Hoengye Hanu Village: High-Altitude Hanwoo Beef Country

Hoengye (횡계) is a small market town in the Daegwallyeong plateau of Pyeongchang, sitting at approximately 800 metres altitude and serving as the gateway to the Alpensia ski area. The town is as famous for its Hanwoo beef as it is for its proximity to the ski slopes — a concentration of Hanwoo butcher-restaurants lines the main street, each with glass-fronted refrigerated display cases showing the day's cuts. Hoengye Hanwoo is produced by cattle raised on the high plateau's cold-climate pastures, and the altitude and temperature are credited with developing the beef's distinctive fine-grain marbling.

The Daegwallyeong plateau has supported cattle farming since the Joseon period when it served as a royal grazing ground (목장, mokjang) supplying the court with horses and cattle. The altitude and cool climate proved ideal for raising cattle, and the tradition of Hanwoo farming on the plateau has continued without interruption. Hoengye Hanwoo gained regional fame in the 1980s and 1990s as ski tourism brought visitors to the plateau, creating a captive market for premium beef. The combination of ski resort visitors and Seoulites making day trips specifically for the beef has made Hoengye one of the highest-revenue per-capita food destinations in Gangwon Province.

The primary activity in Hoengye is eating — specifically, ordering a mixed platter of Hanwoo short ribs, sirloin, and brisket to cook on the table grill, served with the local crispy potato pancakes (감자전) for which Pyeongchang is also famous. The town's main street hosts a small agricultural market on weekends where plateau vegetables and highland herbs are sold. In winter, the combination of skiing at Alpensia followed by a Hanwoo dinner in Hoengye has become a classic Gangwon weekend itinerary.

Most Hoengye Hanwoo restaurants open for lunch from 11 AM and are fully packed by noon on weekends — arrive early or make a reservation. The town is 10 minutes by taxi from Jinbu KTX Station. Some restaurants will pack and vacuum-seal beef for travellers to take home.