Photos by Hyemin Lee ()
Oh, winter in Korea is freezing cold! The temperature can reach lower than minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4°F) and then there’s high winds and lots of snow. To fight the chill of Korea’s winter, here are some must-have items most Koreans use to get through the season.
1. Electric blanket (Jeongi-jangpan 전기장판)
There is nothing better than staying cozy under a warm electric blanket in the cold winter. An electric-powered blanket means you won’t need a thick heavy one to keep you warm. Most Korean homes have heated floors which help warm the entire house without a heater or stove, but sometimes that isn’t enough. An electric blanket will make your bedtime warm and toasty.
Tips: Most electric blankets are machine-washable once you remove the control cord from the pad. I’d recommend you buy an EMF-free (Electromagnetic field-free) one for safety’s sake. The average price is around 50,000 won to 120,000 won ($38-$92). The price varies depending on the size and texture type. You can easily find one at a local mart or Gmarket (A big Korean online shopping mall with English service).
2. Hot pack (Hotpack 핫팩)
If you are heading out doors in the winter, make sure to grab some hot packs. These handy hot packs go in your pocket to help keep your hands warm during the extreme weather. You can find them at any convenience store, and at 1,000 won ($0.77) each, portable warmth is easy and cheap. Open and shake the pack until it’s activated. Each pack provides around 14 hours of heat.
3. Fuzzy socks (Sumyeon-yangmal 수면양말)
Have you experienced cold feet during the winter because of poor circulation? Fuzzy socks are a perfect solution. Wearing them is like covering your feet with a soft, fuzzy winter blanket and it feels amazing! Fuzzy socks make great gifts because they come in colorful and cute patterns. These fashionably warm socks will only set you back about 2,000 won to 5,000 won ($1.5-$3.8) a pair, and they are even cheaper if you buy them in bulk.
4. Long padded coat (Long-padding 롱패딩)
Every winter season, you may notice that many Koreans don puffy long coats. They may be a peculiar sight, but once you try one on, you’ll understand why they are so beloved in Korea! The coats are filled with down feathers and provide protection from the freezing winter elements. With this coat, you’ll no longer fear the winter months, so check out a local department store, outlet or online shopping mall (Gmarket) to grab your own! The price is between 80,000 won to 400,000 won ($61-$307) depending on the quality and quantity of the feathers.
