Gangwon in December Festivals, dates and what's on

Gangwon has 2 festivals in December: Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival (expected Dec/Jan 2026–27) and Pyeongchang Trout Festival (expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27). The Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival is Gangneung City's free New Year's Eve and first-sunrise event at Sandglass Park beside Jeongdongjin Station on Korea's east coast, where an 8 m hourglass is turned over at midnight.

Typical December weather (average high/low): Gangneung 8/0 °C (46/31 °F); Pyeongchang 1/−9 °C (33/15 °F). Source: KMA normals.

At a glance

FestivalDatesAdmissionNearest stationStatus
Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival정동진 해맞이축제Expected Dec/Jan 2026–27Free entryJeongdongjin StationExpected
Pyeongchang Trout Festival평창송어축제Expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27Paid admissionJinbu (Odaesan) StationExpected

Dates marked “expected” follow the organizer's usual pattern and are replaced when the official announcement comes. Each festival page lists the sources.

Weather in December

Festival townAverage highAverage lowRainMeasured at
Gangneung8 °C 46 °F0 °C 31 °F37 mmGangneungabout 15 km away
Pyeongchang1 °C 33 °F−9 °C 15 °F35 mmDaegwallyeong (Pyeongchang)about 15 km away
  • Gangneung: Near or below freezing after dark: a warm coat and layers.
  • Pyeongchang: Well below freezing at night: a down coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers.

Monthly averages, not a forecast. Source: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, via the KMA-sourced climate tables for Gangneung, Daegwallyeong (Pyeongchang). Where a festival town has no station with published normals, the nearest one is used and its distance shown.

The festivals

All festivals in Gangwon
Jeongdongjin on the east coast, the festival's venue, in October 2015 Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan
usual window
TraditionGangneungFreeAbout 2 h 10 min from Seoul

Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival

The Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival is Gangneung City's free New Year's Eve and first-sunrise event at Sandglass Park beside Jeongdongjin Station on Korea's east coast, where an 8 m hourglass is turned over at midnight. In 2025–26 it ran 20:00–00:30 on 31 December and 06:00–08:00 on 1 January, with sunrise at 07:39; the 2026–27 edition is expected on the night of 31 December 2026 but had not been announced by 19 October 2026.

Trout grilling in foil at the 2015 Pyeongchang Trout Festival Expected
Expected2027
Dec / Jan / Feb
usual window
NaturePyeongchangAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Pyeongchang Trout Festival

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is a month-long ice-fishing event on the frozen Odaecheon stream at Jinbu, Pyeongchang, Gangwon, about 1 h 40 min from Seoul by KTX. The 17th edition ran 9 January–9 February 2026, 09:00–17:00; ice fishing cost ₩25,000, tent fishing ₩39,000 and bare-hand catching ₩20,000.

December across Korea

All 17 festivals in December

December belongs to city lights. In Seoul, the Seoul Winter Festa groups the Lantern Festival along Cheonggyecheon and the Gwanghwamun Market, a free Christmas market with a carousel on Gwanghwamun Square (both from mid-December into January), the Seoul Light media-art shows on the curved façade of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, which run from the second half of December to a New Year's Eve countdown, and the New Year's Eve bell at Bosingak; children's theatre fills Daehak-ro for the ASSITEJ winter festival from the last Friday of the month. Outside Seoul, the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong lights its gardens from the first Friday of December, and Busan has the Haeundae Light Festival and the Gwangbok-ro light trees; at Christmas Daegu lights Suseongmot Lake with residents' light art and drone shows, and Damyang holds a Santa parade. On New Year's Eve, crowds gather at Jeongdongjin and Homigot to wait for the first sunrise. Pyeongchang's trout festival and Chilgapsan's ice fountains can open in the last days of the month when it is cold enough.

Tip. Seoul's lantern route is free and outdoors; go after 18:00 when the installations are lit, and dress for −5 °C.

Questions travelers ask

Is there a festival in Gangwon in December?

Gangwon has 2 festivals in December: Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival (expected Dec/Jan 2026–27) and Pyeongchang Trout Festival (expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27). The Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival is Gangneung City's free New Year's Eve and first-sunrise event at Sandglass Park beside Jeongdongjin Station on Korea's east coast, where an 8 m hourglass is turned over at midnight.

When is Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival 2026?

Expected Dec/Jan 2026–27. Expected. Free entry. Nearest station: Jeongdongjin Station. The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.

When is Pyeongchang Trout Festival 2027?

Expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27. Expected. Paid admission. Nearest station: Jinbu (Odaesan) Station. The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.

What is the weather like in Gangwon in December?

Gangneung: Average high 8 °C (46 °F), low 0 °C (31 °F), 37 mm of rain (Gangneung station, about 15 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Near or below freezing after dark: a warm coat and layers. Pyeongchang: Average high 1 °C (33 °F), low −9 °C (15 °F), 35 mm of rain (Daegwallyeong (Pyeongchang) station, about 15 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Well below freezing at night: a down coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers.

How do I get to Gangwon?

KTX from Seoul Station to Gangneung in about 2 hours; Hwacheon by intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal.

What else is on in Korea in December?

17 festivals across Korea fall in December, including ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival, Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival, Damyang Santa Festival. Seoul's lantern route is free and outdoors; go after 18:00 when the installations are lit, and dress for −5 °C.