I am writing this on November 3rd, 2016 and as John Snow is warning, winter is coming. Winter in Korea, for those of you who don't already know, is very cold and the winter winds coming from Siberia don't help. However, I am writing this so that when you come to Korea, you know how to be prepared. I will also talk about Chung Ang University's long winter break and things to do during winter break to help make the time go by faster.
The Temperature Changes:
The temperature began to change in the last half of October this year. We had normal days in the mid 70sF (~23C) during the short autumn. At the end of October the weather was in the low 60sF (15~18C) during the day and the low to mid 40sF (4~7C) during the night. What was worse was that from October 1st to November 1st the university disables the heating and cooling systems in the dorms. So far the coldest day in November has been 42F (5C) in the day and 36F (3C) at night. So what can you do about the temperature change?
You can bundle up like this cat and stay warm lol. Seriously though, at the end of October stores all over Seoul have started putting out their winter gear. That means fur lined jackets, parkas, down jackets, scarves, gloves, etc. I recommend going to Uniqlo, TopTen, 8 Seconds or other chain clothing stores like that because the quality of their clothing is more guaranteed and they have a wider variety of colors and sizes. Plus, you will want quality assured apparel for the Siberian winter in Korea (tail end of Siberian winter that is).
Winter Break
For those of you planning on staying for a full school year in Korea, winter break begins on December 21st and ends on March 2nd (first day of the spring semester) so you may want some things to fill up all that free time away from class. There is always the chance to explore Seoul more and even get away from Seoul, traveling to China or the surrounding archipelagos (island countries around Korea) if you don't want to return to your home country. There is also the winter Korean Language program which will be essential for the TOEIC. I don't know much information but I do know that the international office will tell you everything you need and give you a pamphlet on the subject in mid October if you are interested. A popular winter thing to do in Korea is ice skating. There are several places to ice skate but the best one is located at the Seoul City Hall subway line (line 1 and 2). Another location is in Lotte world at the very bottom of the inside portion of the theme park. Jamsil stop (line 8 and 2).
Winter Festivals
If you want to get away from Seoul during winter break, there are many winter festivals throughout the winter. I will name off the 4 best winter festivals to check out that have been highly recommended.
1) Inje Bingeo Fishing Festival: Located in Gwangwon-Do in Inje at the Soyangho lake area. It is very well known for its smelt fish (bingeo). The fish only lives in clean and clear water. The fish are called fairies of the water. There are very many festivities for the whole family like sledding, ice tunnels, ice soccer and more. Tip: go in the morning to avoid crowds.
2) Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival: Also known as the mountain trout fishing festival, located in Gwangwon-Do as well, it is one of the best winter festivals for the whole family. There is ice sledding, tubing, snow mobile riding and other activities for the whole family to enjoy. The fish jump throuhg the streams as fishermen try and catch them. Locals say it is a fun event to attend.
3) Pyeongchang Songeo Festival: Also known as the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, this festival is located in Pyeongchang, Gwangwon-Do. Much like a summertime sandcastle event on a beach, this event has snow and ice castle sculpting events where snow artists display their creations. It has somewhat of a "Frozen" feeling to it. The festival is also popular due to how beautiful and serene Pyeongchang is said to look in the winter. There many festivities ranging from half nude marathons to singing contests. Other activities for the whole family are potato baking,sledding, hiking and more. There is also an igloo zone for relaxing. It is a fun experience to try out if you're going to stay in Korea during the winter break.
4) Taebaeksan Mountain Festival: This festival takes place over the last 9 days on January and is located in the Taebaeksan province of Korea (also in Gwangwon-Don). Like the other festivals, there is sledding, ice tunnels and other fun activities to enjoy as a family.
These are just a few small things to consider during winter break that are not actively mentioned in Korea. Its also fun to get away from Seoul and take the chance to explore more of Korea.
Here is a map of South Korea's provinces. If you don't see Seoul that is because it is the orange spot inside Gyeonggi-Do province (upper left corner).
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