Spider-Men Captivate the World... '2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup' Concludes Successfully

The world's top ice climbers split the icy flowers.

The 2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup, held in Cheongsong County-known as the mecca of mountain sports-under the leadership of County Governor Yoon Kyunghee, concluded its two-day journey.

‘2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup’ Lee Younggeon (Male) 3rd Place in Men’s Difficulty Category. Provided by Korea Alpine Federation

This competition featured more than 120 athletes from 18 countries, including the world’s top-ranked climbers (ranked 1st to 8th globally) and leading Korean athlete Lee Younggeon. They fiercely competed for the championship trophies in both the difficulty and speed categories. In the speed category, Safdarian Mohammadreza of Iran won the men’s division, while Kosek Olga of Poland took first place in the women’s division. In the difficulty category, Radvan Luna of France claimed victory in the men’s division, and Salmon Thomas Marion of France secured first place in the women’s division.

Notably, Korean athletes finished second and third in the men’s difficulty category and third in the women’s difficulty category, once again demonstrating South Korea’s strength in the sport of ice climbing.

‘2026 UIAA Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup’ Kim Jinyoung (female), 3rd place in the women's difficulty category. Provided by the Korea Alpine Federation

The Cheongsong Ice Climbing World Cup, first hosted by Cheongsong County in 2011 as the first event of its kind in Asia, celebrated its 14th anniversary this year. Over the years, the participation of world-class athletes has greatly promoted Korea’s winter sports and contributed significantly to revitalizing the local economy.

During the event, various attractions and activities were provided, including an “Ice Wall Four-Cut” photo booth, “Ice Wall 360” booth, exhibitions of Cheongsong flower stones and Cheongsong white porcelain, tourism and local specialty product promotions, a Cheongsong apple tasting corner, and commemorative photo spots for visitors. Around the venue, visitors enjoyed traditional winter foods, celebrity performances, prize draws, fabric art, and a variety of hands-on experiences and spectacles that captivated the audience.

A Cheongsong County official stated, “As ice climbing is on the verge of being adopted as an official Olympic event, we hope that this competition in Cheongsong has served to showcase the value and appeal of the sport to the world. We will continue to provide unwavering support and effort so that South Korea can stand tall on the global stage as a powerhouse in ice climbing.”