Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pokesplort]

ok so, living my entire life in a state that doesn't really get colder than 20 or 30 F has left me sorely lacking in "winter" skills. obviously i know a few things, not a total moron, but does anyone have suggestions on the bare minimum i should acquire so i wont freeze to death? or where to find decent winter jackets etc that aren't going to cost me my arms and my legs? my mom suggested north face and that doesn't sound like a bad idea, but i thought i'd get some of you wonderful dave's people's suggestions since you may have been here longer and actually lived through a winter. i'm kinda worried since people keep using terms like "bitter" and "harsh" and uh yeah, really really cold etc. thanks for the help!

[ttompatz]

[karri]

to add to the list

Buy mittins, gloves, scarves and hats. they make a huge diffrence and usually are not that expensive. One good knitted set should do you for the winter. (make sure they are lined with fleace on the inside)

[Illysook]

I have yet to experience a Korean winter, but I went to Central Michigan University for my Master's degree, so I think that I can tell you what to buy for a very bad winter...and you will probably think that a mild winter is very bad. It's all in what you are used to.

I would walk around Columbus Ohio with a coat on over a single layer of clothing. Up north that first winter it took long underwear, warm clothing, a good coat, a scarf, a hat, and a pair of gloves.

The second winter was probably just as cold, but it didn't feel as bad. I met my family in Bowling Green, Ohio that winter and they were all bundled up, while I didn't feel the need.

This being your first winter: Bundle Up!

And I would like to know where to get a good coat tailor made.

[Starla]

[Gollywog]

[Captain Marlow]

hit up some army/navy surplus areas at the markets... these things are made to keep you warm (lots of wool), they're relatively cheap, and their kinda stylish... anyways... that's what i did last winter... i'm from atlanta, but went to school in tallahassee (where you wear a jacket maybe twice during a winter), and i felt like i was freezing here the first winter... i'm looking forward to it this year after the scorcher of a summer we've been dealing with....

[MollyBloom]

I remember the winter of 2006 being very cold...and this time I brought a knee-length down jacket with a hood! Is this too excessive???

[I-am-me]

I arrived from Florida and I was freezing in March here. Best advice is buy a good sweater, a heavy coat, gloves, muffler, and maybe some thermal underwear if your school doesnt have good heating. After one good winter here it gets a little better.

[SeoulFinn]

I laugh at the Korean winter. Ha! But then again, the winters in Finland are a lot warmer they used to be in my childhood. I, like almost all Finnish barbarians, welcome global warming with open arms. Welcome, friend!

OP, just dress warmly and cover your hands and head. Also, make sure that the insulation (windows, front door) in your house is adequate. If necessary, buy a sleeping bag and, well, sleep in it?

[victorology]

Instead of buying a North Face jacket, I would buy a wool overcoat or peacoat. You can get overcoats tailored in Itaewon. You might be able to find a peacoat at a navy surplus store as mentioned earlier.

[earthbound14]

Ok, I should be the master...short of any people from Fairbanks, Alaska, or Inuit from Nunavut. I'm from Winnipeg.

First, when winter comes, and it gets icy out side it's a good idea to wear pants. Sandals can be worn with socks (but you look gay) as well as a long sleeve shirt. Toques can be used when it actually hits 0.

Korea in the winter is like standing next to a breezy open freezer...honest.

Ok seriously. I wear a cap (toque) or ball cap, wool gloves are enough and fit in your pockets easily. A scarf can be nice too on chilly days, why be cold if you don't have to? All this stuff can be bought off the street of from a local market for less than 10,000 won. Buy cheap, cause you won't be unhappy if you loose anything.

A sweater is nice, I like long sleeve shirts too. Wool is the best for sweaters (trust me, it's so warm, even when wet) and polyester shirts with a snug fit are best underneath. The snug fit ensures that cold air doesn't get next to your skin. I often just wear these under an insulated vest or even a light insulated jacket. You can layer on cold days, a t-shirt or long sleeve, sweater and the insulated jacket.

I have this one

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442622289&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699079&bmUID=1222186303504

Less than 100$ in Canada and more than enough for Korea. Expensive North Face not required. I prefer the insulated jacket to the layered sweater, shirt and shell. I hate having to strip down when I get into the pub or subway. With the light insulated jacket, just one thing needs to come off unless it is unusually cold.

Layering a shell over a fleece jacket is also good. But again I prefer the insualted jacket cause it's windproof and I don't need two peices. But for durability and extreme wind and snow protection the shell works best (you can still buy it and put it over the insulated jacket...they are actually meant for this). But really it doesn't snow enough unless you want to go skiing. If you do hit the slopes though you can find super cheap deald (I got pants for 10,000 and a ski jacket for 40,000)

There are a few copanies in Seoul that sell reasonable insulated jackets. Look around. I found one for 50,000 that did a good job. I think it was Echoroba. I'm not really a big fan of Korean brands though and brough one from home that is heaps better. They work though.

If you're getting cold feet, buy some hiking socks. Usually they sell Coolmax socks near many of the hiking areas and they can be as cheap as 3,000 won. Ya they are called coolmax, but they aren't, They are warm and fit better, look better than the green wool army socks they sell here.

If you're feeling super chilly you can buy turtle neck sweaters, I like the wool ones with zips up the front and leather gloves (9,000).


Reasonable long under wear can be buoght from the local E-marts and Home plus. The cheapest stuff is Cotton. I prefer polyester though as it dries quickly and is generally more comfortable
look around, find a nice stretchy one (they are super comfy when it's chilly)

good luck

[seoulteacher]

What I want to know is, where is Nolegirl in all of this?

Please, someone call to make sure she's OK.

Here we have an OP from FLA facing her/his first winter in ROK, and Nolegirl's not part of this discussion?! Something's just not right with this picture...

[sarahbeara_413]

I've actually been wondering the same thing lately about Korean winters. I'm from northern California and it can get pretty cold here during the winter, but my definition of cold is probably different than that of other people. I'm arriving in Seoul next month and have been loading up on long sleeved shirts and sweaters.

[W.T.Carl]

Bring at least four pairs of long johns.