Winters in Korea….
Winters in Korea can get super cold. If you have to survive the extreme summers of Korea, time to brace yourself as that was just the beginning. Mother Nature has a new trick up her sleeve and she will do anything to make you struggle through the harsh, dry and cold winter of Korea. During Winter, temperatures can dip down to an average -5°C (although it can dip up down to as much as -20°C also). The winter season can last up to 6 months. (yeah till April end & sometimes even in month of May). Korean have been figuring out new ways to stay warm over many centuries and successfully found many new innovative ways to stay warm.
Heating utilities can be extremely expensive if you own or rent a house in Korea, as most of the people use Ondol. Odol is a Korean floor heating system where a series of pipes lie beneath the floor and hot water runs through the pipes making the floor warm. Most Korean houses and apartments have an Ondol as opposed to a heater. One must beware before using Ondol,as it takes Gas to heat the pipes and your monthly gas bill can scorch up to 400,000KRW (400$) per month in harsh winter.
But those days are gone as new technology has helped people in making cheaper alternative heating. So with the help of my husband (4 years in Korea- too much…..) and a Korean friend, here are some ways that can help you stay warm during your stay in Korea, inside and outside of your home
- Space heaters & Electric Blankets
Why burn up your Ondol floor heat when it takes 30 minutes for it to actually kick in? And that heating bill? Outrageous. I made that mistake despite my husband warning me about it- Solution?
Invest in a portable space heater and stop blowing your money on heating bills. No really, these bad boys are seriously a life saver. They cost around 30,000W – 75,000W (35USD – 75USD) for a single unit and depending on the size of the heater, it can be a great helper in warming a sizable room. This is the perfect solution for night time when you are sleeping or if there is one particular room in the house that you stay in most of the time.
Also, electric blankets are a godsend as I’ve heard. Keep them turned on all day so when you get home from work, you can belly flop into a warm bed. The best thing about these alternatives? They won’t burn up your heating bill.
2. Thermal Underwear
Thermal underwear may sound like something only your grandparents wear or you take to a ski trip. But these are going to be your best friend during the winter months in Korea. Just one layer underneath your clothes and it will change your winter experience tremendously. Although these can be bought in a variety of places, Uniqlo is known for their heat-tech range which includes a variety of styles for women, men and children for an affordable price.
3. Hand Warmers aka Hot packs
♪ Shake Shake baby, Shake your booty! ♪
Let’s dance and shake these little babies up. That’s it!! Super Easy. You can purchase these at most convenience stores, supermarkets or drugstore/pharmacies.
These are inexpensive and come in all shapes and sizes (small ones to put in your pocket, big ones with a stick on side so you can stick it on the back of your sweater, insole shaped ones to keep your feet warm). They are literally little packs that once opened and shaken become hot. They last a few hours and are disposable after use.
These hot packs are a very popular choice for people who literally want a portable heater on the go…
4. Crazy Cute Animal PJ’s
Koreans wants to stay in style while sleeping!!!! If you use your heating in moderation at home, you’re most likely going to be wearing extra clothing to keep yourself warm. A great way to stay warm in style and be comfortable at the same time is to go out and buy yourself some cute animal pajamas. These PJ’s are available everywhere in Korea from your local neighborhood Shops, Street vendors, Subway markets and online websites like G-Market (the Amazon.com of Korea). The price starts from 5,000W – 10,000W (5USD – 10USD). You might think they are cheap and not made with good material. You thought wrong! Due to high demand for these pajamas, they are actually cheap and made with good materials. Made with the blend of polyester and cotton to provide extra comfort and warmth.
Also, they come in several variations starting from the most common pajamas for your legs, to pajama jackets, and of course full out animal style pajamas! Wearing a pair of Korean pajamas is a great way to wake up in the morning all nice and toasty without ever having to jump-start your body again.
So let’s gear up for the Korean Winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!