[5] The Punchbowl, was the name given to the bowl-shaped Haean Basin in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province by UN Forces during the Korean War.

The area saw heavy fighting during the Korean War and was located in the vicinity of the demilitarized zone between the communist and allied forces.

[2] Before 2 March 1956, after three days of blizzard there was a layer of 6 metres of snow in the Punchbowl area in South Korea.

On 2 March 1956 an avalanche occurred on a mountain next to a base where the South Korean army lived.

[3] On the same day, quickly after the avalanche, United States rescue helicopters flew to the disaster area.