When Does Winter Start In Korea ((exclusive)) Site

Twelve-year-old Minjun lived in Seoul, where his science teacher had just taught him the astronomical seasons: winter begins on the winter solstice, around December 21 or 22. That evening, he proudly told his grandfather, Harabeoji, “Winter starts on December 22 this year.”

His grandfather, who grew up in a mountain village near Sokcho, chuckled softly. “In my heart,” he said, “winter starts the first morning you see your breath freeze in front of you. But officially? Korea has two winters.” when does winter start in korea

Then, on December 22, they stood on a bridge over the Han River in Seoul. The thermometer read minus six Celsius. “And today,” Harabeoji said, “the sun reaches its lowest point. From now, the light slowly returns. That is also winter’s beginning.” Twelve-year-old Minjun lived in Seoul, where his science

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.’ But officially

“But which one is right?” Minjun asked.

He underlined the last sentence: That was November 18 this year. And I think that’s the real answer.

In Korea, the answer to “when does winter start” depends on who you ask—and that small question once sparked a quiet, unforgettable moment between a grandfather and his grandson.