Korean Job Discussion Forums

American_Maverick · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

Are the winters in Seoul as harsh as I have heard/read? I am from the northeastern U.S., so I am used to some snow and periodic days of below freezing (-32F) weather. Honestly though, I'd rather not move to Seoul if I have to put up with 4+ months of crappy cold where I have to bundle up and trudge to a public school every morning.

Any of you spent significant time in both Seoul and Busan during the winter months? Is there an appreciable difference?

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject:

"harsh winters" and "Korea" don't belong in the same sentence.

3 months of moderately cold weather, at worst. You'll rarely see snow. I spent a year in Daegu and saw snow, one day.

American_Maverick · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

So I guess these scenes aren't as bad as this guy from Canada (cold-ass Canada!) is making it out to be? Confused

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQwzxAHWyhg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0f-OJvk2sI

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

notice how there isn't any snow in the videos?

it can be a very cold wind. But from mid-Feb. to end of nov. it's not cold.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Seoul doesn't get as cold as New England and has nowhere near as much snow. However, Busan has down right mild winters. Go for Busan.

Atavistic · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

I was sick of Koreans telling me Korea is so cold and so hot so I checked out the average and record temperature for Seoul and Mpls/St Paul (my hometown). MN gets colder in the winter and hotter in the summer.

People exaggerate about Korea.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

How hot does Pusan get in the summer? I've heard people say it's hot as hel! like Miami. Is this true?

American_Maverick · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

He's a *beep* from Vancouver. Knows nothing about winter. he has no toque (hat) or gloves, nor can you see his breath.

Korea is boring and grey in the winter, not cold.
Th American NE would be colder than Korea.

gajackson1 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

The majority of the winters where we have been here (well, me - Christina hates the cold, so it isn't really fair), the winters have been ok, but nothing special.

There hasn't been as much snow as i would like, or hard freezes. Also, for as cold as it can get, it isn't those blue-white days of clear-sky coldness I enjoy, either - like you see in Alaska or Hokkaido.

Yes, it can and does occasionally get bitingly cold, with strong winds. But that is what all the floor heating & alcohol is meant for.

Alsa! fireplaces - rare, rare, rare indeed . . .

Glen

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

smedini · Joined: 02 Apr 2008

Most of the time I spent in Korea was on the southern coast and while there were four distinct seasons, it wasn't terribly cold in the winter (I am from the frigid east coast of Canada)...in two winters we got fluries once.

However, the one caveat I would put out there is the white knuckle, blue fingernail cold that many of the schools in Korea experience during the winter, particularly the hogwans. A lot of these buildings don't have central heating, rather they have large kerosene heaters placed sporadically throughout the buildings...we used to joke that we'd have to go outside to warm up a little. There were many winter days when I - and my coworkers - had to wear our scarves and gloves while working. It sucked, but it made for some fun and funny times Wink

~smedini

gajackson1 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject:

well, if fan death in the summer won't kill ya, Koreans leaving all the windows open in the winter time will Laughing

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

It's all relative. My cousin and I were born and raised in Hawaii. He went to college in Oregon so he thinks the winter here is pretty harsh. I went to college in Illinois so I think the winters here are relatively mild. If you're from the Northeast, I don't see why you'd have any problems.