Pyeongchang 2024 Trout Festival: Fish, fun, winter thrills!

Monday, January 1, 2024

Join the 15th Pyeongchang Trout Festival from Dec 29-Jan 28! Enjoy fishing, winter sports, and cultural events in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang.

The 15th edition of the ‘Pyeongchang Trout Celebration’ commenced on December 29th, a Friday, and will continue until January 28, 2024, a Sunday. Operating hours are from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening, and the festivities take place at the Odaecheon region in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang County.

Initiated in 2007, this festival has seen a year-on-year increase in popularity, significantly boosting the local economy and providing employment opportunities in the winter, traditionally a slower season for agriculture.

After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event made a triumphant comeback, drawing in 400,000 attendees in its 14th occurrence in 2022. The festival has earned recognition as the ‘2024-2025 Cultural Tourism Festival’ from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, credited for its innovative and enjoyable offerings.

Coinciding with the ‘2024 Winter Youth Olympics Gangwon,’ starting January 19, 2024, there’s an expectation of an increased influx of international tourists.

The festival’s main attractions include trout fishing, a variety of winter activities, and culinary experiences. Its star attraction is ‘Trout Fishing,’ featuring ice fishing through 15cm holes in the ice, bare-handed fishing, and indoor fishing. In the bare-handed fishing section, participants experience the unique excitement of catching trout with their hands, an engaging alternative to traditional fishing methods.

The indoor fishing area is accessible for all, including children and seniors, with additional support for those trying their hand at trout fishing, both in the bare-handed and Indoor Fishing Center areas.

For those new to trout fishing, there’s a ‘Trout Fishing Class’ led by fishing expert Lee Jeong-gu, offering insights on effective trout catching techniques.

The freshly caught trout can be prepared on-site at adjacent eateries, with a choice of dishes like sashimi or roasted trout. These restaurants offer 15 different trout-based dishes, including spicy raw trout salad, raw trout bibimbap, sweet and sour trout, and spicy trout stew.

Visitors can also indulge in various winter sports at the Snow Square and Ice Square. These include snow sledding, snow rafting, four-wheel ATV rides at the snow palace, traditional sledding, skating, ice-bike riding, bumper car rides, and ice carting at the Ice Square.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival Committee also organizes the ‘Catch Golden Trout’ contest. Participants catching a golden trout at the fishing center receive a commemorative pure gold plaque.

Chairman Choi Gi-sung commented, “Pyeongchang, known as a winter sports city, is gaining fame as a city of winter festivals. We are committed to ensuring safety and fostering an environment for diverse visitors to relish the Pyeongchang trout festival.”

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