Winters in Korea can be too much to handle if you aren’t completely prepared for it. However, by following a few tips and tricks won’t only survive these winters but also enjoy them to the fullest.
What to Expect from winters in Korea?
If you know the type of weather you will be experiencing it will help you prepare for them. Winters in Korea last from late November to March. The weather on the South coast is not colder than that in North or interior areas. Seoul experiences an average temperature of about -2.5 degrees and when cold spells come it goes down to -20 degrees. On average entire Korea except the south coast faces 0 degrees in January.
Every year Seoul has 25 snowfall days, the mountainous areas of Korea like Gangwon-do gets a wet and snowy winter than the others. Skiing is extremely fun there in this weather. In the East Sea, Ulleung Island experiences the most snowfall than the entire country. Before you visit any area, here is a climate checking app you can check for weather updates.
Surviving winters in Korea may seem hard but once you get all your preparations done there is no way you won’t enjoy this beautiful weather. Here are a bunch of tips or tricks to combat winters:
Tips for Enjoying and Surviving Winters in Korea
Layer it up!
It is only natural to wear a lot of layers when dressing for winters however, people underestimate the weather conditions of a non-temperate country. Only layering is not enough, you should wear the correct layers, otherwise, it is useless.
You will need:
- A thermal base (preferably of synthetic fabric; polyester)
- Middle layer for insulation (material; fleece or wool)
- Outerwear (should be waterproof and resistant to winds)
Now that you are all layered up, take care of your neck and head by wearing warm scarves, and hats or a beanie. To keep your hands warm, use a hot pocket in your gloves or pockets.
Have a Feast
It is said that you burn more calories during winters, so keep yourself warm by feasting like a king. The warm, steaming hot, spicy and delicious Korean food will not only warm your body but also your heart.
If the area you are visiting is experiencing a cold day then look out for restaurants serving classic Korean soups like galbi-tang, kimchi jiggae, gamja tang, sundubu jiggae, and haejaangguk. Only a bowl full is enough to survive through the whole day.
Other tasty Korean dishes that you must try are here.
Get a Cup of Coffee
If you don’t have the time for a hearty meal, you can go to one of the many coffee places to enjoy a warm cup. In Korea, the coffee culture is rising so it won’t be difficult to find a place nearby.
However, if you don’t like coffee, you can always get a cup of tea there are many tea houses as well. Insadong is the go-to place for tea lovers; you can get a variety of traditional teas here.
Enjoy Jjimjilbangs
Jjimjilbangs or bathhouses are famous in Korea, and it is quite popular among tourists as well. These places usually have multi-storey, and you can enjoy different activities. They have cold or hot bathtubs, game rooms, TVs, saunas, etc.
Leaving a bathhouse is not easy as you wouldn’t want to go back into the extremely cold weather outside.
Moisturize Properly
During winters in Korea, the weather conditions get quite harsh, and our skin damages a lot due to this. But we all know how famous Korea is for its skincare products, and routines so, use as much lip balm and moisturizer as you can.
The most important part here is to stay hydrated at all costs!
Experience Underground Shopping Malls
If you want to survive and enjoy winters then one of the ways to do so is by staying out of the cold. Underground malls are popular in Korea, and you can easily go in and out of the mall by subways without stepping your foot out from the underground.
Imagine a day full of shopping without shivering in the cold. Here are some of the underground malls you should check out: Express Bus Terminal underground mall, Gangnam Terminal underground shopping centre, Yeoungdeungpo underground mall, etc.
What Else?
You can’t always remain inside, plus you shouldn’t miss out on enjoying winter activities like snowboarding, skiing, etc. Get your winter gears ready and try out these outdoor activities in Korea.
Your body will take some time to get used to of the weather but once it does, go out in the snow, have fun during winter festivals, and activities.
In the end, keep your hearts and bodies warm and have a great time enjoying yet surviving winters in Korea!
