Pyeongchang Trout Festival to launch Jan. 9 along Odae Stream

▲ This undated photo of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival is provided by Pyeongchang County. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- The “Pyeongchang Trout Festival,” one of Gangwon Province’s signature winter events, will launch this week along the Odae Stream in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang County, the provincial government said on Thursday. 

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the festival is held under the theme “Pyeongchang, the land of trout where winter is more fun,” from Friday through Feb. 9. The event is aimed at expanding beyond trout fishing to include exhibitions, cultural programs and relaxation content to transform the venue into a comprehensive winter playground, the organizer said. 

At the heart of the festival is trout fishing, offered in a variety of formats, including ice fishing, tent fishing, indoor fishing and barehanded catching.

Tent fishing, in particular, has proven popular with families and couples, with 250 two-person tents in operation.

▲ This undated photo of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival is provided by Pyeongchang County. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Participants who catch a “golden trout” will receive a commemorative plaque made of pure gold, while free fishing classes are available to help beginners easily catch trout.

The barehanded catching program, in which participants chase trout wearing short sleeves and shorts, has become a signature attraction of the festival.

Indoor fishing, previously limited in scope, has been opened to adults for the first time this year, ensuring that all participants can catch at least one trout.

Freshly caught trout can be enjoyed on the spot as sashimi or grilled dishes. A food zone will also offer cleaning services as well as a range of trout-based dishes, including fried items and rice bowls.

▲ This undated photo of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival is provided by Pyeongchang County. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The festival site also features a variety of winter sports and activities.

Visitors can enjoy snow sledding on a 100-meter lift course, snowfield rafting pulled by snowmobiles, rides in amphibious vehicles known as “Argo,” newly added spinning sleds, traditional sleds, ice bicycles and ice carts.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary, the organizing committee has prepared a special exhibition titled “An Epic of Hope Written on Ice,” which traces the festival’s journey from its beginnings to the present. From Jan. 19 to 25, the festival will also host a collaborative event with “Pokemon Go.”

Jang Moon-hyuk, chairman of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival Committee, said Wednesday that the festival has evolved into a winter tourism asset that has grown alongside the local community.

“Celebrating its 20th year, the festival has taken a step forward as an event that people of all ages can enjoy,” he said.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival was launched voluntarily by local residents in 2006 to revive the regional economy after devastating flood damage.

As of last year, it has generated a cumulative economic effect of about 93.1 billion won (US$69 million) and created more than 6,000 jobs, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

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