Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

So, I was talking to someone last night and they told me that within the next month or so, the temperature is going to drop off pretty quickly. Indeed, it already has as I'm no longer walking around covered in my own sweat.

I was just wondering how cold it gets, and whether I should buy some more clothing.

Now I have about six hoodies from back home, an arctic winter jacket which is good for temperatures as low as -30C (however it is too hot for temperatures above -5C), and a windbreaker which usually keeps me warm between -5C and 0C.

I have some good snow boots too, up to the top of my ankles. Will I need them?

Are there any times in the winter it goes below -30C?

Whats the wind chill like? Non-existent/bad?

I might do some shopping now to be safe.

Thanks (yes, I overprepare, I was a boy scout).

[cj1976]

It gets pretty cold. If you don't think -15 degrees celsius is cold, you must be either Canadian or you were born with fur.

[RACETRAITOR]

[dogshed]

The key is layers and maybe a backpack to put some of the layers in.
It can be cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and then cold again in the evening.

The real killer is when you go inside. You never know if it will be the same temp as outside or if you will be near a heater.

[IncognitoHFX]

[cwaddell]

I remember hiking Chiaksan last January or February and the forecast said it was -30 in the morning. No problem once hiking, pretty big problem waiting on the hourly bus you just missed to the mountain. Taxi!

Mind you, I then visited Canada at the start of March, and their -30 seemed a lot colder than the Korean -30, so maybe that was exaggerated, I don't know.

[CeleryMan]

Perhaps the appropriate question is how hot will it get? When the mercury drops Korea cranks up the heat. We're talking sauna-like conditions on the bus, in the office, PC rooms, cafeteria, on the subway etc. etc. etc.

Enduring 4 months of mediocre indoor air ventilation coupled with stagnant-ass hot air is one thing but when you add the pungent soju-breathe stench & fierce garlic odor .... yikes!

[RACETRAITOR]

[lowpo]

[RACETRAITOR]

Be careful how you nest quotes.

As far as I can tell this is the only thing you wrote:

[xtchr]

[Captain Corea]

In 6 years of being here in seoul, the coldest I've felt is -12 + windchill. It's a different type of cold than I was used to (Calgary), but it didn't rock my world.

Basically, I've never been really cold here.

((however, if you're up in the mountains, I'm told it can be quite different))

[SPINOZA]

Incognito is from Nova Scotia.

The previous two winters (Seoul) have been an utter doddle and where I'm from is nowhere near as cold as NS. I guarantee the times when you're uncomfortably cold will be countable on one hand. Sounds as though you over-packed to me. That stuff would be more suitable for an expedition across Antarctica.

When that Siberian wind comes, it's cold. So when does that wind come? Not much. When the Spring and Summer in 2008 come and you look back on Winter, you'll recall the super-cold days or nights distinctly, because they're uncommon. Considering Seoul is approx 38 degrees latitude, the sun's rays are quite direct and when those northerly winds aren't around (which is mostly), it's mild with temperatures of 8-12c not uncommon. Korea gets by far the most of its precipitation in summer, so Winter often consists of bluey-brown skies and sunshine. In my opinion, the coldest points of both previous winters were 1 week before Christmas. Winter arrives with a thud which makes you go "oh sh*t" but then it goes mild again.

[samd]

[princess]