Winter Blues or Winter Bliss?

 

❄️ What I Love and Hate About Korean Winters

Winter in Korea is beautiful — and brutal. The cold bites, the wind stings, and sometimes I wonder how anyone survives it with a smile. But after living here for a few years, I’ve realized that winter in Korea is both my least favorite and somehow my most memorable season.

Let’s start with what I hate.
The cold is no joke. I grew up in warm, tropical islands where “winter” meant rain, not freezing air that makes your fingers go numb. In Korea, the wind seems to find every tiny space between your clothes, no matter how many layers you wear. Running outside becomes almost impossible, and I miss the days when I could just throw on shorts and go. And don’t even get me started on how early it gets dark — it feels like bedtime at 5 p.m.!

But then… There are things I secretly love.
The way the mountains turn white overnight, how your breath becomes visible, and how cozy it feels to walk with warm gloves and a long jacket. I love sipping hot chocolate at a café while watching snow fall outside the window. Winter food is another joy — spicy tteokbokki, roasted sweet potatoes, and steaming bowls of kimchi jjigae make you forget how cold it is, at least for a while.

And maybe the best part? Fewer bugs! No mosquitoes, no flies — just peace.
Winter also has a quiet beauty that’s hard to describe. The world slows down, the air feels cleaner, and even a simple walk through a park feels magical when everything is covered in snow.

So yes, I complain every winter, but deep down, I think I’d miss it if it never came. Korean winters test your patience, but they also teach you to appreciate warmth — not just from heaters or blankets, but from people, food, and little cozy moments that make the cold worth it.