façade on Gwanghwamun gate and light artworks
  • Gwanghwamun Market (11 Dec – 10 Jan, south side of the square): a European-style Christmas village with seasonal goods and food
  • Seoul Lantern Festival (11 Dec – 31 Jan, Cheonggyecheon from Cheonggye Plaza to Samil Bridge): hanji paper lanterns and media art
  • Seoul Plaza skating rink (18 Dec – 9 Feb): 1,000 won for one hour, skates and helmet included
  • Seoul Light DDP (11 Dec – 31 Jan): laser show, performances and a New Year countdown
  • SEOULCon (29 Dec – 1 Jan, DDP)
  • New Year's Eve bell (31 Dec – 1 Jan, around Bosingak): countdown and 33 strikes of the bell

The official site has not yet posted lighting hours or admission. Check it before you go.

New Year's Eve and Christmas (last season)

In central Seoul, the official New Year events are the Bosingak bell and the DDP countdown above. Nothing else has been announced yet, so here is what news reports said about last season.

  • According to reports, last New Year's Eve Jung-gu district held its first large official countdown in Myeongdong, in front of the Shinsegae department store's main branch.
  • According to reports, last season department stores started their Christmas façade shows in November, and a Christmas market ran at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil until 4 January. The Hyundai Seoul's Christmas village needed an advance booking, and slots were reported to be gone within about 30 minutes.

First sunrise (last season)

East-coast sunrise spots hold events from New Year's Eve into the morning of 1 January. According to reports, last season Pohang's Homigot held its sunrise festival on 31 December – 1 January, with a midnight show and traditional performances just before dawn. We could not find any 2027 New Year's Day events announced at the time of writing.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: 9–31 January 2027 (official)

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Gangwon province runs from Saturday 9 to Sunday 31 January 2027 (23 days), according to its official site. You drill through the ice of a frozen river to catch sancheoneo (cherry salmon); it is Korea's best-known winter festival.

The official site says its detailed pages are still last season's (2026) and the 2027 version is being prepared. So the points below are last season's official information.

  • There was a fishing area for foreign visitors (09:00–18:00, tickets until 17:00), with a rest area for foreigners and a Muslim prayer room. You could take home up to 3 fish.
  • The fee for adults (middle-school age and up) was 15,000 won, with 5,000 won of local vouchers back. According to reports, Hwacheon county is considering raising it to about 25,000 won from 2027 while giving back 15,000 won in vouchers.
  • Artificial bait only. Food, tents and heaters are not allowed in the fishing area.
  • The official site warns that the walk-up fishing area often fills by late morning at weekends. The pre-booked area was sold through NOL Interpark.
  • The lantern street in town and the indoor ice-sculpture hall opened earlier than the festival last season, from 20 December.

Getting there from Seoul

The official site suggests an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal to Hwacheon (about 3 hours), or a train such as the ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon, then an intercity bus to Hwacheon. It notes that during the festival the bus stop outside Chuncheon station can be too crowded to get a seat. Last season the official site also linked a shuttle-bus booking for independent foreign travellers; wait for this season's announcement.

Pyeongchang Trout Festival: 2027 dates not announced

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival in Jinbu still shows last season (9 January – 9 February 2026) on its official site. According to reports, last season's opening was pushed back from 1 January to 9 January because of warm weather. Festivals that need ice can change dates with the weather.

Last season's official information:

  • Ice fishing cost 25,000 won (09:00–17:00). Bring a rod or buy one on site. Up to 2 fish per person per day to take home.
  • Only tent fishing could be booked online; everything else was sold on the day. Foreign visitors were asked to phone (+82-33-336-4000).
  • By train: KTX Gangneung line from Seoul Station to Jinbu (Odaesan) station, about 1 hour 40 minutes.

How cold does it get?

The Korea Meteorological Administration's 1991–2020 normals put the national average for January at −0.9°C, with an average low of −5.7°C. That is a nationwide average; inland mountain towns such as Hwacheon and Pyeongchang are colder. Hwacheon's official site warns of the biting river wind and recommends winter clothing, insulated boots, gloves and hand warmers.

  • Standing on ice chills you from the feet up: thick socks and non-slip shoes
  • Phone batteries drain fast in the cold: carry a power bank
  • Light festivals are best after dark: dress a layer warmer than for daytime

Booking tips

  • Most light displays are outdoor and walk-in, but hours and any admission have not been announced yet.
  • For the ice-fishing festivals, go early at weekends or use the pre-booked fishing area.
  • Rooms near Hwacheon and Pyeongchang fill up over New Year and festival weekends. Chuncheon or Gangneung are options if a day trip is too long.

On now and coming up

The list above shows only events on now or starting within 30 days, so it may be empty in autumn; it fills up as winter gets closer. All festivals are on the festival list.

Sources

Official:

News reports:

Tours, passes and tickets in Korea on Klook →Hotels in Seoul on Trip.com →Affiliate link

More guides