Finland's 'Santa' and fairy 'Elf' to stay throughout the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival in January next year

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Hwacheon County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Choi Moon-soon) announced on the 1st that the ‘Real Santa Claus’ and the fairy ‘Elf’ from Santa Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, will stay for the entire 16-day duration of the ‘2025 Ice Country Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival,’ which opens on January 18 next year and lasts until the closing day on February 2.

Santa Claus and the elf from Santa Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, who visited the '2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival' held earlier this year for three days, are taking commemorative photos with child visitors. Photo by Hwacheon County Office

Last year, the Finnish Santa stayed at the festival site for only three days, leaving many visitors disappointed. However, with the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival being selected as a global festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism this year and marketing support being strengthened, the Finnish Santa’s stay during the January festival next year will be extended to 16 days, allowing more tourists to meet him.

During their stay in Hwacheon County, Santa and the Elf will participate in the Sancheoneo Festival site and the Seondeung Street Night Festival program, and visit various local facilities such as Hwacheon Children’s Library, Hwacheon Family Center, and Hwacheon Community Center.

Santa Claus and the elf from Santa Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, who visited the '2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival' held earlier this year for three days, are taking commemorative photos with visitors. Photo by Hwacheon County Office

They will also stay at the Hwacheon Santa Post Office, the Korean branch of the Santa Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, and spend enjoyable time with tourists.

Hwacheon County and Rovaniemi, Finland, both member cities of the World Winter Cities Market Association, signed an agreement in 2017 to establish a Santa Post Office in Hwacheon. Accordingly, Hwacheon County opened the Santa Post Office in Hwacheon-eup in 2018.

The Hwacheon Santa Post Office serves as the Korean branch of the Santa Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, where letters sent to Santa Claus from all over Korea are gathered.

To use the Santa mail service, letters should be placed in a mailbox with the exact address of the Hwacheon Santa Post Office written in the recipient field: 10 Sansuhwa-ro, 1st floor, Hwacheon Santa Claus Post Office, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. This year, a total of 13,078 letters arrived at the Hwacheon Santa Post Office, an increase of about 3,000 letters compared to last year. Children who sent letters will receive replies from Santa stamped by the Finnish Santa Post Office around Christmas next month.

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Hwacheon County, said, “We hope that children and visitors at the 2025 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival will meet the Finnish Santa Claus, create joyful memories, and enjoy the festival.”

Meanwhile, the Hwacheon Santa Post Office is preparing special experience programs for the upcoming Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Details of the events will be announced on the Santa Post Office website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.