tips on travelling to seoul in december..?

Question

i'm from malaysia and it's the first time i'm going to experience winter.

Answer 1

contrary to what most people would think, Korea isn't really THAT cold, even in the northern most parts by seoul, you should probably expect at most 6 inches of snow, and in the southern parts, less than that to none. korea is located on the 38th and 34th parallels, roughly the equivalent to los angeles and sacramento, and the weather is fairly similar to something along the lines of kentucky, or nebraska.

one thing about korea in the winter is that there are these strange periods in which it snows, and about 1-2 weeks later all the snow has melted, leaving in incredible mess of slush. so my first tip, is bring some nice, waterproof boots. as for jackets, you probably won't need a thick survival PARKA, but bring something that has nice insulation, and that's manouverable, in such a large crowd of people, you don't want to bump into them with a puffed up parka. also some densely populated areas are concerned about air polution, so many reidents wear face masks to protect themselves, however to avoid looking silly, you could just wear a scarf and pull it over your mouth and nose. that's what i do.

sometimes it even rains in the winter, but this in more later like in january or february, nonetheless, it may seem a little strange for winter, but don't forget to carry an umbrella.

Oh and in winter, there are so many street vendors that sell nice warm pastries like "boong-a bbang" (red bean filled pancake shaped like a fish) so carry a little poket change and enjoy.

to be completely honest, korea isn't exactly a winter wonderland, the best times to visit are in the spring ad autumn. winter is kind of brown and ugly, foggy and slushy. however, no matter what, you can still have a great experience and learn alot about the culture --Rain or shine--

stay cool and Peace out

Answer 2

So. Korea is cold in the winter time. I did 2 tours of duty there. I was stationed at Camp Humphreys, So. Korea. It is about 50 miles south of Seoul. Seoul is an awesome place to visit. They have lots of shopping etc. And the stuff is real cheap. You can get Leather jackets, for $50, and Korea is well known for their knock off Dooney & Burke purses which you can purchase for about $20-$30, they look like the real thing. I would take a nice winter coat...esp. if you are going November through March. If you want to know more, just e-mail me.

Have a great trip!

Answer 3

The people who say it 'really isnt that cold' are from typically colder climates during the winter... as you are from Malaysia, trust me, you'd find it cold here even now!
I had a freind come from Malaysia in the middle of summer, who found it cold! I personally was roasting hot...

A typical non-korean winter for me would be no snow, and lots of rain...no real need to wear layers and layers of clothes.
In Seoul (not so much in the southern parts of south Korea) I freeze my butt off and look like a giant multi coloured marshmellow... all that coz im cold.

In saying that however, you will have a GIGANTIC multitude of clothes at your fingertips to buy when you get here... whether they are cheaper than what you may get in Malaysia is debateable, however you will be thankful that they are here when you arrive. No need to over pack your suitcase.

Enjoy your trip, aside from the weather, it's generally pretty sunny in the winter. Snowboarding is good fun too!

Answer 4

It is very, very cold. Bring plenty of warm clothes. A lot of people wear those surgical type masks outside in the winter, to prevent spreading colds, etc. If you should catch a cold or have sniffles, it would be proper etiquette to wear one when going outside. You can buy these at any local pharmacy when you arrive.

One other tip is to use the black taxis. Most taxis are light-colored. The black taxis are more exclusive and more expensive, but still less expensive than in the U.S. There are usually no lines for the black taxis, because they are more expensive so the locals just take the regular taxis - so if there's a long taxi line, use the black taxis, especially if you're at a busy tourist attraction or train station, etc. The drivers have to take you anywhere you want to go in the taxi - even as far as Pusan!

Answer 5

It really isn't that cold here, but as with anything it is all relative. I find it nice, but I am from Southern Ontario near Georgian Bay where winter can mean snow up to your eyeballs that have iced over in the windchill. I guess it all depends on where you are coming from. I have friends here who complain about how cold it is, but they are from South Africa and New Zealand. I personally find it a refreshing change, the lack of snow especially, but I could do without the icy roads and walkways. I wish they would plow, and salt or sand here sometimes, but otherwise not nearly the cold I am used to in Canada. But bring a coat definitely, and be prepared for a dry cold.

Answer 6

the korean climate is actually very similar to American weather around new york area. if you have been to new york (state) dress accordingly. someone said something about black taxis. the black taxis are deluxe taxis and are completely unnessesary unless you are going somewhaere far. regular taxis are perfectly comfortable. but if youa re going somewhere far, take the subway because the most interesting stores are located underground, by the trains. food, clothes, flowers, books-cool stuff. bus is good too. the fares are cheap. middle school students only pay approx. 20 cents for bus, 75 cents sub. Lotte World should have special winter festivals and things. look into in on thier website; not sure of the name of the site but you can search. the company that owns lotte world is called lotte.

Answer 7

It will be cold. Bring lots of money for shopping and dining.