Busan: 33rd Haeundae Polar Bear Festival Takes Place from Jan. 4-5 at Haeundae Beach

The 33rd annual Polar Bear Swim Festival will take place from January 4-5, 2020 at Haeundae Beach. This unique event is held every year to help embrace the cold winter weather, as well as pray for good health in the New Year.

This unique winter festival attracts about 60,000 domestic and oversea tourists every year.

The pre-festival event to promote the festival is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 4 and the main event of the festival will be held on Sunday, January 5 at Haeundae Beach.

The main event will begin with a 1km swimming competition from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The enthusiastic festival participants will run and jump into the sea and swim in the cold waters like a polar bear in the Arctic Ocean around noon after congratulatory performances.

This is one of the city’s most enjoyable winter festivals and provides a unique experience for everyone involved.

The festival hosted by Busan Ilbo and co-supported by Busan Metropolitan City and Haeundae-gu.