The Ice Kingdom Playground on the Winter River: Trip to the Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival
Introduction
As winter deepens, cold, transparent ice settles over the river and every breath turns into white puffs of steam. Soon, once the ice on the Hongcheon River fully hardens, an Ice Kingdom playground will unfold across the river where both children and adults gather with excitement.
The Ice Kingdom Playground on the Winter River: Trip to the Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival
Table of Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Visit (Planned) Impressions
- Where to Stay
- Restaurants & Cafes
- Nearby Attractions
- How to Get There
- Closing Thoughts
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Festival Name : Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival
- Dates : 2026-01-09 ~ 2026-01-25
- Opening Hours : 09:00~18:00
- Location : 85 Sinjangdae-ri, Galmagok-ri area, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Hongcheon riverside area)
- Admission : Paid
- Host : Hongcheon-gun
- Organizer : Hongcheon Cultural Foundation
- Inquiries : 033-439-5800
- Coordinates : Latitude 37.6881873, Longitude 127.8867488
- 09:00 After arriving at the festival grounds, take a slow walk around the Hongcheon riverside area to locate the ice fishing zone, pontoon fishing site, and indoor fishing area.
- 10:00 Enjoy ginseng trout ice fishing at the ice fishing site or pontoon fishing site, soaking in the crisp winter air above the river and the thrill in your hands.
- 12:00 Have a warm lunch at the sashimi center, local food restaurants, or outdoor food stalls, tasting the trout you caught or local specialties.
- 13:30 Join hands-on programs such as barehanded trout catching and the Golden Trout event, take family photos, and build lasting memories.
- 15:00 Play to your heart’s content with the kids at the ice sledding rink, winter folk games playground, and traditional kite-flying experience.
- 16:30 Watch stage performances, the Gongggong DJ booth, and prize drawings, then visit the tourist information center and photo exhibition before slowly getting ready to head home.
On weekends and at the beginning of the festival period, parking lots and entrances can be crowded, so it’s safer to head out early.
The Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival is a winter festival held every January along the Hongcheon riverside in the Galmagok-ri area of Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. It offers ice fishing, pontoon fishing, and an indoor family fishing area that anyone can easily enjoy, as well as a hands-on program where you can catch trout with your bare hands, letting you fully experience the thrill of winter fishing on a frozen river.
In particular, the festival is themed around ginseng trout weighing about 800g—the size said to be the most delicious—as well as large ginseng trout. After the experience, you can savor the nutty flavor of the fish as sashimi or grilled. With an ice sledding rink, winter folk games playground, traditional thatched houses, and local food restaurants, it’s a popular destination for family trips. Even when the ice is not fully hardened, expanded pontoon fishing sites allow visitors to fish safely.
Program Information
This is a hands-on experience where you catch ginseng trout through holes drilled in the ice on the Hongcheon River or from a pontoon. The pontoon fishing sites have been expanded so you can enjoy fishing relatively safely regardless of ice conditions and despite fluctuations in winter weather.
An indoor space where you can enjoy trout fishing with children without the cold. Because kids can actually see into the water while they fish, it’s especially popular with them.
Step into the cold water and try catching trout with your bare hands, enjoying the thrilling fun unique to winter festivals. Special events such as the Golden Trout Event also offer chances to win prizes.
At the ice sledding rink and winter folk games playground, you can experience traditional sledding and folk games. It’s a great place for the whole family to romp around together, surrounded by the cozy winter scenery of a countryside village with thatched roofs.
At the sashimi center, local food restaurants, outdoor food stalls, and agricultural and specialty product shops, you can enjoy ginseng trout sashimi and grilled trout, as well as various local specialties. The fun of having the trout you caught prepared on the spot is not to be missed.
Throughout the festival period, the opening ceremony, the Gongggong DJ booth, and various stage performances liven up the atmosphere. Family-friendly performances and events take place frequently.
There are prize drawings and a “zero-catch angler” event for visitors who don’t manage to catch any trout at all, so even those new to fishing can participate without feeling pressured.
The tourist information center, corporate promotion hall, and photo contest exhibition space introduce various sights and local information about Hongcheon. Take a moment to forget the cold while appreciating winter landscapes of Hongcheon on display.
On the first day and on weekends, lines at the ice fishing sites and tent fishing areas can get long, so it’s best to arrive around opening time if possible.
Events are in place for visitors who don’t catch any trout, so even if you have little fishing experience, it’s worth giving it a try without feeling burdened.
There are safety experience booths and a 119 emergency safety experience program, making it a good opportunity to combine safety education with fun activities for kids.
If you’ve never fished before, make use of the “zero-catch angler” event.
If you’re with children, stop by the safety experience booths together and go over basic safety rules in advance.
Visit (Planned) Impressions
Today is December 10, 2025, so there’s still just over a month left until the Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival (January 9–25, 2026). I’m writing from the perspective of someone who is planning to visit soon. My heart is already fluttering at the thought of the upcoming festival. It almost feels as if I can already sense the winter air at the tip of my nose and see the glint of trout scales sparkling on the ice.
Recently I saw that this year’s festival is being prepared with an even more diverse program than last year under the theme of “ginseng trout.” They say the trout are raised in Hongcheon-gun on feed that includes 6-year-old ginseng grown locally, giving them a firm texture and impressively nutty flavor. It looks like the perfect festival to fill up on memories with children, combining not only the thrill of fishing on the ice but also barehanded trout catching, sledding, and folk games. I’ve heard the fees are relatively reasonable and the accessibility is good, which I like. Core experiences such as ice and pontoon fishing and barehanded ginseng trout catching are said to be around 20,000 won per person, so I’m looking forward not only to the feel of the fish on the line but also to the sashimi and grilled trout that you can enjoy right on site.
Since it’s easy to reach from Seoul and the greater metropolitan area by bus or car, I’m thinking it would be great either as a day trip or a one-night stay. The festival takes place along the Hongcheon riverside in Hongcheon-eup, with parking available nearby and some shuttle bus services planned, so getting around shouldn’t be too difficult. It would be nice to arrive early in the morning, first soaking in the still air and winter scenery on the ice, and then, from midday, continue the experiences amid the lively crowds.
Just imagining my breath turning white in the cold air, the sound of ice cracking, and the chill of the trout the moment it touches my hands makes my fingertips twitch. I picture myself looking out at the winter sun scattering across the ice on the river and feeling a wave of satisfaction as I pop a bite of nutty trout sashimi into my mouth. It feels like it will be a trip filled with the small yet solid joys that winter offers, and I’m already promising myself to pack warm clothes and hand warmers so I don’t forget a thing.
Where to Stay
While the Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival is easy to visit as a day trip from Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, if you’d like to take in the winter scenery at a more relaxed pace, consider staying at a nearby accommodation and planning a one-night, two-day trip. In Hongcheon-eup and Bukbang-myeon, there are accommodations within about 10 km by car, making them reasonably accessible from the festival grounds.
281 Gulji-gangbyeon-ro, Bukbang-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Located near the Hongcheon River, this is a good place to enjoy a quiet riverside view.
It’s close enough by car to move on after the festival and rest in peace and quiet.
Distance: approx. 9.2 km
Restaurants & Cafes
After you’ve had your fill of fun at the festival, head to restaurants and cafes in Hongcheon-eup and along nearby roads for a warm meal and a break. There are places that fit naturally into your route, from trout specialty restaurants to charcoal-grill spots and cafes, so you can choose according to your tastes.
2F, 491 Hongcheon-ro, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Located in central Hongcheon-eup, it’s an easy place to drop by after the festival.
It’s recommended to check operating hours and visitor information before you go.
Distance: approx. 1.2 km
124 Hongcheon-ro, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Known as a trout specialty restaurant, it pairs perfectly with a visit to the festival.
It can get busy around lunchtime, so try to visit with some extra time to spare.
Distance: approx. 2.4 km
119 Hongcheon-ro, Bukbang-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Located along the roadside, it’s convenient as a meal stop while traveling by car.
Operating hours may change in winter, so it’s best to check before visiting.
Distance: approx. 2.4 km
666-1 Hongcheon-ro, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A cafe on the outskirts of downtown Hongcheon, perfect for a warm cup of coffee after the festival.
Considering the parking and seating situation, try visiting during a quieter time.
Distance: approx. 2.9 km
17-8 Yangjimal-gil, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A place for charcoal-grilled meat—ideal when you’re craving a hot, grilled bite.
There may be a wait in the evening, so consider visiting a bit earlier.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
17-4 Yangjimal-gil, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Known as a popular meat restaurant near Hongcheon’s charcoal-grill alley.
On especially cold days, consider using indoor seating and visiting with plenty of time.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
70 Soksae-gil, Yeonggwi-mi-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A scenic place surrounded by nature, great to pair with a drive.
It’s a bit farther from the festival grounds, so it’s best to visit with a relaxed schedule.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
214-3 Guryongnyeong-ro, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Located along the road toward Guryongnyeong, it’s a convenient meal stop while traveling.
It may be in the opposite direction from the festival, so plan your visit with your route in mind.
Distance: approx. 10.0 km
Nearby Attractions
If you feel it would be a waste to just enjoy the festival and head straight back, consider combining it with visits to nearby parks, forest trails, and experience villages around Hongcheon-eup. Within about a 10 km drive, you’ll find many nature rest areas where you can take light walks and stroll through the forest, appreciating the winter scenery.
31 Sanrim-gongwon 2-gil, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
An urban forest park where the city meets the woods, ideal for a light walk.
It’s close enough to drop by before or after the festival to enjoy the winter forest air.
Distance: approx. 0.8 km
18 Jangjeonpyeong-ro, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A park themed around Korea’s national flower, Mugunghwa, ideal for a quiet stroll and rest.
In winter, it’s a pleasant place to relax amidst snow-covered park scenery.
Distance: approx. 1.5 km
Deokchi-ri, Yeonggwi-mi-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A theme park where you can experience both a temple and rural scenery.
In winter, check road conditions first and plan a leisurely visit.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
3-2 Oan-ro, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Hongcheon’s representative meat district, lined with various charcoal-grill restaurants.
It’s a convenient route to connect to a dinner spot after the festival.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
2937-12 Yeongseo-ro, Bukbang-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
An arboretum where you can enjoy walking among a variety of trees.
In winter, check the operating hours and whether it’s open to visitors before you go.
Distance: approx. 5.9 km
409 Sutasa-ro, Yeonggwi-mi-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
An ecological forest where you can experience the nature of Mount Gongjak up close.
There are many mountain and forest trails, so in winter be especially careful about the cold and slippery paths.
Distance: approx. 6.1 km
319 Saengtae-gongwon-gil, Bukbang-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A nature environment park where you can enjoy both ecological education and walking.
It’s a good course for combining ecological experiences and walks with children.
Distance: approx. 8.0 km
170 Guryongnyeong-ro, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
A village where you can interact with donkeys—an experience children are sure to love.
When planning a family experience trip along with the festival, consider splitting your day to visit here as well.
Distance: approx. 9.7 km
How to Get There
Public Transportation — The festival address is 85 Sinjangdae-ri, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Hongcheon riverside area). Typically, you travel to the Hongcheon Intercity Bus Terminal first, then take a taxi or city bus to the festival grounds along the Hongcheon riverside.
By Car — Enter “85 Sinjangdae-ri, Hongcheon-eup, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province” or “Hongcheongang Gongggong Festival” into your navigation system to be guided to the festival area. During the festival period, riverside parking lots and public off-street parking lots near the venue are in operation, but they can fill up on weekends and at the beginning of the festival, so it’s best to set out as early as possible.
Closing Thoughts
When the season comes and the ice settles solidly over the winter river, the Hongcheon riverside transforms into a giant playground where ice fishing, ginseng trout, sledding, and folk games all come together. It’s a festival where you can spend the day feeling the crisp air, white breath, and winter sunlight shimmering across the ice.
With ice and pontoon fishing and barehanded trout catching that anyone can try, plus all the food and hands-on programs prepared throughout the venue, it makes an excellent winter destination for families, couples, and friends alike. Once you’re bundled up well against the cold, consider heading out at least once to the Ice Kingdom on the Hongcheon River.
