Daegwallyeong Snow Festival kicks off in host city of 2018 Winter Olympics 대관령

For more than 20 years now, a city in the mountains of Gangwon-do province has hosted a snow festival, but this year′s version is a bit different than past ones Our Shin Se-min tells us why There is a 100 percent chance of snow for the mountainous area of Daegwallyeong Tourists from all over have converged on the town one of the biggest snow festivals Korea has to offer Located in the northeastern province of Gangwon-do,… the festival features intricate sculptures carved out of ice and snow,… drawing visitors and turning the frigid temperatures into an energetic adventure Gliding down a frosty slide, speeding on an ice sled pulled by parents, and riding a tube through the winter wonderland, these are just a few of the attractions "The weather forecast aside, snow is a huge draw for many, even those who are from countries known for their harsh winters " " The point of view is different We have a lot of snow back at home, but it′s much different I like it here, it′s more organized " Posing for pictures and climbing up their favorite icy characters, and even visiting a frozen home The bitter winds on their cheeks don′t seem to matter much "We didn′t get much snow in our hometown this year But having my children out to see the igloos they read about in books, and giving them a sense of where the next Olympics will be held is educational " Looking ahead to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, there are more winter activities to offer this year But this fluffy snow and fun won′t last for long, so better make plans to come out sooner rather than later Shin Se-min, Arirang News, Pyeongchang