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.”

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.’

Minjun thought for a long time. Finally, he said, “So winter starts twice?” when does winter start in korea

Minjun tilted his head. “Two winters?”

His grandfather explained: according to the lunar calendar, winter begins around the start of Lidong (입동)—usually November 7 or 8. That’s when farmers traditionally prepared kimchi and stored root vegetables. But by the solar calendar used in schools, winter began at the solstice. And by feeling? Winter in Korea truly starts when the first Siberian wind sweeps down from Manchuria, usually in late November, turning the golden ginkgo leaves to dust overnight. Then, on December 22, they stood on a

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.”

“But which one is right?” Minjun asked. From now, the light slowly returns

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