The Battle of the 'Spider-Men'... 2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship Held

Meet the "Spider-Men" of Ice Climbing in Cheongsong
The 2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship and Festival Heat Up the Winter
Top Athletes from Around the World Gather for the 2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup
Cheongsong County Aims to Lead the Future of Ice Climbing and the Winter Olympics

The ice may be cold, but the competition is fierce.

If you visit Cheongsong in the heart of winter, you can meet the 'Spider-Men climbing ice walls.'

Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province (Governor Yoon Kyunghee) successfully hosted the '2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Championship' at the Gyeongbuk Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup Stadium on January 3.

2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Competition. Provided by Cheongsong County

This event, hosted by the Korean Alpine Federation and organized by the Gyeongbuk Alpine Federation, was supported by Cheongsong County, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, and The North Face. It also served as the selection trials for the 2026 and 2027 national ice climbing teams.

In the competition results, in the men's lead division, first place went to Kim Mincheol (Kyungil University OB Alpine Club), second place to Lee Younggeon (Wolchul Madang Alpine Club), and third place to Park Heeyong (The North Face Climbing Team). In the women's lead division, first place went to Shin Unseon (Astroman), second place to Kim Hyejun (Taki Climbing Center), and third place to Kim Jinyoung (Climbing Farm).

In the men's speed division, first place went to Jeon Yangpyo (Wonju City Alpine Rescue Team), second place to Park Jungyu (Taki Climbing Center), and third place to Yang Myunguk (Busan Villa Alpine). In the women's speed division, first place went to Cha Yujin (Cha Climbing), second place to Lee Sookhee (Gangwon, Wonju City Alpine Rescue Team), and third place to Jung Unhwa (Wolchul Madang Alpine Club).

On January 4, the '2026 Cheongsong Ice Climbing Festival' was also held. The festival promoted the upcoming '2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup' and featured programs where participants could experience Cheongsong's ice walls firsthand, offering a special opportunity to fully enjoy the winter scenery of Cheongsong.

The '2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup' will be held from January 10 to 11 at the Gyeongbuk Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup Stadium.

Approximately 120 top athletes from about 18 countries around the world are expected to participate in the competition. On January 11, the day of the 'Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup' finals, a celebratory performance by trot singer Park Hyunbin is scheduled for around 2 p.m., and the finals will be broadcast on KBS as a recorded program.

Cheongsong County stated, "The Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup has established itself as a winter sports festival that can be enjoyed by athletes, spectators, and local residents alike," and added,

"We will thoroughly prepare for upcoming international competitions with safety as the top priority, and we will also strive to ensure that this event plays a meaningful role in having ice climbing adopted as an official discipline at the 2030 Winter Olympics. We will continue to make efforts so that Cheongsong can serve as a solid foundation for athletes to grow and challenge themselves on the world stage."

2026 Cheongsong National Ice Climbing Competition.