Inje Icefish Festival Canceled Again as Climate Change Thwarts Ice
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The long-running Inje Icefish Festival in Gangwon Province will not be held in 2026, marking the third consecutive cancellation. Organizers cited insufficient ice formation and high water levels—Soyangdam reservoir sits in the high 185m range, above the roughly 183m needed for safe, stable ice—plus warmer winter temperatures that prevent full freezing, raising safety concerns. The festival drew about 200,000 visitors in 2023, so its absence is a major local economic loss. In response, Inje county is pivoting to year-round tourism, expanding summer festivals (including a 2024 summer camping festival and the "Inje愛 Summer愛" event), growing the autumn flower festival, and developing the Soyangho lakeside as a four-season eco-tourism destination with trails, overlooks, and sustainable facilities. The goal is to build resilient, climate-adaptive tourism infrastructure. (Soyangdam: a major dam on Soyang Lake)
