'Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival' That Drew 1.3 Million People Closes on the 29th

Held After 3 Years... Establishing Itself as a Premier Winter Festival

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The '2023 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival,' resumed after three years, successfully concluded its 23-day journey and closed on the 29th.

The 2023 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival concluded its 23-day journey and closed on the 29th.
[Photo by Hwacheon-gun]

This year's festival reopened amid several challenges, including heavy snowfall on the opening day, rain and snow on the first weekend, and a rare cold wave. Nevertheless, it attracted nearly 1.3 million visitors by the morning of the closing day, the 29th. During the festival period, foreign tourists also numbered around 50,000.

The Ethiopia Promotion Hall, directly participated in by descendants of Ethiopian war veterans who are scholarship students from Hwacheon County, conveyed the significance of the scholarship program and the values of peace and security to visitors.

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival, returning after three years, played a solid role in revitalizing the local economy, which had long suffered due to COVID-19.

During the festival, downtown shops were bustling with tourists, and accommodation facilities were fully booked. On Friday and Saturday nights when the night festival was held, many tourists enjoyed the romance of winter nights along Seondeung Street.

Local farmers were able to sell agricultural products through the festival venue, and county residents and local university students participated in jobs, increasing their income.

Choi Moon-soon, Hwacheon County Governor, expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to everyone who did their best for the festival's success, from on the ice surface, underwater beneath the ice, to each program booth and unseen places, the festival was safely and successfully concluded."

He added, "I thank those who did not forget and visited the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival," and promised, "Next year, we will return with a more enjoyable, safer, and happier festival."