2020.1.15 Travel Calendar
Published: 14 Jan. 2020, 20:10
Mount Taebaek Provincial Park, Taebaek City, Gangwon
Through Jan. 19
Various events will be held in the highlands of Taebaek Mountain, 800 meters (2,625 feet) above sea level, during this 10-day festival. The program includes a snow sculpture competition for college students, snowball fights, snow rafting, concerts and a fireworks show. Snow sculptures produced under various themes will be on display.
For more information, contact the Taebaek City tourism and cultural division at 033-550-2085 or visit tour.taebaek.go.kr
Haeundae Lighting Festival
Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Square, Busan
Through Jan. 27
The Haeundae Lighting Festival aims to become one of the most important winter festivals at Haeundae Beach. This year’s 73-day festival, under the theme “Haeundae, the Sea of Light,” will feature various light works, including an installation that reflects waves of light on the sandy beach. The events at Haeundae Square will include a daily Christmas music concert, the installation of Christmas wish trees and a Christmas carol competition.
For more information, visit the website at www.haeundae.go.kr or call 051-749-4061~4.
Pyeongchang Trout Festival
Odaecheon Stream in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon
From Jan. 17 to Feb. 16
Pyeongchang is a haven for winter sports thanks to its abundant snowfall. Throughout the winter, the county holds a festival of snow, ice and trout fishing at a 33,000-square-meter (355,209-square-foot) lot situated 700 meters above sea level.
Depending on the weather, the total number of visitors will be limited. If the ice is as thick as 18 centimeters (7 inches), about 1,000 visitors will get to enjoy the festival on Jan. 17. If the ice is thicker than 20 centimeters, then about 5,000 visitors will be able to experience all the activities on ice. Other programs like sledding or fishing inside will be available without any time limit.
For more information, visit www.festival700.or.kr or call 033-336-4000.
Hwacheon Stream, Hwacheon, Gangwon
Jan. 27 to Feb. 16
Try your hand at fishing for mountain trout under the thick ice of Hwacheon Stream, which is connected to the Han River. There are a variety of programs available for visitors to this festival, including catching trout with your hands, a creative sled competition, ice football and bobsledding.
Fishing is available seven times a day from 10 a.m., and you can sign up one hour before the event starts. You can catch up to three fish. Other activities like sledding, figure skating or sliding are most available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All the activities are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To entertain visitors after the festival is closed at night, the town of Hwacheon holds a parade on Fridays and Saturdays.
Due to the cold temperatures recently, make sure to check in advance if ice fishing and other ice-related activities are still available.
For more information, call 1688-3005 or visit www.narafestival.com
Cheongpyeong Ice Flower Festival
Cheongpyeong, Gyeonggi
From Jan. 23 to Feb. 23
Widely known as the Cheongpyeong Snowflake Ice Festival, the Cheongpyeong Ice Flower Festival usually offers visitors a chance to enjoy a day filled with winter sports. Visitors can grab a sled and feel the cool air hitting their cheeks as they zoom down a hill and also try their hand at ice fishing.
Cheongpyeong is a town about one hour east of Seoul in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi. It is a popular destination for Koreans as it is situated on the banks of a beautiful lake with dramatic mountains surrounding it, populated by resorts focusing on water sports, especially during the summer.
In the winter, the water turns to thick ice rink so that people can go skating, ice sledding or fishing. The festival allows for those who catch a fish to cook it right away and enjoy a meal with friends and family.
However, due to relatively warmer temperature seen this year, the festival may change its opening date or operating programs. Do check before you plan out your visit.
The festival costs 15,000 won ($13) for adults and 12,000 won for children.
For more information, go to cpfestival.net or call (031) 585-9449.
COEX Aquarium, southern Seoul
Through Feb. 29
To celebrate the New Year, COEX Aquarium is offering a special underwater performance. Synchronized swimmers from the aquarium as well as divers will swim with some of the rays and other sea creatures in a large tank to tell a story of how one makes their New Year’s wish come true.
Performances will be held three times a day, at 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Tuesdays through Fridays, and there will be one more performance at 6 p.m. on weekends and national holidays.
There will be some other special performances for the Lunar New Year, from Jan. 24 to 27 in a way to have another program to relate to visitors over the national holiday.
For more information go to www.coexaqua.com or call (02) 700-7200.
Everland, Gyeonggi
Through Feb. 29
To celebrate the New Year, theme park Everland is holding the “2020 Begin Again with Everland” campaign with six big events planned for the next two months.
It plans to take hope, gratitude, a daring spirit and excitement as its themes to entertain visitors through a variety of events, and it will reveal more details on each step-by-step through its website.
The theme park is also celebrating the new year and all things related to the number 20. Customers who have stories related to the number 20, for instance, those who celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year or 20th anniversary of starting a job, will get special discounts to enjoy facilities within Everland. More details on who’s eligible are available on the company’s website, and there are total of 20 special promotions going on.
In February when many students get to graduate from their schools, is more for the teenagers going into their twenties. The event called “Hello My Twenties” target to include those who turn 20 in 2020 or those who want to remember their time back in their 20s.
Go to www.everland.com to get the full details on all the events going on as part of the campaign.
Light Festival
The Garden of Morning Calm, Gyeonggi
Through March 22
Each winter, this large garden wears all kinds of colorful LED lights to show off a different charm of the nature that normally fills its space. The festival, which aims to show how nature and lights can make the night more special, is usually held between December and March.
Entrance to the garden is 9,500 won for adults, 7,000 won for middle and high school students, and 6,000 won for children over 36 months old.
For more information, go to morningcalm.co.kr or call 1544-6703.
* Most of the travel calendar information is culled from the Yonhap News Agency and written by the Korea JoongAng Daily.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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