South Korea is at the height of its winter festival season, with the mild weather over the weekend helping draw crowds.
On Sunday, the Polar Bear Festival was held at Haeundae Beach in Busan, where more than 20,000 visitors plunged into the sea to embrace the winter chill with their whole bodies. Dressed in vibrant swimsuits, families, couples and friends savored the charm of the winter sea.
Milder weather also drew large crowds to the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival held in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province.
The festival, which opened on Jan. 10 and runs through Feb. 1, features ice fishing for mountain trout on a frozen river, hands-on fish-catching events and snow sledding. It has attracted about 570,000 visitors so far, drawing families and tourists seeking unique winter experiences.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
