At a glance
| Dates | Expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27Late December 2026 or early January 2027 to early February 2027, about 30 days; the start depends on the ice reaching 20 cm. Dates are typically announced in December (the 2023–24 start was published by 15 December 2023; the 2026 start was pushed from 1 to 9 January because of warm weather). |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Late December 2026 or early January 2027 to early February 2027, about 30 days; the start depends on the ice reaching 20 cm. Dates are typically announced in December (the 2023–24 start was published by 15 December 2023; the 2026 start was pushed from 1 to 9 January because of warm weather). |
| Weather | December average 1/−9 °C (33/15 °F), 35 mm of rain January average −2/−12 °C (29/10 °F), 53 mm of rain February average 1/−10 °C (33/14 °F), 49 mm of rainWell below freezing at night: a down coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Daegwallyeong (Pyeongchang) station, about 15 km away. |
| Admission | There is no entry fee to the grounds, but every activity is ticketed, from ₩20,000 for indoor or bare-hand fishing to ₩39,000 for tent fishing; children aged 7 and under enter free with a guardian.Ice fishing (2026 price): ₩25,000 · Tent fishing (2026 price): ₩39,000 |
| Venue | Pyeongchang Trout Festival grounds on the Odaecheon stream, Jinbu강원특별자치도 평창군 진부면 경강로 3562 (하진부리 325) |
| Nearest station | Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역), Gangneung Line KTX (Gyeonggang line)Not comfortably walkable in winter: the site is about 2 km from the station by map; take a taxi |
| From Seoul | about 1 h 40 min · KTX + TaxiLeave from Seoul Station · Back to Seoul the same nightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Pyeongchang Trout Festival Committee (residents' committee, chair Jang Mun-hyeok)평창송어축제위원회 |
| Usual timing | About a month from late December or early January to late January or early February (2023–24: 29 Dec–28 Jan; 2025: 3 Jan–2 Feb; 2026: 9 Jan–9 Feb after a warm-weather delay). Dates are usually announced in December, and the opening can slip if the river ice is thinner than 20 cm. Browse December / January / February festivals. |
| First held | 2007 |
| Last checked | 21 October 2026Checked against 21 sources · See sources |
Ice conditions: Ice fishing depends on the ice. Organizers open the fishing zones only once the ice is thick enough to be safe, and close or delay them after a warm spell or rain; in mild winters some festivals have been postponed or cancelled. Check the organizer's notice the day before you travel.
What it is like
Pyeongchang's Jinbu valley sits at about 700 m, cold enough for the Odaecheon stream to freeze 30 cm thick, and trout have been farmed here since 1963. Local residents started the festival in 2007 after a 2006 flood, and it remains run by a residents' committee rather than the county. There are four activities: open ice fishing, where you sit on a stool over a hole (about 2,000 places in 2026; ₩25,000, bring or buy a short rod), 250 two-person windbreak tents with chairs, booked online (₩39,000 per person), an indoor pond for children and anyone who wants a guaranteed fish (₩20,000), and the bare-hand catch, where you wade into a pool in shorts and a T-shirt (two sessions on weekdays, three at weekends; ₩20,000, clothes and locker included). Ice and tent anglers may take home up to two fish a day (one from the indoor pond or the bare-hand catch), and the food village prepares them as sashimi or grilled for a ₩4,000 cleaning fee. A play pass (₩30,000) covers snow sledding, snow rafting, ice bikes, ice karts and an amphibious 'Argo' vehicle. The site is a 3-minute drive from the Jinbu expressway exit and a short taxi ride from Jinbu (Odaesan) KTX station. Caveats: it is a working fishing site, not a scenic village; weekends are crowded; and warm spells can delay the opening or close zones, as happened in 2026 when the start moved from 1 to 9 January. About 250,000 people came in 2026.
Highlights
- Ice fishing for rainbow trout through holes cut in the frozen Odaecheon: about 2,000 places on the open ice plus 250 two-person tents (2026)
- 250 two-person windbreak fishing tents with chairs (book online), 09:00–17:00
- Bare-hand trout catching in a pool in shorts and T-shirt: weekdays 11:00 and 14:00, weekends 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 (30 people per session, first come); keep one fish
- Catch-the-golden-trout prizes: a half-don (1.875 g) pure-gold plaque for landing a golden trout
- Sledding and ice plaza rides: snow rafting, ice bikes, ice karts, spinning sleds and the amphibious Argo
- Food village where your catch is prepared as sashimi or grilled (₩4,000 cleaning fee); live trout sold for ₩20,000
Who it suits. Best for families and first-time ice fishers who want a hands-on winter day trip from Seoul with sheltered tents available; less suited to travellers who dislike cold, waiting for bites or crowds, and to anyone needing step-free access on ice.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX on the Gangneung (Gyeonggang) line to Jinbu (Odaesan) Station: about 1 h 40 min from Seoul Station, 1 h 20 min from Cheongnyangni or 1 h 10 min from Sangbong. The festival site is about 2 km south-west of the station (taxi; Jinbu taxi office 033-335-1050). By bus: Dong Seoul Terminal to Jinbu 06:40–20:20 every 30–60 minutes, or Seoul Nambu Terminal 07:40–17:40 every 1.5–2 hours. By car: Yeongdong Expressway to the Jinbu exit, then about 3 minutes.
From Busan
No direct link. Take KTX from Busan to Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni and change to the Gangneung-line KTX to Jinbu (Odaesan); or an intercity bus to Gangneung or Wonju, then a local bus to Jinbu. Allow 5–6 hours.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then the Gangneung-line KTX to Jinbu (Odaesan), about 1 h 40 min from Seoul Station; allow 3.5 hours door to door.
Last leg from Jinbu (Odaesan) Station
Gangneung Line KTX (Gyeonggang line). Not comfortably walkable in winter: the site is about 2 km from the station by map; take a taxi
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle was published for 2026; the organizer's travel/shuttle board was empty. Jinbu Bus Terminal (033-335-6963) and the Jinbu taxi office (033-335-1050) are the local links.
Getting home
The site closes at 17:00 (ticket sales end 16:00), so you can take an early-evening KTX back; check the Korail+ app for the timetable in force, and Jinbu Bus Terminal (033-335-6963) for the last bus to Dong Seoul.
Parking
Seven car parks with 1,070 spaces in 2026; fee not stated. Navigation keyword '평창송어축제'.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ice fishing (2026 price) | ₩25,000 | Adult; child ₩20,000 |
| Tent fishing (2026 price) | ₩39,000 | Per person; child ₩30,000 |
- Booking
- Only tent fishing can be booked online (festival700.or.kr/user/reservation, Korean site; card payment or bank transfer; cancel by 16:00 two days before), and any tents not booked online are sold on site. Everything else is bought at the main ticket office until 16:00. Foreign visitors are told to call +82-33-336-4000.
- Foreign cards
- Not stated. Online tent booking takes card payment or bank transfer.
- English on site
- The official site is in Korean; its home page has one English line asking foreign visitors to call +82-33-336-4000. On-site signage is mostly Korean.
- Crowds
- Weekends and afternoons are crowded, and tents sell out; weekday mornings are the quietest.
- Best time to go
- Weekday mornings right after the 09:00 opening; book a tent for weekends. Bare-hand sessions: weekdays 11:00 and 14:00, weekends 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, 30 people each, first come, first served (a session may not run with 10 or fewer people).
- What to bring
- Thermal layers, waterproof boots, gloves and hat (required on several rides), a short ice-fishing rod (or buy one at the festival shop; live bait, snag hooks and metal jigs are banned), a folding stool for open-ice fishing (or buy one on site), and a towel and change of clothes if doing the bare-hand catch. Heating devices may not be taken into the fishing areas.
- Rain
- Operations depend on ice thickness (20 cm minimum); warm weather delayed the 2026 opening by eight days and can close zones. Rides stop in bad weather. Refunds need the purchase receipt.
- Toilets
- A hut-style jjimjilbang and herbal foot baths on site in 2026; restroom locations not listed.
- Step-free access
- Activities take place on ice and gravel; indoor fishing is the easiest option for older visitors and small children. No step-free guidance published.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed in the fishing areas (organizer program pages, 2026).
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Late December 2026 or early January 2027 to early February 2027, about 30 days; the start depends on the ice reaching 20 cm. Dates are typically announced in December (the 2023–24 start was published by 15 December 2023; the 2026 start was pushed from 1 to 9 January because of warm weather). | expected | 18th edition. No announcement on the organizer's site as of 21 October 2026; the committee said it will make the new ice-fishing competition a permanent event. |
| 2026 | 9 Jan – 9 Feb 2026 | ended | Same Odaecheon site as previous years; food village moved from plastic greenhouses to tent-style buildings. |
| 2025 | 3 Jan – 2 Feb 2025 | ended | 16th edition. About 230,000 visitors (derived from the 2026 closing report: about 250,000, some 20,000 more than 2025). Economic effect for 2025 estimated at ₩93.1 billion with about 6,000 jobs (organizer figures reported by Herald). |
| 2024 | 29 Dec – 28 Jan 2024 | ended | 15th edition; first of Gangwon's six winter festivals to open that season. The previous (2022–23) season drew about 400,000 visitors. |
Nearby
- Odaesan National Park and Woljeongsa Temple (오대산 국립공원·월정사). Fir-tree path and temple in the mountains north of Jinbu; the station is named for the park.
- Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm (대관령 양떼목장). Hillside sheep pasture popular in snow, east of Pyeongchang on the way to Gangneung.
- Alpensia and Yongpyong ski resorts (알펜시아·용평리조트). 2018 Winter Olympic venues; combine a ski day with the festival.
- Jinbu market and danggui foot baths (진부시장). Town market near the terminal; the festival offered foot baths with locally grown danggui (angelica) in 2026.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Pyeongchang Trout Festival?
The 17th edition ran 9 January–9 February 2026, 09:00–17:00. The 2027 edition is expected from late December 2026 or early January 2027 for about a month, depending on the ice; dates are announced in December.
How much does the Pyeongchang Trout Festival cost?
2026 prices: ice fishing ₩25,000 (child ₩20,000), tent fishing ₩39,000 (child ₩30,000), indoor fishing ₩20,000, bare-hand catching ₩20,000, play pass ₩30,000, combined tent-plus-rides ₩49,000. Children 7 and under are free.
How do I get there from Seoul?
KTX from Seoul Station to Jinbu (Odaesan) Station takes about 1 h 40 min; the festival site is about 2 km from the station by taxi. Buses from Dong Seoul Terminal run 06:40–20:20.
Do I need to book in advance?
Only the fishing tents (250 two-person tents) can be booked online, and they sell out at weekends; any tents left unbooked are sold on site. All other tickets are sold at the on-site office until 16:00. Foreign visitors can call +82-33-336-4000.
Can I keep and eat the fish?
Yes. Ice and tent anglers may take out up to two fish a day (one from indoor fishing or bare-hand catching), and the food village will prepare them as sashimi or grilled for a ₩4,000 cleaning fee; live trout are also sold for ₩20,000 each.
Do I need my own fishing rod?
For open-ice and tent fishing you bring or buy a short rod at the festival shop (chairs are extra on the open ice). Rods are lent free only at the indoor fishing pond.
What happens if the weather is warm?
The festival needs 20 cm of ice; in 2026 the opening slipped from 1 to 9 January. Check festival700.or.kr before travelling, especially early in the season.
How many people visit?
About 250,000 in 2026, up roughly 20,000 on 2025. The 2022–23 season drew about 400,000.
What is the weather like during Pyeongchang Trout Festival?
December in 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). January in Pyeongchang: average high −2 °C (29 °F), low −12 °C (10 °F), 53 mm of rain (Daegwallyeong (Pyeongchang) station, about 15 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). February in Pyeongchang: average high 1 °C (33 °F), low −10 °C (14 °F), 49 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.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
21 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: high.
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival official site — homeofficial — 17th edition dates 9 Jan–9 Feb 2026, 14:00 close on last day; hours 09:00–17:00, ticketing ends 16:00; online booking only for tent fishing; cancellation rules; foreign visitors call +82-33-336-4000; organizer committee and chair; address
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — price table (가격표)official — All 2026 activity prices in KRW, packages, free under 7, rod/chair conditions, receipt needed for refunds
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — directions (찾아오시는 길)official — KTX times to Jinbu (Odaesan) from Seoul Station/Cheongnyangni/Sangbong; Dong Seoul and Nambu bus hours and frequency; expressway exit 3 minutes away; terminal and taxi phone numbers
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — introductionofficial — First held 2007 after the 2006 flood; residents' committee; 700 m elevation; trout farming since 1963
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — notice board and travel/shuttle boardofficial — Ice-fishing contest notice (posted 22 Jan 2026, contest 29–30 Jan); no 2027 notice; shuttle board empty
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — ice-fishing programme pageofficial — 2026 open ice fishing for about 2,000; 2 trout per person per day; rods and chairs brought or bought at the festival shop; live bait, snag hooks and metal jigs banned; no pets in the fishing areas
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — tent-fishing programme pageofficial — 250 two-person tents (500 seats) with fishing chairs that shelter you from the wind; heating devices may not be brought into the fishing area; online booking, unbooked tents sold on site; 2 trout per person per day; ₩4,000 cleaning fee for sashimi or grilling; no pets
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — indoor-fishing programme pageofficial — Indoor fishing for 30 at a time; rod and bait lent free; take-home limit one fish; no pets
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — bare-hand catching programme pageofficial — Sessions weekdays 11:00 and 14:00, weekends 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00; up to 30 people per session, first come, first served; may not run with 10 or fewer; take-home limit one trout; no pets
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival — notice: 1st Pyeongchang Trout Ice-Fishing Competition (posted 22 Jan 2026)official — Competition 29 Jan 2026 (Gangwon residents only) and 30 Jan (open), 11:00–16:00, 450 places a day, entry ₩35,000/₩40,000 with rod and reel
- KTO VisitKorea — Pyeongchang Trout Festivalkto — 2026 period, hours 09:00–17:00, address, paid activities, organizer, programs, phone
- Herald K — 평창송어축제 20년…9일 개막 (6 Jan 2026)news — Opening moved from 1 to 9 January for warm weather; 32 days; first held 2007; 250 tents; bare-hand sessions; golden trout plaque; 2-fish limit; Pokémon GO 19–25 Jan; indoor fishing opened to adults; 2025 economic effect ₩93.1 billion
- Kukinews — 2026 opening report (10 Jan 2026)news — Ice 28–30 cm at opening vs 20 cm standard; 250 two-person tents; seven car parks with 1,070 spaces; 240,000 paid-visitor target
- Kukinews — 2026 closing report (11 Feb 2026)news — About 250,000 visitors, 20,000 more than 2025; free fishing to 16 Feb; sales about ₩2.2 billion; 4,320 jobs; ice-fishing contest to continue
- Telltrip — 평창송어축제 32일간 겨울 여정 (2026)blog — Daily 09:00–17:00, last day to 14:00; prices; warm weather can halt operations; weekday mornings recommended; phone charging at the exhibit
- Kyonggi News (English) — Pyeongchang Trout Festival to kick off on January 3rdnews — 2025 dates 3 Jan–2 Feb; 16th edition; four zones for 5,000; programs; Hometown Love Donation coupon
- Munhwa Ilbo — 강원 6대 겨울축제 준비 한창 (15 Dec 2023)news — 2023–24 season opened 29 Dec 2023; four zones on 90,000 m²; 5,000 capacity; previous season about 400,000 visitors
- Kukinews — photo report 13 Jan 2024news — 2024 edition ran until 28 January 2024
- Korea JoongAng Daily — Korea's 7 best winter festivals (Jan 2024)news — 2024 prices: ice fishing from ₩25,000 up to ₩43,000 with rides, tent from ₩35,000 up to ₩49,000; bare-hand program 2–3 times daily
- K-Trip Tips mirror of KTO data — 평창송어축제kto — Venue coordinates 37.6332, 128.5570; 2026 price list matches the official table
- Wikipedia — Jinbu stationmap — Jinbu (Odaesan) Station on the Gangneung/Gyeonggang KTX line; coordinates 37.6425, 128.5747 (about 2 km from the venue)
What we could not confirm
- 2027 (18th) dates: not announced; depends on ice thickness and typically published in December.
- Whether a shuttle or local bus links Jinbu (Odaesan) Station to the site; only taxi numbers are published, and the 2 km figure is derived from map coordinates.
- Parking fee, and whether foreign-issued cards work for online tent booking and at the ticket office.
- Exact last KTX and bus departures from Jinbu in the evening.
- The KTO VisitKorea page (vcontsId 97309) could not be rechecked in the 21 October 2026 audit; recheck it in a browser and do not rely on it alone.
Changes: 2026-10-16 — Full fact-first rewrite: hours, prices, stations, 2024–2027 editions, FAQs and sources. · 2026-10-16 — Rechecked against timetables, fare tables and organizer notices: conflicting figures and claims. · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-21 — Corrected after an independent fact audit: the tents are windbreak tents with chairs, not heated (heaters are banned); bare-hand catchers keep one fish, session times added; the ice-fishing contest was on 29–30 Jan; 2026 capacity about 2,000 on the open ice; live bait banned; no pets; ₩4,000 cleaning fee; English-support and payment notes corrected.
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