"Soyanggang Dam Water Level High, Freezing Difficult" Inje 'Bingeo Festival' Canceled

Repeated Requests to Lower Water Levels to Ministry of Environment... "Disaster Preparedness" Denied
Winter Tourist Influx Disrupted... Inje-gun Plans to Strengthen Summer Festival

Inje-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Choi Sang-gi) announced on the 16th that it has canceled the '2025 Inje Icefish Festival,' which was scheduled to be held from January 17 to 26 next year around Bing-eo Lake in Nam-myeon, Inje-gun. This decision was made because it was judged that it would be difficult to prepare the event site and freeze the lake due to the rising water level of Soyanggang Dam.

The scene of the Inje Icefish Festival, one of Korea's representative winter festivals, held in Inje-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Due to the rise in the water level of Soyanggang Dam, it was judged difficult to prepare the venue and freeze the ice, so the '2025 Inje Icefish Festival,' which was scheduled to be held in January next year, has been canceled. Photo by Inje-gun Office

According to the Inje-gun Cultural Foundation, which organizes the festival, stable preparation of the festival site is possible when the water level of Soyanggang Dam is maintained below 183m. However, the current water volume of Soyanggang Dam has reached a maximum level in the past five years, approaching 190.5m, close to the full capacity level of 193.5m, making it difficult to prepare the festival site.

The reason Soyanggang Dam continues to show high water levels, as in previous years, is mainly analyzed to be due to increased water inflow from higher autumn rainfall and the regulation of discharge volume to respond to climate disasters and ensure stable supply of water for daily life and industry.

Since October, Inje-gun and the Inje-gun Cultural Foundation have been in close discussions with related agencies such as the Korea Water Resources Corporation Soyanggang Dam Branch, the Hangang River Basin Headquarters, and the Ministry of Environment Hangang Flood Control Office to hold the Icefish Festival. However, these agencies stated that it is difficult to increase the discharge volume to maintain a stable water supply system and prepare for abnormal climate conditions.

Following the decision to cancel this festival, the foundation announced that it will strengthen the content and programs of the summer festival, which was first introduced in June this year around Bing-eo Lake in Nam-myeon, Inje-gun, to prepare a festival for residents and visitors.

Along with this, Inje-gun revealed plans to complete the construction of the Icefish Experience Village and the premium ecological garden around Bing-eo Lake this year and establish a four-season tourism belt to increase tourist inflow and lengthen their stay, realizing tourism where visitors linger.

A festival official said, “We regret that we cannot hold the Icefish Festival, which has brought joy in the great outdoors,” and added, “We will make efforts to prepare the summer festival more solidly to help revitalize the local economy.”