Hwacheon: Thousands of tourists flocked to the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival in South Korea as the popular winter event began its annual festivities. Many attendees, bundled in winter apparel, participated in the ice fishing activities, with some opting to catch fish using their bare hands.
According to Thai News Agency, the festival attracted around 65,000 visitors on its opening day, including approximately 3,200 international tourists. Among the attendees was a Danish tourist who expressed excitement about experiencing a unique activity not available in his home country. The fish caught during the festival are cooked and consumed on the same day, prepared as sashimi, grilled, or incorporated into other local dishes.
The mayor of Hwacheon assured that despite earlier concerns, the stream's ice was sufficiently thick at 26 centimeters, as temperatures remained at a frigid -9 degrees Celsius. Beyond ice fishing, festival-goers can enjoy a variety of winter activities such as sledding and ice skating, making the Hwacheon Winter Festival a diverse attraction for both locals and tourists.