A List of Winter Festivals in Korea To Get Out For

Winter doesn’t have to mean hibernation for months while the temperatures become frigid. In a country where there’s no end in sight to festivals, of course there is plenty to partake in from December to February. From snow festivals to sunrise festivals and more, get out, stay warm, but get out and about and enjoy the winter season!

From celebrations of snow, ice and lights lights lights, there’s plenty to see and do! Don’t miss out and plan ahead to enjoy this winter at some great festivals.

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Herb Island Lighting Festival (허브아일랜드 가을불빛동화축제)

Pocheon Herb Island holds a beautiful light festival each year with millions of LED lights all around the vicinity to stun the eyes and give people the holiday ambiance they might be looking for. The festival usually runs from mid-November all the way to April so you have plenty of time to see it in the winter.

Three hundred Santas sit stand and play in Santa’s Village too for those people really looking to get into the Christmas spirit. This is the place to visit to get your Santa and light fix all in one location AND it’s also host to a spa and numerous pensions so it’d also be a great area for a leisurely weekend away with friends or family.

• Where: 35 Cheongshin-ro 947 beong-gil, Shinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 포천시 신북면 청신로947번길 35)

Yeongdong Dried Persimmon Festival (영동곶감축제)

The ‘Holy Land of Fruit’ offers a cold but fruity winter festival. This local produce festival gives visitors a good ‘ole down on the farm feel celebrating the persimmons famous in the region as well as pyogo mushrooms, walnuts and chestnuts. Expect to chow down on some good eats made from the produce and take in some cultural performances. Other activities include peeling persimmons and jam making as well as a foot bath in persimmon leaves.

This is the place to get your townie fun on with some delicious local food. Look out for this festival in early January of each year.

• Where: 122 Yeongdonghwangan-ro, Yeongdong-eub, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (충북 영동군 영동읍 영동황간로 122)

Garden of the Morning Calm Lighting Festival (오색별빛정원전)

Just an hour outside of Seoul nestled in the mountains sits the curated botanical gardens of The Garden of the Morning Calm. The park boasts more than 5,000 plants in the gardens and scenic walkways that are beautiful all year round. During the holiday season though, the gardens are decorated with six million LED lights strung this way and that and hung here and there from the trees to the grass and between sparkling and shining the night away for the biggest festival of lights in Korea. 

The lights are lit from 5:30PM to 8:00PM everyday and extended to 11:00PM on Saturdays. This is one of the most beautiful gardens throughout the year and is a popular addition to numerous tours so it’s easy to get to even without a car.

• Where: 228-1-san Imcho-ri, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (경기 가평군 상면 임초리 산228-1)

Pyeongchong Trout Festival (평창송어축제)

For something a little different but with loads of appeal, why not head to a fish festival where you can dive into some freezing cold water and catch fish with your bare hands? Okay, you don’t really dive, but you can get into a large pool of cold water and try to catch those fish before your fingers become too numb. If that’s not appealing, I don’t know what is!

There’s also lure fishing if you don’t want to get wet, folk programs, ice sledding and sliding, games, ATVs to ride, snow rafting and more. What doesn’t sound fun about all of that?

• Where: 1289-80 Hajinbu-ri, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원 평창군 진부면 하진부리 1289-80)

Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival (경포 해돋이축제)

Gyeongpo is especially beautiful during the summer months when the beach beckons but in the winter the beach beckons for other reasons. The sunrise over the coast here and just to the north in Jeongdongjin are spectacular and traditionally the New Years is celebrated by welcoming the beautiful first sun rays of the year early in the morning.

To start your year off right and in true Korean fashion, head to Gangneung to wish for a prosperous year and to have fun at the many events held at the same time. While there, don’t forget to eat their specialty tofu and visit their very quirky gramophone museum.

• Where: 1-san, Gangmun-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (지번강원 강릉시 강문동 산1)

Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전)

Homigot is probably the most famous location for the sunrise festival on the first of the new year. Homigot is located on the easternmost point of the Korean peninsula and as such is the first place to spot the sunrise thus the popularity. While the sunrise itself is pretty spectacular, this fest also offers up cultural performances, a fire show and a concert at sunrise to add to the whole experience.

Visitors should also try some local delicacies like guamegi (dried herring or mackerel pike) and makgeolli (rice wine).

• Where: 221-1 Daebu-ri, Homigot-myeon, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-go (경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 대보리 221-1)

Jirisan Namwon Baraebong Snowflake Festival (지리산 남원 바래봉 눈축제)

Fifty days of snow sledding and snowman making, kite flying, snow ball fights and more events on the spectacularly beautiful picturesque snow covered Baraebong Peak in  Namwon are calling all those people looking for fun in the snow this winter.

Jirisan is famous to trekkers and hikers the country over, but in the winter, everyone is invited to enjoy the white ambiance that blankets the mountains.

• Where: 442-4 Yongsan-ri, Unbong-eub, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 남원시 운봉읍 용산리 442-4)

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천 산천어축제)

This mountain trout festival takes place in the first place in Korea that freezes over every winter. Wouldn’t you be ecstatic if you lived in a place known for freezing? Of course ice fishing, ice sledding and sliding and catching fish with bare hands in a pool of frigid water is on the agenda for anyone attending this event. Take that fish and grill it up on nearby grills in tents and enjoy your catch. Dress warmly, but this is so worth the trip.

• Where: 137 Sancheoneo-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do (강원 화천군 화천읍 산천어길 137)

Jirisan Namwon Baraebong Snowflake Festival (지리산 남원 바래봉 눈축제)

Lasting for around 50 days, the Herb Valley and the Baraebong Peak in Namwon offer spectacular snow covered fields for picturesque views and the festival doesn’t short on activities to partake in. From snow sledding and snowman making to kite flying and snow ball fights, there’s plenty to do and see.

• Where: 442-4 Yongsan-ri, Unbong-eub, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 남원시 운봉읍 용산리 442-4)

Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival (태백산눈축제)

Large snow sculptures look over the crowds of tourists to this venue and welcome visitors as they enter the winter wonderland in Taebaek. After viewing the sculptures the pure natural beauty of the mountain takes over and if the snowy mountains aren’t enough and you want just a bit more to do, there’s also a beautiful temple and train museum in the vicinity. Traditional performances and a good ole fashion karaoke outside for all to see are highlights of this townie get together.

• Where: 4834-31 Taebaeksan-ro, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 태백시 태백산로 4834-31)

Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival (양평딸기체험축제)

If come February you’ve just had it with winter and you’re looking for that special something to get your spring started early, there’s no better place to head than out to Yangpyeong. The Yangpyeong Sumi Village and Strawberry Farm set between the Youngmunsan Mountain and Namhangang and Bukhangang River revs up for spring with a festival with picking strawberries, cooking competitions and tastings along with a lot more.

• Where: 48-san, Hwajeon-ri, Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (경기 양평군 용문면 화전리 산48)

Uljin Snow Crab Festival (울진대게와 붉은대게 축제)

Anther way to end the winter season with an equally delicious goodbye is the snow crab festival set in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The fresh catch is a local delicacy and not only can it be eaten, but snagging your own fresh one as well as eating competitions, culture performances and tug-of-war, yacht rides and more can be done on location.

• Where: 236-14 Uljindaegae-ro, Hupo-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경북 울진군 후포면 울진대게로 236-14)

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