Seoul Winter Festivals: Ice Fishing, Skating and Lights Guide

Short answer: Korea's winter festival season runs roughly from mid-December to early February. In Seoul itself you can skate on the outdoor rink at Seoul Plaza for a very small fee and walk through seasonal light displays around Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon. For the famous ice fishing, you need a day trip into Gangwon Province, where the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is held every January. Dates change slightly every year, so always check the official pages before you plan your days.

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When is festival season in and around Seoul?

Most winter events depend on two things: the holiday calendar and the cold. Light displays and Christmas markets usually start in December and often continue into January. Outdoor skating starts once it is reliably cold, typically just before Christmas. Ice fishing festivals in the mountains need thick river ice, so they mostly happen in January, and in a warm year they can be delayed or shortened. If ice fishing is the main reason for your trip, plan for mid-to-late January and keep a backup plan.

Ice skating in Seoul

Seoul Plaza outdoor rink

The best-known winter activity in central Seoul is the outdoor ice rink set up on Seoul Plaza, right in front of City Hall (City Hall Station, Lines 1 and 2). In recent seasons it has opened around mid-to-late December and run until early February. Admission has been kept very cheap for years, with skate and helmet rental included, which makes it one of the best-value activities in the city. Sessions are timed, and the rink gets crowded on weekends, holidays and evenings, so a weekday morning or early afternoon is the calmest time to go.

Bring gloves: they are usually required on the ice, and you will want them anyway. Lockers are available on site, but traveling light helps. Check the current season's dates, hours and fees on the Seoul Plaza official site before you go.

Indoor rinks when the weather turns

If it is snowing, raining or simply too cold, indoor rinks are a solid alternative. Lotte World in Jamsil has an indoor ice rink inside the complex, so you can combine skating with the theme park or the nearby Lotte World Mall. Opening times can be limited by hockey or figure-skating sessions, so check the schedule on the day.

• Lotte World Tickets (KKday) — useful if you want to combine indoor attractions on a cold day.

Winter lights in Seoul

Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon

Seoul's city government groups many of its December–January events under a winter festival banner, and the center of it is usually the Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon Stream area. Expect light tunnels, illuminated installations along the stream, a seasonal market with food stalls, and photo spots that are busiest from sunset until about 9 p.m. The exact program changes every year, so treat it as a walking route rather than a fixed attraction: start at Gwanghwamun Square, walk down past City Hall to the skating rink, and follow Cheonggyecheon east as far as you like.

Department store and shopping district displays

Big department stores in Myeongdong and the area around City Hall decorate their façades every holiday season, and these have become a photo spot in their own right. Myeongdong is a short walk from Seoul Plaza, so you can easily do rink, lights and street food in one evening. For a fuller list of where to see lights, read our guide to how Seoul celebrates Christmas and where to see lights.

Lights outside the city

The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong holds a winter lighting festival that turns the gardens into a field of colored lights after dark. It pairs well with a day at Nami Island, and many day tours from Seoul combine the two so you do not have to deal with rural buses at night.

• Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm Day Tour (KKday) — check the itinerary to make sure your date includes the evening lights.

If you prefer to go on your own, our Nami Island day trip guide covers transport options.

Ice fishing festivals in Gangwon Province

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

This is the big one. Every January, the small county of Hwacheon in Gangwon Province turns its frozen river into a giant ice fishing ground for sancheoneo, a mountain trout (also called cherry salmon) that lives in clean, cold water. The 2026 edition ran for about three weeks in January and drew more than a million visitors, so it is crowded, lively and very family-friendly.

What you can do:

• Ice fishing through holes drilled in the river ice. You can buy or rent a simple short rod on site.
• Barehanded trout catching, where brave participants in shorts and T-shirts jump into a cold pool to catch fish by hand. Watching is free entertainment.
• Grilling your catch at designated cooking areas, so the fish you catch becomes lunch.
• Sledding, ice sculptures and lantern streets in town for those who would rather not fish.

There is usually a separate fishing area or reserved time slot for foreign visitors, which can be much less crowded than the general area. Check the festival's official site for the current year's dates, foreigner programs and how to book.

Other winter festivals

Gangwon Province has several other winter fishing and snow festivals, including trout festivals in Pyeongchang and smelt (bingeo) fishing in some towns. They are smaller and often easier to enjoy without big crowds, but English information can be limited. Ice conditions decide everything: in mild winters, some events are postponed, shortened or moved onto artificial pools.

How to get to an ice fishing festival from Seoul

Hwacheon is roughly two to three hours from Seoul depending on traffic. You have three realistic options:

1. Intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal toward Hwacheon. This is cheapest, but weekend buses sell out during festival season and the return trip can be long.
2. Shuttle packages and day tours that include round-trip transport and sometimes fishing gear. These are the easiest option for first-timers who do not read Korean.
3. Driving is possible with an International Driving Permit, but snow, ice and festival traffic make it the most stressful choice.

What to wear

Seoul in January is often below freezing, and mountain areas in Gangwon are colder still. Sitting still on river ice for an hour feels much colder than walking around the city. Pack:

• A long padded coat or a warm down jacket, plus thermal base layers.
• Waterproof, insulated boots with good grip. Ice spikes or cleats are sold at the festival and are worth it.
• Gloves, a hat that covers your ears, and a neck warmer.
• Disposable heat packs (hot packs), sold at every convenience store.

Quick tips

• Go to the Seoul Plaza rink on a weekday daytime to avoid the longest lines.
• Visit light displays from sunset to about 8 p.m.; later is quieter but some installations turn off.
• For Hwacheon, choose a weekday or the foreigner area, and book transport early for weekends.
• Carry some cash for festival stalls and small vendors, even though cards are widely accepted.
• Check weather and ice news a few days before: festivals can change plans quickly.
• If it gets too cold, see our list of indoor things to do in Seoul in winter.

“Skating at City Hall, then hot fish cake from a street stall — that's winter in POPORO CITY too,” says LUMI.

FAQ

Do I need to speak Korean to join an ice fishing festival?

No. Large festivals like Hwacheon have programs for foreign visitors, and the activity itself is easy to understand. A translation app helps with buying gear and food.

Is the Seoul Plaza ice rink suitable for beginners?

Yes. Many visitors are first-time skaters, and you can hold the edge of the rink. Helmets are provided with rental skates.

Can I do Hwacheon as a day trip from Seoul?

Yes. Most visitors go and return on the same day by bus or on a tour. Leave early in the morning to get the best fishing time.

What if the ice is not thick enough?

Festivals may postpone their opening or close the ice areas for safety. Check the official festival site and news before you travel, and have a Seoul-based backup plan.

When are the winter lights in Seoul on?

Usually from December into January, in the evenings. Exact dates and hours change each year, so check the Seoul city tourism site for the current schedule.