When Does Winter Start In: Korea Fix

Minjun thought for a long time. Finally, he said, “So winter starts twice?”

“But which one is right?” Minjun asked.

Winter in Korea is not just a season; it’s a mood that creeps in with the drying of the autumn leaves and solidifies with the first howling Siberian wind. It is a season of stark beauty, frozen rivers, and the comfort of steamy odeng (fish cake) soup on a street corner. when does winter start in korea

That night, Minjun wrote in his journal: Winter in Korea starts three times—by tradition on November 7 or 8, by astronomy on December 21 or 22, and by weather on December 1. But for Harabeoji, it starts the moment you put on your first pair of long underwear and hear the ajummas on the street say, ‘It’s really cold now.’

He underlined the last sentence: That was November 18 this year. And I think that’s the real answer. Minjun thought for a long time

While the calendar might be optimistic, Korea’s geography is ruthless. Surrounded by water on three sides and bordered by mountains and Siberia to the north, Korea’s winter is defined by "Samhan Sibaek" (삼한사온), a traditional phrase meaning

In Korea, the arrival of winter is not a single event. It is a dramatic clash between ancient astronomy and a very modern, very sharp, drop in temperature. It is a season of stark beauty, frozen

Interestingly, Korea has a unique "Cosmetic Winter" phenomenon. You will often see young people bundled up in thick padded jackets, scarves, and berets as early as late October. This is partly due to the "Korean Layering" fashion trend, but it serves a practical purpose: Korean buildings, especially older ones, often have poor insulation. The indoor temperature can feel colder than the outdoors until the floor heating ( Ondol ) is turned on for the season.