Korean Job Discussion Forums

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

I woke up this morning, and it was 17 degrees. My car door was frozen shut. I have never been in such frozen coldness before, even during my Alaska adventures. This is, however, better than yesterday when I woke up to a snowstorm. I called in due to the fact that everything was covered in white crap.

So, my question is...Does it snow in Korea? Yes, I've seen MASH, but I know that beach areas don't get snow due to salty air. Much of Korea is close to the ocean, so I'm wondering if it snows where you are at.

Thanks,

John

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

yes it snows. and my car door has been frozen at times..
december, januaray , feb even march we get snow..
I would say in the whole winter there are probably about 5-7 days that are really bad..
it even snowed the other day..

W.T.Carl · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

It depends on your location and the year. When I was there last, we got diddly up around Seoul, but Kunsan got hit heavy. The next year Seoul got hammered. Down around Busan it is rare. It's not like you are living in Moscow.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

As people say it really depends where you live.

If you live in gangwondo you get hit quite a bit. As a general rule the more east and south you go the less snow you will get.

The north gets more than the south.

And the south-western coast gets a lot more than the south-eastern coast.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Man, it's -1 tonight. It'll hit -25 by Solnal.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I think it depends on where you're FROM if you think there is a lot of snow in Korea. If you're from a snowy place (October-May) then you think that Korean snow is minimal. If you're from a non-snowy place, then yeah, there is some...and it can get pretty cold and snowy.

John Henry When were you in Alaska? July???? 17C is freakin' warm!!! (Almost 63 F) 17F is -8C but still won't freeze your nose hairs! THAT'S when it's REALLY cold!

jaebea · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Location: SYD

Compared to Sydney, anywhere in the bloody country is cold.. :)

Like a few posters have mentioned, your mileage may vary depending on year and location.

jae.

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

I should have stated that my numbers were in f. f=1.8c+32. Yeah, so I guess that's about -8c. Dang cold for me. I keep doing the calculation, are you saying that the temp gets to be - 13f (-25c)? Unacceptable. Solnal must be Korean word for "Hell freezing over"?

I was in AK from May to Sept. it may have gotten to be below freezing, but it never snowed, and never felt that cold due to the ocean air. Although it rained ALL the time. You haven't lived until you've dried your socks at the hot air hand dryer in the harbormasters office!

If it is seriously that cold, I'll have to consider Busan instead of Seoul.

John

btw, im from Southern Cal, now in New Mexico, so I'm a total cold wuss.

mithridates · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:53 am Post subject:

No, the coldest it ever gets in Seoul is -16C, and that's usually for only about a week. If you're a cold wuss like me (even though I'm from Calgary) you could either live in Pusan, or find some time to go to Chejudo for a week or two in the winter. Depends on your job. Even on a weekend you can take the train south to Pusan and three hours later you're there. Spend the weekend there and go back up Sunday night or Monday morning I suppose...

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Outside of Seoul it gets colder...and true, not every year, and not for more than a week or so. Cheonan, for some reason gets pretty darn cold... -26 C or so. (-14 F)

mithridates · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject:

Is it because of the urban heat bubble? I recommend a 100m tall black wall that emerges from underground around the beginning of November. It's located a few km north of Seoul and blocks all the Siberian wind. It's the wind more than anything that makes it feel really cold...

canuckistan · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:05 pm Post subject:

Winter in Korea is a joke. I don't miss digging out my doubly-entombed car (street plow AND sidewalk plowette) from NDG streets back home one bit.

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

Aaaaahhh, good ol' NDG! I lived near the Loyola campus of Concordia University for a few years and the snowplows would actually bury your car, I joke you not.

-26C in Korea? I've been here 4 years (in Seoul), and it hasn't getten as cold as -20C once... I remember a -17C once, but even that's easy to deal with cuz there usually isn't much wind, like in Montreal...

As for snow, people often ask me what I miss most from my home country (Canada), and I always answer "Snow". I miss those days of snow upto your knees, struggling through a blizzard, walking diagonally to counter the strength of the wind, and such...

Good times, good times Laughing

kylehawkins2000 · Joined: 08 Apr 2003

"Beach areas don't snow due to salty air"
I don't think this is true. I lived near the beach my whole life while growing up (close enough that I could usually smell and taste the salt in the air) and it snowed lots. I believe coastal areas are often just warmer because of the moderating of the temperature from the Ocean. (Large bodies of water heat up and cool down slower than the land so it keeps the temperature cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter)

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Locals are calling for big snow this year -- alternate year effect, last year minimal. Weather everywhere screwy though, who knows.