my first winter in korea...

[ehmaeearwhy]

being from florida and not being used to ridiculously cold weather, i am very nervous about my first winter here in korea...
any words of advice on how to prepare for it?
do i need to buy snow shoes....? o_o

[Ectofuego]

lol...  It gets cold, but not snow shoe cold,  You COULD have a couple feet of snow, it happened 2 years ago.  We got up to like 3 feet of snow on the ground.   It would not hurt to buy some boots or something that is a little slip resistant.

[Damien]

I'm from Michigan, so the winters here are rather nice. You are from Florida, so they are going to be a slight shocker. Get a nice winter coat/jacket, gloves, scarf, and a hat. You don't need snow boots. I usually just wear a coat/jacket and gloves. I prefer Columbia for the coat/jacket.

[McGenghis]

OP: where in Korea are you stationed? A Seoul winter will be quite different from a Busan one, as will Gangwon do and Jeju.

Usually the winters are pretty dry and chilly, but certainly fairly easy to endure. Precipitation seems fairly rare in winter, but when it comes it does tend to dump a few inches to a few feet of snow in several hours. Remember that central heating is pretty rare or even non-existent in Korean schools, so you will be scuttling from class to class in a parka. The classrooms themselves should be toasty.

For the record I'm a Canuck Maritimer in coastal Gangwon-do, where most of Korea's snow falls.
 

[sejongthefabulous]

Here is something you should be concerned about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_depression

You can try learning about 'winter clothing' to understand more. I would also recommend buying lots of hot chocolate and those chemical hot packs and a couple portable electric and kerosene heaters.  Gaining weight and staying indoors helps, too.

[woman-king]

I say "brace yourself."  I'm from the Seattle area, so quite a bit colder than Florida and I've certainly been in below-freezing weather and snow.  But the winter here felt BRUTAL to me--like it was painful to be outside for too long.  I think it's the combination of below-freezing weather and humidity. 

Pack or buy lots of long underwear and sweater-tights, and lots of long-sleeved T's that can be layered up--it's the layers that will keep you warm.  Bring wool socks for sure, and I got a pair of snowboot-type things here last year and wore them every day from December until March. 

Things that make it bearable: Sitting on ondol-heated floors (best invention ever), Korean barbecues where you sit in front of a fire while cooking your dinner, lots of soups, and generally intensely-heated buses and subway stations.

[zongal2012]

As a South African I was totally unprepared for a Gangwondo winter. Get an electric heater to save on gas bills, this way you can heat a small area  if you need to  or warm that freezing bathroom before you shower.
Layers are key, sure it takes longer to get dressed and undressed but its worth it.
Thick socks, gloves, scarves and hats can be found in most department stores.
I would suggest getting a sun lamp to sit in front of. The lack of sunshine can really make one feel depressed. Seasonal affective disorder  is something that can sneak up on you and make you feel isolated and sad.

[SpaceRook]

BE CAREFUL OF ICE.  Falling down the wrong way WILL ruin your day.  Just take it slow. 

In my area, they don't do a good job of cleaning side streets and sidewalks.  The snow gets packed down into ice quickly.  Be careful around steep hills because cars may not be able to stop.

[Ollie84]

being from florida and not being used to ridiculously cold weather, i am very nervous about my first winter here in korea...
any words of advice on how to prepare for it?
do i need to buy snow shoes....? o_o

Two words - 'thermal underwear'.

I'm from Northern Scotland so I've grown up with my fair share of harsh winters. However, the winters here are like death. Layering (loads) really is the key. Korea has a kind of cold that goes right to your bones. Sometimes, inside the school can feel colder than outside. It's could well by the dryness combined with Siberian winter insanity which creates the harsh winter environment. I've even heard some Canadians talk about how harsh the winters are here.

Get a decent pair of gloves, hat and scarf too.

[justanotherwaygook]

I'm fairly sure the only place that gets 'a few feet' of snow like other poster mentioned is in Gangwon do (they got walloped last year).  Generally, snow fall in Korea is pretty puny.  It's cold and dry.  Winters are boring and cold (not much fun in the snow).  You can find out other information by googling something like "dealing with cold weather."

[Seoulian]

I'm from the Prairies in Canada and I think it is cold in Korea. In fact, I would rather have -40 with no wind then -15 with a strong wind.

Things that you need:

Wool socks. The heating of buildings is all screwed up in Korea. For one the infrastructure is often not very good in the schools. Second, Koreans open windows randomly. Your feet will get very  cold. Also, I find I do a lot of walking and standing around waiting for people. Your feet get cold when you do this.

A small electric heater. You can buy this at Namdaemun for like 14,000 KRW. Good for when you are watching TV on your laptop and cheaper than the ondol. If you are in a loft, heating the floor doesn't do much.

Lastly, people do not know how to drive it is even the slightest bit icy. The first day of bad driving conditions is also the worst, so take extra condition and assume no one is going to stop, ever.

[Frozencat99]

I'm from the Lake Ontario area in Canada and I find it just a bit cooler than seasonal temperatures at home. Seeing as you're from Florida, the humid cold will likely be a drastic change. I'm in Gangwon-do right now.

I've found that if I close my bedroom door, I generate enough body heat for the room but perhaps I'm a freak :3 Investing in a space heater is a good idea. You can find really good Korean winter clothing for much cheaper than imported brand names and they obviously do the job (otherwise Koreans wouldn't buy them). I bought a Chaps Club (iirc) fleece baseball jacket two weeks ago and its fleece has been more than enough for this weather. I know it isn't winter quite yet, but you'd be surprised how warm a 30k won jacket is (and the 30k+ of savings is equally warming).

[woman-king]

I'm from the Lake Ontario area in Canada and I find it just a bit cooler than seasonal temperatures at home. Seeing as you're from Florida, the humid cold will likely be a drastic change. I'm in Gangwon-do right now.

I've found that if I close my bedroom door, I generate enough body heat for the room but perhaps I'm a freak :3 Investing in a space heater is a good idea. You can find really good Korean winter clothing for much cheaper than imported brand names and they obviously do the job (otherwise Koreans wouldn't buy them). I bought a Chaps Club (iirc) fleece baseball jacket two weeks ago and its fleece has been more than enough for this weather. I know it isn't winter quite yet, but you'd be surprised how warm a 30k won jacket is (and the 30k+ of savings is equally warming).

You must be a freak!  ;)

About the space heaters...I do have one, but I would argue that especially for your first winter here, give your Ondol a shot.  It depends on where you live but I'd say it may cost you around 100,000 won/month to heat an apartment using an Ondol, and in my opinion, it's totally worth it.  The fake-hardwood floors feel REALLY cold (much colder than carpet obviously) and having them heated was wonderful and felt really luxurious (as indeed heated floors at home would be).  I'm on a budget like most people here, but given how little I go out or shop or really do much in the winter, I'd argue floor heating is worth the cost.  At least learn how to use yours (I think some people go for space heaters because they're less confusing and more familiar).

Also, off the top of my head, two things: 1) As soon as the real cold sets in, keep your faucets at a low-drip.  Otherwise, they can freeze, burst, and cost you millions of won in damage costs.  2) This won't really save you money BUT if you have an enclosed porch like I do, you've got yourself a second refrigerator for the winter.  Handy. 

[ehmaeearwhy]

thanks for all of your responses!  these are all great tips.  i'm in yongin, and hopefully it's one of the more bearable areas.  i'm going to dedicate my next paycheck to cross off some of things off of my "Things I Need To Survive This Winter" list.

[Davey]

thanks for all of your responses!  these are all great tips.  i'm in yongin, and hopefully it's one of the more bearable areas.  i'm going to dedicate my next paycheck to cross off some of things off of my "Things I Need To Survive This Winter" list.

Consider vitamin D supplements; omega 3s; and maybe a UV lamp (don't know if UV lamps are readily available in Korea). You might get a serious cause of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) since you come from a sunny climate. I know a friend from Florida who came to Korea got SAD here.

Vitamin D and omega 3s have other health benefits anyway. Consider iherb.com; I can suggest a couple of brands if you want.

[Damien]

You might want to learn to walk on ice too. It's not very hard to do. I've lived on a lake all my life and in a very snowy/icy area. I can glide across icy surfaces. The reaction from Koreans, priceless.

[bobrocket]

I thought you get vitamin D from the sun?

Why (not just davey here) do people always recommend the artifial option over the real solution. Pack em full of pills, she'll be right.

To beat the winter blues, dress up warm and get out of the house.

As for the ice, when crossing the road, don't be first and don't be last

[eggplant_tyrant]

If you're bundled up tight, you're not going to have much skin exposed to the sun (and if you do, you won't be staying out very long)... That kind of inhibits the whole "getting vitamin D from the sun" thing. That's why people are suggesting sun lamps and supplements.

That said, making an effort to get out of the house in the winter will really help your mental state. It's cold and unpleasant, so it will be easy to stay in, but try to push past that and go out regularly, especially with friends. You'll feel better for it.

As a bonus, hot drinks are so much more satisfying when you've just come in from the cold. :)

[jisun]

you will be scuttling from class to class in a parka. The classrooms themselves should be toasty.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this isn't necessarily true.  At my school last year, the principal liked to save money by turning off the entire heating system in the dead of winter.  I showed up for class in thermal underwear, regular clothes, bulky sweater, and heavy coat--plus a scarf, gloves, multiple pairs of socks, and on occasion even a hat.  At one point, it got down to 23F/-5C inside.

Uniqlo makes a fabric called Heattech that's scientifically engineered to make you warm in cold weather.  I suggest buying an entire wardrobe of it as soon as it's available.  Also, if you walk to school and it takes you more than a few minutes, find a scarf or ski mask to protect your face from the wind.

I'm from Oregon and used to gloomy winters, so the seasonal change didn't affect my mood too much--the nice thing is that it stays really sunny here even when it's below freezing.

[Davey]

I thought you get vitamin D from the sun?

Why (not just davey here) do people always recommend the artifial option over the real solution. Pack em full of pills, she'll be right.

To beat the winter blues, dress up warm and get out of the house.

As for the ice, when crossing the road, don't be first and don't be last

You can't get enough vitamin D through the sun during the winter here and in other northern climates. A lot of supplements are bogus, but vitamin D is certainly legit. Also, it's relatively cheap.