Korean Job Discussion Forums

Carmy · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Location: Seoul

I'm due to leave for Korea in about 2 weeks. What's the weather like right now? I don't really want to load my suitcase with heavy coats and winter clothes, but do you guys reckon I'll need to bring a coat/boots?

Any help will be appreciated.

Ta

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

You won't need winter clothes for a while now. Might as well buy them when you get here. Korean winters are mild anyway and there isn't much snow so you don't need boots unless you're planning on going hiking or something.

I'd say right now it's jacket weather. The rainy season will be starting soon, and you will need an umbrella. They're ridiculously easy to buy, so don't bring one.

CasperTheFriendlyGhost · Joined: 28 Feb 2007

It's not even jacket weather. You can get by with a long-sleeved shirt and an undershirt even at night. Korean shoes are pretty lousy and not available in larger or even medium-large sizes. Stock up on the footwear.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Depends where in South Korea. It snowed about 7 times here in Paju & was weeks in the -11c to 0c range. -17c with wind chill factor. But right now it's nice. (9-19c). I would still bring boots if you have a large size shoe which might be difficult to get here.

VanIslander · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:41 am Post subject: Re: weather

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

It's been warm enough most days to run around without a jacket during the day. There will be a few rainy days ahead, but it should be warm this month and next. Last June to early July will be wet and humid.

I disagree with the Racetraitor about the winters being mild, but I guess it depends where you come from. Compared with Oregon I think it's much colder here (and dryer) in the winter. It's also much warmer in the summer.

Carmy · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Location: Seoul

Ok cheers for that!

So I can leave my thick winter woolies at home then. Suits me perfectly.

And I have been through a Korean winter before...I would hardly say it was MILD. It was the coldest Winter I have ever experienced in my life thus far!! LOL.

Ta muchly.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 4:32 am Post subject:

Weather is very pleasant now, but will get very hot soon.

Winter clothes are dirt cheap right now. Get em' now and you got em' without having to pack them in your luggage. And when you are finished with your contract, chuck the cheap drab looking Korean winter clothes to free up space again in your luggage and go get a few nice things in your home country after your contract for after all you most likely will have some money and some room in your luggage as well.

Summer clothes just came into season during the past week.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Natalia · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Come on--there's snow on the ground maybe three days of the year. How bad can it be?

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Actually it was 7 days that it snowed in my part of Gyeonggido, not 3. It last snowed here in Paju on March 7. And that was early "Spring". Locals tell me it was about 5c warmer this year. -17c is still pretty damn cold for me.

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeonggido/photo599412.htm

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeonggido/photo598426.htm

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeonggido/photo539944.htm

VanIslander · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Absolutely no snow at all ever on the ground here last winter. Even during that first heavy snow fall in December. I was on the bus back from a weekend in Seoul and saw snow across the peninsula until the bus approached this valley near the southern coast, at which point only rain was visible. The locals tell me it doesn't snow here ever (twice on the ground in a lifetime of memory).

It snowed exactly once in four winters on Geoje Island off the southeast coast, and the snow was gone well before noon (it was that freak March storm which hit the southeast a couple of years ago, blanketing Busan).

billyg · Joined: 16 Feb 2005

you're in for quite a treat come july and august... some of the most disgusting humidity you can imagine... plus its wet for weeks... then after the rain, you melt for a couple of months... hate it with a passion... trying like hell to get away for at least a month of it...

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Three days with snow is not much different from seven. The snow melts by the next day anyway, which means the temperature obviously goes above 0 for a bit.