Freezing cold fails to deter visitors from joining ice fishing festival in Gangwon

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival began on Jan. 10 in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province, attracting hundreds of visitors despite very cold weather. Temperatures dropped to minus 12°C, but thick ice on the Hwacheon Stream made ice fishing possible. Visitors drilled holes in the ice and used short fishing lines to catch sancheoneo fish, following guides’ instructions.

Thanks to the long cold spell, the ice reached up to 38 centimeters thick, making conditions safe and ideal. The festival quickly became very popular, passing 1 million visitors in just three weeks. On one Saturday alone, more than 127,000 people visited. Many said the experience of fishing outdoors in winter felt exciting and refreshing.

Organizers also prepared many activities beyond fishing to keep visitors on site. Attractions include ice and snow sculptures, lantern displays, street performances, sledding, zip lines, and a large ice plaza near an ice castle. Since it started in 2003, the festival has welcomed over 1 million visitors every year and remains one of Korea’s most famous winter events.

Source: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/n 

Comprehension

Where is the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival held?
What activity do visitors enjoy on the frozen stream?
Why was the ice thick enough this year?
About how many visitors attended the festival in three weeks?
Name one activity besides fishing at the festival.

Discussion

Why do you think people visit festivals even in very cold weather?
Would you like to try ice fishing? Why or why not?
How can festivals help local communities and businesses?
Why is safety important at winter festivals?
What makes this festival attractive to families?
How does nature play an important role in this festival?
Do festivals help people relax from daily life? How?
What kind of festival would you like to attend in your country?

Vocabulary

Festival – A special event with activities and celebrations
Frozen – Turned into ice because of cold weather
Visitor – A person who goes to a place for a short time
Attraction – Something interesting that people want to see or do
Cumulative – Growing by adding more over time