South Korea's Snow Festival (Photos)
77South Korea festivals are all year round. However, it was by pure accident that I stumbled across the South Korean snow festival. You see, I am coming towards the end of this current contract and as such, I have been visiting some friends that I will be leaving in this region of South Korea. The friend that caused me to discover this festival actually lives in its town. This was a teacher that really welcomed me to South Korea and helped me a lot at the start, before he was promoted. Hence, I traveled to Taebaek in the Gangwon-do province to visit him.
When first arriving in this quite small city, things seemed pretty normal, although much colder than my previous summer visit. The South Korea climate is much harsher than what I am used to. After a few years of 20-45c weather, coming to a country where the South Korea climate plummets to -20 in the winter was a bit of a shock to say the least! That is around a -50c temperature change, I shiver now at the memory. Anyway, back to Taebaek. This city is the highest in the Gangwon-do mountain range of South Korea. The scenery is spectacular and two of Korea's major rivers actually start from small springs in this town (see the photos below). There are always things to do in South Korea, as the people are incredible at changing the the dramatic climate changes. As we are in winter, skiing, snowboarding, hiking (yes, even on ice) and festivals celebrating the snow become the chosen past times.
In Taebaek, the snow is the deepest and coldest, due to the extreme mountain South Korean climate. Winds are no too bad, but the temperature drops and it has been known for up to 1m of snow to fall in only 24 hours! It is really beautiful, once you learn how to dress for it. This makes Taebaek one of the best areas for a snow festival.
This particular festival concentrated on winter decorations, snow sculptures, stalls selling souvenirs and of course winter delights. By winter delights, I am talking about stall and restaurants serving up heavy, healthy and warm delights of the season. The aromas fill the air, as you walk around the a landscape that reminds you of Santa's home. So, the next time you are looking for things to do in South Korea and the winter has set in, consider the snow festival and some skiing/snowboarding in Taebaek, or the next town over's major ski resort, High1.
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Hi :)
I have to admit that I know very little about South Korea, and certainly nothing about the weather.
I had no idea that it could be so cold there, so this article was very educational ~ and the lovely photos were quite a surprise.
Thanks for writing this ~ I didn't know there was a snow festival in South Korea. The creativity is amazing!
Great pictures! Lived in northern Maine for a while, I can relate to that weather! Brrrr :)
Beautiful hub, Sharing!
Thanks
Wow! nice click! Each and every pics say something. I like the tradition.. Beautifully explore the articles.
Voted up and interesting!!!
Amazing snow sculptures and very well written hub! I just love snow but haven't experienced it till date.
Beautiful snow sculptures!
In this part of South India where I live, there is no winter.
I cannot imagine the negative temperatures which you have described.
Thanks for sharing
Who would've thought, South Korea and an ice sculpture filled Festival. Simply beautiful.
.
I never realized that there were parts of South Korea that could get soooo cold! The snow sculptures are amazing! I thought I made a good snowman,wow! Thanks for SHARING! Have a great day! :) Up and interesting!
Anyone thinking of going to South Korea should read your hubs. They will learn a lot that may help them decide whether to go there to teach. Everything you've written so far seems very positive. The photos here are great!
Thank you for SHARING!
The sculptures are so beautiful, Brett. You captured some wonderful memories with your experiences abroad. Thanks for sharing.
Great photos, and interesting story! For some reason I always just assumed South Korea (well, Korea in general) was more of a warm climate region. Just goes to show how well I (don't) know my geography! Voted up and interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Brett!
Wonderful hub and photos about an absolutely gorgeous place! Though I am unfamiliar with Taebaek, I spent 6 months in Seoul in 1989 and 1990. and you're right, it was very, very cold. In fact the coldest night of my life was spent on the the tarmac at Kimpo International Airport. (Worked for UPS)
Thank you for the reminder of one of the best business trips I ever had!
It seems it has been for you too!
voted up and awesome.
Bruce
Wow! These ice sculptures are fantastic! Thanks for a beautiful and very interesting hub. Your pictures are amazing! Voted up and SHARING.
Thanks for your comments, and yes that be me striking a pose in the last photo lol. I try to avoud the camera, but this shot actaully came out ok lol.
Wonderful snow sculpture pictures Brett. It looks like you had a pretty amazing time in South Korea, and did some really cool things
I've really enjoyed my year here! But, heading to meet pops traveling and also getting back to my partner. It has been good and I think I will return, but my time is up for now. If you want to try SK, I've got a few hubs about teaching here, it is pretty good!
Snow is an amazing medium! Thanks for sharing this look at the Snow Festival.
These are absolutely amazing snow sculptures! I had no idea that parts of Korea got that much snow. Is that you in the last photo? Up, interesting and SHARED.
Beautiful! Thanks for the article and photos.
very nice, totally cool thanks for sharing.
We get snow here in Ohio, but it doesn't last very long. There are few people that even make a snowman in their yards. (Although we did manage to make a whole family one year). This is incredible artwork - it must have taken a lot of work, and lot of people to create them. It is great that the climate is cold enough that they will last for a while (good for the art, probably not as good for the people). Voted up and shared.
That looks like a big lump of shaving cream! I've been in TX for 5 years; nice to forget what snow is like!
What a great insight into South Korea and the pictures are stunning. Will you be staying on there?
I keep thinking about teaching overseas again myself and wonder where would I like to go? I must say you make S.Korea sound enticing.
Voted up interesting and SHARING SOCIALLY.
Hello Brett ~ I am revisiting this winter wonderland and thinking about the frozen tundra in Europe this winter. Brrrrr... These are so beautiful. Blessings, Debby
Great hub! I love snow and ice sculptures. We had one each winter in a town in Upstate NY where I grew up. Now I live in Florida so there's no snow or great snow sculptures. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.
What great pictures! I tend to forget that Korea gets snow, too! Some of these sculptures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing, and stay warm! Voted up and awesome.
Very beautiful. I wish I can attend that festival even once in my life time. I bet its a sight to live for. Thanks for sharing
Beautiful sculptures, Brett. I like that you included a person in one of them for scale because I had no idea of their size. Voting this Up and Beautiful. SOCIALLY SHARED.
Ever since I have started reading your hubs on South Korea Brett, I have learned so much about a country I hardly knew anything about. Thanks for educating me. Just to let you know that the pictures and scenes are very beautiful. This is worthwhile sharing. Voted up beautiful. Thanks for Sharing!
Wow amazing collection of beautiful pictures. It's really amazing, keep it up!
Once again you did it! Another hub that taught us more about creative culture of other countries, this time South Korea. Nice and well-captured pictures of snow-sculptures. Thanks for SHARING. Rated it interesting. Vote up. Socially Shared.
Wow! What a lucky find! Thanks, for sharing.
Great pics! I want a snow-festival tradition like that here in the States! :) Is that you in the last pic? I ask because you remind me of a philosophy teacher I had. Great hub! Voted up and SHARING.
These are truly creative and beautiful snow decorations. The festival seems like a lot of fun. And of course I just love skiing and snowboarding! Would Love to visit South Korea. I'm use to snow lol. I Live in Canada
Voted up and SHARED
Never been to a snow festival. Probably wouldn't go if there was one next door. Although, I would look out the window as long as it was a double-pane window! I hate being cold!!!
Awesome article and I love the pics!
SOCIALLY SHARED! Thanks for SHARING! Also, awesome and up.
It looks like it was a wise decision on your part to re-visit your friend before leaving the area. Thanks for sharing these photos.
Voted up and SHARED.
shalycriston Level 1 Commenter 4 weeks ago
Yo I'm again here to see these beautiful pictures.