The Vertical Garden of Winter: "Ice Flowers" Bloom in Cheongsong... National Ice Climbing Championship & ICE CLIMBING Festival to Be Held

In Cheongsong, winter flows not downward, but upward.

Cheongsong County, known as the "Mecca of Mountain Sports," will host the "2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship & Cheongsong ICE CLIMBING Festival" for two days from January 3 to 4, 2026, at the Ice Climbing World Cup Stadium in Naeryong-ri, Juwangsan-myeon.

Cheongsong County to Host the 2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship & Cheongsong ICE CLIMBING Festival.

This event serves as a preliminary competition ahead of the 2026 Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup, designed to thoroughly inspect the stadium facilities and overall operations in advance. It aims to enhance the quality of preparations for the international competition while also providing a stage for domestic athletes to sharpen their competitive edge before the World Cup.

The 2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship is organized by the Korea Alpine Federation and hosted by the Gyeongbuk Alpine Federation, with support from Cheongsong County, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. The event is sponsored by The North Face.

Approximately 120 of Korea’s top ice climbers will compete in both difficulty and speed categories, offering a rare opportunity to witness the performance of national team-level athletes who are expected to represent Korea in future international competitions.

The following Cheongsong ICE CLIMBING Festival is an interactive event hosted by Cheongsong County, organized by the Gyeongbuk Alpine Federation, and sponsored by The North Face. Open to everyone regardless of athlete registration, the festival’s highlight is the chance for participants to climb the natural ice walls of Cheongsong Eoreumgol and experience the breathtaking winter scenery of Cheongsong firsthand.

A Cheongsong County official stated, "This championship is a crucial occasion to inspect the stadium and overall operations ahead of the international competition," adding, "We will make thorough preparations so that both athletes and spectators can safely enjoy the unique thrill and appeal of ice climbing as a winter sport."

Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship.