Wondering what to expect during December in South Korea? Let’s take a look at the rhythm of life as the winter starts to settle in. Gimjang Season Ends Different communities and families may have their gimjang (kimjang) activities in early December since the cold weather makes the perfect kimchi-making weather. South of Seoul began hosting a gimjang for international residents in 2022 to help our community also prepare for the winter months. Houses Get Winterized In December people turn on their floor heat, maybe add bubble wrap to the windows, etc. During this time all residents need to make sure their pipes won’t freeze and their bodies will stay warm at home throughout the cold winter months. New arrivals in Korea will want to make sure they stay on top of winterizing their homes along with everyone else. Hikers Remain Active Even with the cold weather setting in, many hikers continue their mountain adventures. They trade in their warm weather gear for winter-ready clothes that protect against the cold winds and allow for plenty of wicking. In fact, South of Seoul has a hiking list with recommendations for what National Parks to visit in December and other winter months. Organized Events Slow Down With the onset of cold weather, residents of South Korea start staying home more. Organizations rush to finish out their calendar year and event planning begins to die down. The Winter Lights Begin As winter sets in, winter lights go up across South Korea. Malls from Seoul to Busan will have huge light displays and cities will also turn on their holiday lights. These displays may run until March since they often represent the winter spirit rather than just Christmas. Increased Snow Fall By December, snow can start showing up regularly in the northern areas of Korea. Snow often occurs for a few hours and then goes away quickly during December if you live in the South or on the west coast. Different parts of Korea experience winter and snowfall very differently so we can’t say exactly what will happen in December. Ski Season Begins In mid-December ski and snowboard resorts across South Korea begin making snow. The early season begins in December. In My Korea shared this ski information for 2022. Additionally, many international residents find skiing and snowboarding in South Korea both affordable and accessible. In fact, many tour companies offer discounted daily and weekend trips to the international community. Beautiful Time to Visit the Coast The beaches in Korea are gorgeous in the winter. Are they cold? Yes, they are. They are also deeply beautiful and romantic. Dress warm and go beach combing. It’s wonderful. Do not miss the stunning winter coastline. It’s a whole cultural experience that you need to enjoy while you live in Korea. Winter Street Food Season December marks the exciting start of Korean street food season when it gets cold enough for more egg bread, sweet potatoes, and hotteok. We all look forward for to the premium versions of these foods that often only come around once the cold weather hits. Christmas Romance The cold weather in December makes Christmas the perfect dating holiday for non-religious couples. Unlike many western countries, Christmas in Korea doesn’t focus heavily on families. Instead, it’s a day for couples to go out to dinner and celebrate their love – much like Valentine’s Day. Each year the commercialization of Christmas increases. Malls, cafes, and restaurants now decorate for the holidays with greater enthusiasm and the decorations may stay in place until as late as March. University Vacation Time In mid-December, Universities across South Korea finish their fall semester and go on winter break. During this time, international university professors working in Korea often leave to visit home or travel abroad. Seasonal Depression During winter some people may feel seasonal depression. Such winter depression may feel stronger in Korea for many international residents due to culture shock, lack of a strong social support system, and other factors. Remember that South Korea does have English language mental health support organizations. It’s smart and healthy to seek support when you need it. Time for Building Community With many people staying home more, December makes the perfect time for having friends over for game nights, holiday meals, book clubs, cooking together, etc. Many people are looking for connection community and support. Take advantage of winter for making friends and learning new things. ESL /EFL Hiring Season in Full Swing With the school year coming to an end and winter vacation just around the corner, many schools will start hiring their ESL/EFL teachers for the coming school year. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Do you want to have a great December in South Korea? I love winter and I look forward to December every year so I would love to share how I keep the fun rolling year-round. Here is how I maximize my life during one of my favorite times of the year. The Importance of December Getting December right sets the tone for the three coldest months of the year in South Korea. Leaning into winter from the beginning may limit your suffering and allow you to avoid the cold weather mood crash. Embrace the fact that how you live in the winter might happen differently than other months and just fall in love with it. In fact, if you don’t take winter seriously in December it can negatively impact the rest of winter in small or big ways. Having a great winter requires a certain amount of momentum and planning so that you don’t feel the negative impact of the cold, shorter days, and potentially reduced social life. Here are a few ways your approach to December may positively or negatively impact your life: Let’s take a look at systems and plans for making sure we don’t fall into poor habits that undermine our mental and physical health. My Relationship with December I’m from Alaska and I love how I get to dress for Korean the winter. Since Korea isn’t that cold for me, I get to embrace the FUN winter looks rather than just wear survival gear. I love wearing sweaters, fun hats, crazy scarves, leg warmers, and whatever else I can find. Each year I purchase more fun items to layer so that I can always look like a 1970s ski catalog or a hobo. I don’t mess around with winter weather because the cold can be dangerous if not taken seriously. As a kid, I almost died many times in winter for various reasons but since I prepared well I am still alive today. In order to safely enjoy the cold months I plan, prepare, and execute with timely precision to continue to feel safe in winter. Being ready for cold weather and fun in a safe and secure way exists as a top priority for me. As an Alaskan, I know seasonal depression can impact many people in a dangerous way. I take no chances with mental health. In our home and our family lives we don’t, “Just survive the winter” because I know how much this passive approach impacts a person’s mental stability year-round. Since Alaska has about 9 months of winter, we can’t afford to be passive and just because South Korea only has 3 months doesn’t mean I let my guard down. Therefore, my cultural approach to winter involves enthusiasm and structure so that my family stays safe AND happy year-round. In this blog post, I’d like to share a little of what such a commitment to the winter looks like in the context of my weekend plans. A Framework for Maximizing Winter Fun In order to maximize my December I focus on three things: This three-part framework creates a wonderful momentum that helps me overcome the previously mentioned hurdles of Physical Comfort, Emotional Comfort, and Social Comfort. Then I take these concepts and apply them to real-world activities and traditions that support my values. You will want to modify the framework to reflect your values. For example, I value time in the mountains but you may value time in warm bright inside spaces. That said, let’s look at an example December plan. My December Plan Using the previously mentioned three-part Winter Fun Framework, my December weekend plan might look like the following. Keep in mind, the following December plan may change based on weather, community events, and financial situation. Some years I might swap the Seoul weekend out for a trip to Busan, Sockcho, Daejeon, or any other beautiful Korean city. However, the other weekends tend to always be the same and I adore the consistency it brings to my life during the holiday season. First Weekend: Prepare for Winter We like to spend one weekend in December at home preparing for winter. With cold weather just around the corner we spend one weekend focused on: When you prepare for winter like this in an organized and methodical way the entire season goes better. Instead of waiting to feel miserable in the cold, simply plan for what’s coming and have what you need ready to access. Such preparations can greatly improve your mental health during the beautifully cold months. Sometimes we manage to fit this into November’s plan but if not, do it in December. This first weekend of December also doubles as a chance to build community. Invite an acquaintance or friends over for your day of preparations. Enjoy hot chocolate, movies, and complaining together about the hardships just around the corner. Then, go over to their house and help them get ready for winter as well. You might find this becomes a favorite way to hang out every year. We also get out our Christmas tree the first weekend of December. We also tend to keep our Christmas tree up through the end of February as well to get the most joy out of it during the winter. Second Weekend: Head to the Slopes Time to hit the slopes for the first ski of the season!!!! We start off with something easy to get back in the grove and head to Welli Hilli. Not all the runs will be open but that doesn’t matter to us. What matter is getting in as many snowboard days as possible each ski season? Since it’s either the first or second weekend of ski season, snow might be limited. This means that you may find a better snow experience visiting the resorts higher in the mountains in Gangwondo. Consider Yongpyong or Phoenix as well. Keep in mind, you may need to flip the second-weekend and third-weekend plans depending on festival schedules and estimated ski opening weekend. Many of these events change based on weather conditions so plans might need to remain a little flexible. Third Weekend: Embrace the Christmas Spirit Just before Christmas, it’s time for a very loaded weekend in Seoul. You might even want to stay Friday night and Saturday night because you will have such a packed schedule. We try to pack in a lot of fun in just two days such as the Seoul Lantern Festival, Seoul Christmas Festival, and Christmas shopping. It’s important to note that Seoul becomes brutally cold in the winter. The concrete streets and buildings funnel the wind creating what feels like harsh wind tunnels. You need to wear heavily wind-resistant shoes, gloves, jacket, hat, etc. What might feel comfortable in the countryside on the same day might not be warm enough in Seoul. Additionally, the Christmas Festival and the Lantern Festival occur outside. This means you need comfortable shoes for getting from one place to another. Coffee shops, restaurants, and warm places in these areas may be packed. Dress far more comfortably and warmly than you have ever done before. Fourth Weekend: Christmas with Friends and Family Usually, this weekend we stay closer to home since it’s around Christmas time. We will visit some of our communities’ lighted areas and enjoy a sense of community. We might throw a little Christmas eve dinner party or meet friends at a local restaurant. Making time in each month to connect with our community sits at the foundation of our life in South Korea. If you don’t schedule time for friends and family while living abroad you may find that loneliness quickly catches up with you. However, if you contact all the people you’ve had a nice conversation with and get together for a holiday dinner, you may find your life filling up with the community you yearn to have. Fifth Weekend: Welcome the New Year The western New Year’s weekend often involves going to a community New Year’s Festival and celebrating Korean style. A Korean-style New Year’s celebration involves either staying up all night or getting up early to watch the sunrise together. It’s less about the midnight countdown and more about seeing the first sunlight of the year as a group. Sometimes we go to Pyeontaek Lake for the local event and sometimes we head to the east coast to watch the sunrise there. Both have one big thing in common, it’s a cold morning and you need to wear a lot of gear. More December Resources Of course, this December plan reflects my values and favorite things. You might prefer to stay inside, want to see more festivals, or want to take a hike at a National Park. South of Seoul has many resources to help you find what’s right for you including a set of blog posts related to life in December. Empowered to be Happy Each year I feel incredible social pressure to hate winter. People sometimes become socially aggressive about the fact cold weather makes me feel happy. It’s as if no one should feel joy in winter. However, I won’t let their cultural or personal perspective on the season take my joy. Additionally, I want others to feel supported in embracing the beauty of winter. With a little planning, winter exists as something we can deeply enjoy each year. We all make choices in our day and those choices can have the power to change our own perceptions and experiences. It’s worth attempting to challenge or change our own negative narratives surrounding winter in order to live happier healthier lives and set an example to others that winter happy exists. We can dig into our own resourcefulness and find solutions to our discomfort, inconvenience, or frustration that make us think, “Wow, I resiliant and winter can be fun!” Hopefully this blogs empowers you to find your joyful in December. Embrace all your choices and discover the December possibilities. The next thing you know, winter will be over too soon and spring flowers will be tickling your imagination. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Do you love a fun festival on a beautiful fall day? Don’t miss the winter festivals across South Korea. If you already know about festival culture in South Korea, click here to jump to the festival list. Winter in South Korea Many consider Winter in South Korea as December, January, and February. Therefore, we have selected festivals occurring from December to February for our Winter Festivals list. However, such festivals may begin as early as November or finish as late as April. Korean festivals may occur over many months. During these months the weather quickly changes, the leaves turn, and the cold weather begins to move in. If you love a festival, you may want to visit more than once and take friends. South of Seoul volunteers choose to combine winter festivals in one post since many cover more than one month or change months depending on the year. Therefore, it made more sense to organize festivals by season rather than month by month. Large Winter Festivals in South Korea During the winter months, Korea loves to host outdoor snow or holiday-focused festivals. The weather tends to be cold and people are excited about being outside. You will want to dress warmly with great attention to windchill. Some festivals may be promoted nationally and internationally while others may only be promoted in the neighborhood or city hosting the event. Finding National Promoted Festival Information Large, nationally promoted festivals may have English information and promotion. The best location for large, nationally focused festival information is the Visit Korea website. Visit Korea is a non-profit government-affiliated organization that provides tourist information in a variety of languages. Basically, Visit Korea exists as a primary source of information. Non-Korean-speaking bloggers use this website to create many of their seasonal blogs. This means you don’t actually need to hunt through blogs to find current festivals, just go straight to the Current Festivals section of the Visit Korea website. National Festivals May Change Months, Dates, or Seasons Over time, the large festival details may change. You can’t be sure that a festival held in August one year might not be in September the next year. Date changes occur for a variety of reasons based on city budgets, national holidays, the fact that Korea runs off of two types of calendars, etc. It’s not a problem that dates change, it just means we always need to double-check each year. You should always check the Visit Korea website for current information. Festival Announcements Korean festival marketing campaigns may only start 1-2 weeks before an event. This means that you need to be ready to take action when you start seeing the advertising. Don’t expect extensive advertising for a festival 1-2 months away. It’s easy to miss a festival if you don’t know what time of year it may happen. Festivals May Be Ticketed, Free, or Mixed Methods Each festival planning committee makes its own decisions regarding pricing. Korea often has three types of festivals: free, ticketed, and mixed methods. The different types break down like this: Festival Parking Large, nationally focused festivals tend to offer extensive amounts of parking that may be paid or unpaid. Remember, extensive parking and large festivals also may mean that arriving at and leaving the festival by car may require extra time. Many festival attendees may choose to take public transportation to the festival. Taking public transportation may help a person avoid the stress of parking and cueing to park. Festival Events and Activities South Korea has its own festival culture. They do not base their festival experience off of festivals from other countries. This means that the foods, games, and experiences you may be accustomed to in your home country may not exist at Korea Festivals. Additionally, Korean festival culture revolves around the Korean experience. This means international culture may mix with Korean festival culture in unique ways. Each year festivals may evolve a little and change as Korea changes and culture moves in different directions. Korean society, like any society around the world, changes with time. Nationally Promoted Winter Festivals in South Korea The following large, nationally promoted festivals generally happen each year in South Korea. This list may change from year to year. Organizers may cancel festivals and organizers may add new festivals to the list. Always check with the Visit Korea Current Festivals list to determine when festivals may occur. Locally Promoted Winter Festivals in South Korea In addition to the nationally promoted festivals, different communities across South Korea also host localized events. These smaller festivals offer a closer connection to the local community. Smaller, locally promoted festivals can be a great way to connect with your community. For example, such festivals may provide a chance to connect with local businesses, community organizations, and culture. Finding Local Festival Information Visit Korea does not include information on localized festivals. Instead, you will need to look around the smaller cities and rely on local websites and information portals. Local city websites often offer information on local festivals. Local festival locations may only be available in Hangul. Such festivals will often be advertised on city websites, Facebook communities, and on banners around town. Everyone in the community is welcome at such festivals. Don’t get too worried about things not being in your own language. Google Translate Chrome Extention You can use the Google Translate Chrome extension to translate online information about local festivals. Papago Translation for Images If the local festival information is on an image, poster, flyer, or sign – use Papago to translate the image. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Today let’s learn about cooking yukgaejang 육개장 at home! Yukgaejang is a filling spicy beef soup that includes scallions and vegetables. This delicious soup is one you will want to make in large batches to have during the cold, winter day. About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series If you are familiar with this series, skip ahead to the goodness of Yukgaejang. Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Yukgaejang Yukgaejang 육개장 is a delicious beef soup with a hit of spice that will comfort you in the cold winters and energize you in the summer. This spicy beef soup includes vegetables such as gosari 고사리 (also known as bracken fern or fernbrake), scallions 대파, sliced onion, dangmyeon noodles (noodles made from sweet potato), taro stems 토란대, mushrooms, and mung bean sprouts. You can choose to use all of those vegetables or if you had to choose only a few, we recommend not skipping the scallions and the gosari. Also, chili oil and sesame oil deepen the flavors in this soup. Some recipes will include recipes and instructions on how to make your own chili oil. However, if you choose not to make your own, you can find chili oil in many markets. The best chili and sesame oils for sale in South Korea are small press batches that tend to be found at traditional Korean markets. Many families make this soup in large batches to have for several days. Also, you may find that the flavor deepens after a day or two. This dish does take some time to make as you are building flavors, but the end result is definitely worth it. Buying Meat Cuts In Korea The beef in yukgaejang is usually a cut of brisket. However, if brisket is difficult to find or overly expensive, you can also use flank steak. Brisket is a great cut of meat for this dish as the tougher meat will soften as it cooks down in the broth and will be a perfect fall apart texture. When you do shopping for your meat cuts, remember that South Korea has its own type of meat cuts and different names for the meat cuts. You may not be able to recognize brisket visually in its packaging. Such differences mean that you may need an image to show the butcher so you can point to where on the animal the meat comes from. If you need help we recommend the following resources: Yukgaejang v Dakgaejang Please note, if you decide to use chicken instead of beef, the dish is referred to as dakgaejang 닭개장. Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Yukgaejang The dried gosari and taro stems can be difficult to locate and cannot be replaced with other ingredients. These both gave a unique chewy texture to the dish. Also, if you get the dried versions, you will need to rehydrate them prior to cooking. The gosari provides a deep, earthy flavor that helps to make the dish even more fabulous. Yukgaejang is not a quick dish to make in general, as you are building flavors. However, if you want to make it quickly, we included a quick version in the YouTube videos below from Chef Baek Jong-won (Chef Paik). First Experience With Yukgaejang I admit that I lived in Korea for many years before I ever tried Yukgaejang. However, this dish is one that Chuck has ordered many times over the years. The reason I decided to make this soup was that he loves this dish so much. During the first few years that we lived here, I was afraid to try it because it is “spicy” beef soup and I didn’t want to eat something too spicy. However, when I finally tried it, I was surprised at what a delicious and flavorful soup this is. Also, I realized that over the years I have been in Korea, my spice level has increased quite a bit. That being said, if you are cooking your yukgaejang, just remember that you control the heat level. So, add your gochugaru to your own level of comfort. Three Recommended Cooking Yukgaejang Videos to Watch Check out these three videos for recipes on how to cook yukgaejang at home. You may decide to take several recipes and mash them up into your own version like we did. Or try one of the great recipes out there to make this tasty soup. Korean American Cooking Yukgaejang Korean Cooking Yukgaejang American in Korea Cooking Yukgaejang Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make yukgaejang for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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When the weather drops below freezing outside, you need to prepare for the cold in and winterize your Korean home. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. Tenants Responsible for Cold Winter Damage Every year South of Seoul volunteers hear many sad stories of warm weather ex-pats complaining about damage to their homes because they did not prepare for winter. You don’t want to be this person. Instead, read this article carefully and take the time to prepare and winterize your Korean home in advance. It’s up to you as a renter to understand how to maintain your home during the cold winters in South Korea. This means that you need to take the time to prepare your home for winter cold snaps which can freeze pipes and cause extensive damage to your home and others above or below you. Understanding Korea Home Heating Korea uses an in-floor heating system they refer to as ondol. The system used to involve airflow and fires under the house but now looks like many in-floor systems used around the world. Ondol heat is fantastic, however, it also requires you to understand how it works and how to care for your home using the ondol system. Ondol systems often run off of a boiler that exists in either the kitchen, a bathroom, or a utility room (enclosed balcony). The ondol system may run off of either electricity or gas. You control the ondol from the main thermostat which is often located in the living room of the home. Some ondol may control home temperature room by room, some systems may allow you to cut off heat to particular rooms, and some ondol just controls the overall heat of the house without specificity to a particular room. Different ondol systems use different thermostats. This means that not every home has exactly the same setting options. This means that you may not find your exact model on an English blog. You may need your realtor, landlord or friend to come to your home to explain how it works. In addition to the main thermostat, most ondol systems have an area where you can control the rate of flow within the ondol system. Sometimes these controls may be located in the kitchen, utility room, or entry room. It all depends on how your home was built. Adjusting the flow of your ondol system can impact the heat regulation in your home and your utility bill. Jump to 2:21 in this YouTube video to see how the flow can be adjusted in some homes. Finally, ondol heat does not run throughout the house. Koreans do not often have ondol in their bathrooms, utility rooms, and sometimes kitchens (although this one is rare). Areas of Your Home to Winter Proof Most cold winter damage occurs in the utility room, kitchen, or bathrooms. Waterpipes and drains in these areas freeze, burst, and then flood either your apartment or your downstairs neighbors. If you have not lived in a cold weather climate, it’s important to know that burst pipes tend to be very expensive and troublesome to fix. Types of Homes to Winter Proof Anyone living in a villa or single-family home in South Korea needs to take winterization particularly seriously. Especially when living in an older building or home. In single-family homes and villas, renters have fewer units or no other units working to heat their homes. However, everyone needs to winterize even if they live in an apartment tower. The last thing you want to be the person that flooded the downstairs apartment(s). Recommendations for Winterization Here are a few ways to protect your ondol and plumbing system during the winter: Boiler ‘Leave” Setting Boilers in South Korea usually have a ‘leave’ mode. This will keep your house between 19-20°C. Remember that your floor heating can freeze and you don’t want this to happen, even if you don’t want to heat the house, keep the floors on ‘Leave’ in winter to prevent freezing. Keep in mind, you even need to set the floors to ‘Leave’ when you plan to be out of the country for a while. You don’t want to return from your two weeks in Vietnam to frozen pipes or a flooded apartment. Dripping Water Keep lukewarm water dripping from your faucet at night and when you are not home. Dripping water keeps water in the pipes flowing which makes it less likely to freeze. You don’t need to crank the water, just a small drip should keep your pipe safe. Since you need to drip all exposed faucets, you may need to also drip the wall faucets in the utility rooms (encoded porches) as well. Double-check with your landlord to see if you need to do this in your home. Turn your faucet to the cold tap side when dripping the faucet. To avoid triggering your water heater to run and increasing your utility bills, be sure to turn your faucet to cold when you set the drip. The water does not need to be warm, it only needs to be circulating. It’s important to note that you need toBOTH set your ondol to ‘Leave’ AND drip your faucets. These two actions protect different aspects of your home plumbing and heating systems. Close Windows Check your home for shutter-style windows and other open windows, and close them. Such windows may exist in either the boiler room or AC outdoor unit room. If you do not close this type of window, the boiler room or utility room pipes may freeze during a winter cold snap. Additionally, during winter boiler service people keep busy. A boiler service appointment is booked about 2-3 weeks out and may cost you over $700. IMPORTANT: Some homes may not have this type of window feature. Take note that most Korean windows have TWO windows to close. In a cold snap, you need to close BOTH of the windows to make sure the rooms stay as warm as possible. Remember, the bathrooms and utility rooms aren’t often heated so you need to take extra steps to keep the spaces warm enough. Utility Room Drains Some international residents may also forget not to pour water down their utility room drains in winter and then close the doors. The utility rooms rarely include heat and the pipes burst very easily. We have known more than one international resident who did not realize this and used their utility room winter and drains during a cold snap. Such a decision often ends poorly. Special Credit to Kim’s HSO Realty Thank you to Osan AB Housing /Kim’s HSO Realty who posted their three winterization tips. Our volunteers used their helpful information as a starting point and then added additional information based on lived experience and research. If you are moving to Osan Air Force Base in Pyeongtaek, make sure to visit their office to find your Pyeongtaek home. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Complaining about the cold when you aren’t wearing the proper hat and gloves is as silly as complaining about the heat because you wore a snowsuit to the beach in Hawaii. Korean winters are easily managed with preparation and consideration for what is to come. You will find plenty of affordable cold weather gear being sold in street stalls, dollar stores, etc. So start preparing. Either that or you can continue to dress like it’s fall for the rest of the year and complain about it endlessly as if there is nothing you can do about it. Personally, I prefer to be warm rather than whinging. Here are the tricks we use to stay warm in the winter while also keeping utilities low. Bubble Wrap your windows. Putting bubble wrap over your windows is incredibly inexpensive (20,000 won for our 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment) and an easy thing to do to save a few bucks.  They sell bubble wrap at Emart and Homeplus as soon as the weather gets cold since this is a common thing to do. The shops near traditional markets also sell large rolls of the bubble wrap. We go through and cover every window in the house and it keeps us at least 5 degrees warmer and reduces our spending.  Since I don’t like to spend money heating my house, this a huge difference for us. It can save you between 50,000-100,000 a month.  You do need to be careful of a few things: 1) be sure not to damage your walls taping to paint or wallpaper, 2) with the increased humidity you may need to use a de-humidifier to prevent mold (your aircon may have a built in dehumidifier), and 3) you may need to leave a least one window uncovered for venilation. Here is a quick explanation and tutorial. We do this every year and keep us warm and our bills much lower. Door Guard A nice way to keep a bit of extra heat in the house is to use a front door guard during the winter. We actually have used tub socks and rice, but here is an option for using an old pair of blue jeans for a DIY door guard.  You can also use tape instead of sewing if you don’t feel fancy.  You can also buy a body pillow for about 20,000 and use that just as easily.   Bed & Sofa heated mats We use an electric heated bed mat. There are also electric couch, chair and floor mats. They come in all price ranges and really make winter more enjoyable.  Affordable ones are only 20,000 – 30,000 won at the local markets. We buy a few and spread them throughout the house so that whenever we are sitting down or laying down it’s lovely and warm. You can also find fancy ones for between 75,000 – 125,000 depending on size.  These are more plush and often have two controls on the queen size so that each person can feel their own level of warmth. Honestly though, we just buy two twins at 20,000 each and put them next too each other. We are cheap. They additional bonus is that they don’t run your electric bill up. It’s a nice way to stay warm and save on the electric bill. The one warning is that they will dehydrate you so be sure to drink a lot of water before bed and when you wake up. Also, be sure to turn them off when you aren’t home. Using your heated floor the local way In order to stay warm and not spend all your money, it’s important to understand your floor heating system. Here is a relatively not boring summary on this from EYK Fuzzy Slippers (and everything else) This sounds silly, but winter is a lot more enjoyable if you have a good pair of fuzzy slippers, fuzzy bathrobe, fuzzy pants, fuzzy socks, and… well… fuzzy everything. Keep your feet warm and the rest of you follows. We dress this way at home all winter and kind of love it.  Here is EYK once again, showing you a few more tricks. Five Blogs to Read About Thriving through South Korea Winters!!! You need to be as prepared as possible for winter in Korea. Make sure to read a variety of blogs on the topic because all of the information is going to come in handy. Here are five blogs that give great advice that we take all the time:

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Would you like to participate in a traditional family-style Kimjang? (FYI, if you love cooking and Korean food the answer is, “YES!”) Then, sign up immediately for this 2-day traditional cooking event at the Songtan Traditional Market. Come learn how families work together to prepare their kimchi for the year. This is an all-inclusive event that includes snacks, meals, and numerous side quests like making kimchi for needy families in Pyeongtaek! (PS Vegan option available) Event Details Let’s start off with the details. This all-inclusive traditional kimjang event with Sue at the Songtan Traditional Market includes: Costs and Dates Schedule It’s important to remember that a traditional kimjang is also a bit of a vibe. That means we all do a lot of “hurry up and wait” so no firm schedule is followed and a lot more happens than appears on the plan. We created the following schedule as a thought exercise of how we think kimjang might go. However, Sue will have the ultimate say in the heat of the moment. Quite frankly, start times may change a little, so be prepared for that. Songtan Traditional Market Support In 2023, the Songtan Traditional Market will provide additional funding to make this an all-inclusive event AND provide supplies so we can make kimchi for people in need! With the Songtan Market’s support, the International Resident Kimjang becomes more than a learning opportunity, it’s also a chance to give back. We could not be more excited about and thankful for their support. Kimjang is actually a very complicated and expensive event to coordinate. Now that we understand the overview, let’s dig into more of the event details like what kimjang even means. Vegan Kimchi Sauce Making Option Available If you are vegan, you can make a vegan version of the kimchi! We will teach you different kimchi-making options for vegans. With the sauce for the primary kimchi, you will also learn how to make a variety of other kimchi types with the same sauce. We will also make sure that there are some vegan options available to you for meals and snacks. Please understand, there will be non-vegan options present so you will be around meat at the event. What is Kimjang In 2013, Korean kimjang became recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage activity. For Kimjang each year, Korean families come together to help the matriarchs assemble the family’s kimchi for the year. The event takes three days and requires many people to come together in order to clean, soak, and prepare the kimchi for all of the family members. Kimjang Experience v. Traditional Kimjang There are many kimchi-related experiences for new residents and tourists, but nothing compares to a full kimjang. When you go through the entire process of kimjang you step into the heart of the culture. For me, personally, participating in the totality of this event made me feel more connected to my life and friends in Korea. A Unique Opportunity to Fully Participate in Kimjang Since Kimjang is a family-focused work event, few international residents in Korea have the opportunity to experience this event in its entirety. Many Korean moms will say, “It’s too much work.” when foreigners ask to join. They might be correct… but I have been determined to start a kimjang for international residents. I want everyone to have this experience if they would like the challenge. Kimjang with Ms. Sue Therefore, when Ms. Sue said she would teach the South of Seoul community how to make kimchi, I insisted that we host a true kimjang. An event that doesn’t just showcase how to make the national dish, but also celebrates the strength and hard work of Korean women and their passion for their families. Additionally, while we learn to make kimchi and take some home to our families, we will also be making kimchi for people in need in Pyeongtaek. The Songtan Market is providing additional supplies and working with local organizations so that the international resident kimjang can bless the wider community. About the Event Host and Kimchi Expert Ms. Sue’s hometown is in Jeju-do, however, she now lives in Pyeongtaek with her Husband and 2 adult children. Although Sue speaks and understands limited English, she loves working with the international community. Also, it’s her dream to help support the international residents in Pyeongtaek by offering deeper insight into Korean life. South of Seoul volunteers will work with Ms. Sue to create additional materials to make the kimjang run relatively smoothly. Additionally, such materials can be taken home for reference in later years. About the Food & Hospitality Come ready to eat a lot. Sue goes all out for this event. Each day you will have food when you arrive, snacks along the way, and one huge meal on the final day. About This Year’s Homework This year we did an early, mini kimjang to create homework for attendees. There will be a series of videos to watch in order to prepare for the event. We learned from last year’s kimjang event and discovered what foreigners need to know before the event in order to make the best kimchi. This homework will be released as a second blog in a few weeks. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Want to learn more about making jang for kimjang? The following post is one of a series that seeks to capture aspects of this verbal tradition in English. The following post focuses on the sauce or ‘jang’. The information is for international families who wish to start their own community kimjang or English-speaking Koreans living abroad who may not have access to traditional information. Let’s dive deep into the information together. About Jang for Kimjang Around the world and across South Korea, you will find hundreds of different kimchi recipes with different jang (장) or dadaeki (다대기). Different factors impact how each family or company makes their jang for kimchi including 1) cost of ingredients, 2) family traditions, 3) local cultural traditions, 4) personal preferences, 5) purpose of kimchi, and more. Kimchi also changes with time as society changes and tastes change. As soon as you think you’ve seen all the jang options, you find a new one and learn all over again. At South of Seoul, we empower our community with the information they need to evolve and change with the times and their personal needs. The English information available online regarding the jang for kimchi often doesn’t include a wider look at the possible jang variations. Therefore, this post takes a deeper dive into information so that we might empower community members to make their own jang in Korea and worldwide. Of course, the first thing we need to do is talk about what jang for kimchi is since many folks might not know yet. What is “Jang” In Korean, jang (장) means sauce. That means that when you hear people talk about “jang” they could be talking about many kinds of sauce. For example, you may have heard of samjang, gochujang, etc. In this article, jang will specifically refer to the daedaeki (sauce made from chili powder) for kimchi. The dadaeki jang acts as the foundation of any “kimjang” event where we make the kimchi for winter. At kimjang, we don’t just make cabbage kimchi. We may also make fruit kimchi, radish kimchi, etc. We want the jang we use at our personal kimjangs to reflect our home and people. It doesn’t have to match anyone else’s tastebuds but our own. However, the jang does need to follow food science so that fermentation occurs in a safe and delicious way. Let’s dig into the elements of the jang used for kimjang. Dadaeki Without a Recipe The first thing you need to know is that most homes do not use a recipe for their dadaeki jang. We live off of vibes when deciding how much of each item we add. Instead of measuring everything out, we constantly taste the sauce until it meets our personal preferences. Everyone pitches in with their thoughts until the jang feels right. Of course, there are some rough measurements. For example, people may use a 2/1 ration of garlic to ginger. However, some people might not even use ginger, so it’s mostly vibes. Reasons exist for why the dadaeki jang at kimjang doesn’t follow a recipe. First of all, every year the ingredients impact the taste differently. Maybe you get salt from a different vendor, or the chili paste is spicier this year. It’s important to adjust for these little changes in the moment. Additionally, the amount of jang you make relates to the size of the cabbages or the number of cabbages. It’s nearly impossible to come up with an exact formula that would make a recipe reliable or useful. Therefore, we recommend taking the time to build a complex understanding of kimchi dadaeki jang. If you can, attend as many different kimjang events as possible while you live in South Korea or watch all the YouTube videos you can find. Also, start making small batches of jang at home and doing mini kimjangs every few months until you develop a sauce profile you really like. It might take a few times before you find the right balance. In short, practice makes perfect. The Science of Dadaeki Jang As we mentioned earlier, making jang is a science. The science behind the jang for kimchi involves aspects of biochemistry, microbiology, and food science. Let’s look at some of the core scientific elements that make the magic happen: Fermentation Process Ingredients Interplay Pro-Tip: You don’t want to use iodized table salt here. You need straight sea salt if at all possible. Sugar and Sweeteners Pro-Tip: If you cut out all the fruit and sugar it impacts the science. Even if you don’t like sugar, it’s needed here for flavor and food safety. 4. pH and Acidity 5. Texture Changes Pro-Tip: Pay close attention to this because you don’t want to use too much salt or too much jang when making your kimchi or it breaks down too much and gets weird. Potential Ingredients in Dadaeki Now that we sort of understand the science, let’s talk about jang ingredients. Remember, jang varies everywhere you go. Women in Korea will argue about the perfect jang if given the chance. Personally, we have participated in different kimjang and witnessed the differences in jang firsthand. We have seen a range of ingredients go into the jang and how the same family might make it a little different each year depending on what ingredients were on sale or what they plan to use the kimchi for during the year. Each time we see it made, we learn a little more about what’s possible. We also learn how the ingredients change the flavor of the kimchi over time. To compile the list of potential jang ingredients in this post we searched many different recipes and videos online. Then, we ran the list past women in our community for their approval. So here we go, presenting the common (and some uncommon) foundational ingredients used in jang. Foundational Ingredients The following foundational ingredients can be found in most jang: Seafood or Meat We said this will be a deep dive into ingredients for kimchi jang and we deliver on that promise. In our kimjang experiences, we have run into some intense jang variations. This lead us to explore what all the seafood and meat options have been used in jang for kimchi. We compiled the following list, please feel free to tell us what we missed. Seafood Ingredients In the preparation of jang for kimchi, various seafood and occasionally meat ingredients can be included to enhance the flavor and aid in the fermentation process. Such ingredients contribute to the umami taste and complexity of the kimchi. Here are some common seafood and meat additions: Meat Ingredients While far from the norm, some variations of kimchi might include meat for added flavor. The only reason I learned about this was through conversations with people in my area. They told me that some people in Pyeongtaek (평택) traditionally use raw beef in their kimchi. This completely caught me off guard and I can’t recommend it because I haven’t seen how it works. However, I feel it’s important to document the use of meats in jang for kimchi in case you come across it unexpectedly. The following meats have been used in jang for kimchi but not often: Dietary Substitutions and Considerations: Of course, some folks don’t or can’t eat seafood or meat. If this is your situation, you have some other options: Optional Ingredients: We have often seen the following items used in different sauces as well. These tend to be included if the prices aren’t too high: The optional ingredients get blended into a paste and mixed with the main vegetable ingredients. Once again, the precise recipe and proportions can vary greatly depending on regional preferences, family recipes, and personal taste. Such diversity in recipes is part of what makes Kimjang and kimchi in general such a rich and varied tradition. Processing the Vegetables and Greens We use a food processor for everything. Depending on what you plan to use your kimchi for later, you may prepare your ingredients differently. For example, at our house we prefer to put everything into the food processor. Using the food processor means that we can more easily use the aged kimchi for making jjigaes. Since we primarily do our own kimjang for this purpose, we choose not to have chunks of radish we need to remove later. Therefore, the first step to getting the sauce started is getting your veggies chopped or processed. Once again, how you chop or process your veggies is something you decide. In the photo below you see the processed radish, ginger, and garlic that we will mix in our jang. Additionally, we used radish greens and green onion. Some people chop their radish and pears into thin strips which make the jang more attractive. Additionally, it can be delicious if you are primarily using the kimchi as a side dish. Kimchi Pul (풀) Some jangs also include pul (풀) which means glue, paste, or grass in Korean. The kimchi pul is a flour and water mixture that helps to mellow the kimchi. SEOYOUNG JUNG from but bburi kichen says that the pul “counteract grassy flavors in the greens, and also provide food for the lactobacillus (speeding up fermentation in seasonal, quickly-consumed kimchi).” we have heard that pul is commonly added to jang made in the Southern parts of Korea. Since we learned about our jang from our older-sister who grew up in Jeju, it’s something we use in our kimchi dadaeki. How to Make Kimchi Pul (풀) It’s hard to find clear documentation of kimchi pul on Google. So let’s quickly talk about how you make pul. Put on a pot of water to boil. Then, mix a few scoops of flour into a separate bowl of cold water. Mix the flour and water thoroughly to avoid lumps. Then dump the flour mixture into the boiling pot of water. Stir regularly until the pot sort of boils up to the top and the liquid thickens a little – kind of like making watery gravy. Types of Flours in Kimchi Pul (풀) Reasons to Include or Exclude Flour Deciding to Use Pul Whether or not to include ‘pul’ in the dadaeki for Kimjang is a matter of personal preference and dietary needs. Each type of flour ‘pul’ brings a unique quality to the paste, influencing the texture, fermentation process, and flavor of the kimchi. The versatility of kimchi preparation allows for a wide range of experimentation, enabling individuals to tailor the recipe to their specific tastes and requirements. Jang Yooksu (육수) To add a strong umami flavor, add a yooksu to the jang. To make the yooksu you boil a pot of water with dried shrimp and dried fish (typically anchovies) until you like the flavor and the vibes. We can’t tell you any exact measurements of this. Just do your best. You want a light soup flavor to the broth which might be hard to envision if you don’t make a lot of soup. This is why attending kimjang really helps get you started on the right path. Also, not everyone uses yooksu in their jang for kimchi. However, it does add that extra something to the kimchi for making jjigae later. We would recommend giving it a try at least once. The following video gives you an idea of what you want to the broth to look like. Also, when you add the yooksu to the jang you need to pour it through a strainer so to take out the dried fish and shrimp. Those don’t go into the jang. Putting the Jang Together Now that we understand the foundational aspects of jang, let’s put it all together. You will make a big spicy sauce you can use make many kinds of kimchi. We’ve used TikTok to show the different parts. Tell Us What We Missed Keep in mind that this blog does not constitute the entirety of knowledge regarding dadaeki for kimjang. This is not our attempt to be...

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Additional Article(s) You May Find Useful: 3 New Year(s) Options in Pyeongtaek Every December in the South of Seoul group (Pyeongtaek Food & Fun) new arrivals ask about Christmas experiences they can have in the area. Every year we think, “We should write a blog about that”. Well, this year we’re finally writing one! So, grab a hot cup of cocoa, put on your favorite Christmas carols, curl up on your couch with a cozy blanket and prepare to be disappointed. Yes, you read that right. Maybe add some booze to that cocoa before we go further. Have you added the Kaluha now? Ok then, let’s start by ripping the band-aide off fast. Christmas is different in Korea. It’s true that South Korea is vastly Christian, but it also has its own unique culture that does things its own unique way. That means cultural traditions, such as Christmas,  have evolved differently. In Korea Christmas isn’t about giving gifts or decorating the house. Instead, it is a couple’s holiday similar to Valentine’s day when lovebirds go out on dates. Lately, some parents have started giving their kids a gift or two, or companies will do a Secret Santa, and friends will buy each other gifts.  Sadly, however, it’s NOTHING like the U.S. or Europe. Question: Where can I get Christmas decorations? First up, decorating isn’t going to be what you expect. Don’t get your hopes up or they will be dashed. Until a few years ago we could hardly find anything to decorate the house. We actually had to bring Christmas lights from home. Truth is, we often didn’t even decorate at all. Instead we would all go to the one expat’s house who managed to get a tree from a soldier who was leaving. Thankfully, a few years ago – as the middle class expanded and the free-trade agreement kicked in at high-speed – stores realized they could make more money by marketing Western holidays. Suddenly Home Plus and Daiso had entire sections with fake trees, decorations, and lights. Each year the selection improves and we have more of the Christmas options. Even as the commercialization of Christmas creeps into Korea, we have chosen to embrace minimal Christmas as a wonderful opportunity to take a rest from the wild holidays and focus on family. It is hard to let go of tradition, but it also challenges us to get in touch with the true meaning of the season. That said, not everyone is us, and if you desperately need decorations and don’t want to order them online, you can try the following places: Daiso Home Plus Emart Lotte Mart Costco Question: Where can we view Christmas lights? We are very happy to announce the Pyeongtaek City Hall has fallen in love with lights for the holidays and has been doing more and bigger displays each year. Pyeongtaek decorates 7 different spots and they run from mid-December through the end of February. Notice the dates! That’s right, the dates for lights are totally different than we are used to in our home countries. Consider them winter lights and NOT Christmas lights.  Thinking this way will make it less weird and more delightful. Plus, you won’t be shocked by the angel wings, the Taj Mahal, the palm trees, etc. You can also feel less stressed about rushing to visit them before Christmas. You have months to enjoy them. Take your time. With that said, here are the spots Pyeongtaek decorates through the winter months: Songtan City Hall Pyeongtaek City Hall AK Plaza  Pyeongtaek Lake The street in front of Osan AFB walking gate The street in front of Camp Humphreys walking gate Hyeonhwa Park in Anjung Question: What’s up with the holiday music? An important thing to note is that in Asia Christmas music, like the lights, isn’t about Christmas – it’s about winter. That means Christmas carols will play in stores year round but mostly from November through February. It’s not going to go away after Christmas.  Also, if you go to a Christmas concert or event, don’t expect it to be especially Christmas-like. There will be a lot going on that you might not expect. Just sit back and enjoy the experience. This is just how we roll. Question: What to do about Christmas Dinner This is where things get interesting. Basically everywhere is going to be open on Christmas and the city is going to be super busy. It’s one of the biggest date nights of the year. You aren’t going to be stuck at home. Don’t expect to find Western Christmas foods in the regular Korean grocery stores. However, not all hope is lost. Turkeys and pumpkin pie are now being imported at Costco. You can sometimes find cranberries in the frozen section at Emart or Home Plus. Just remember, things from home purchased here will often be “home-like” but not the same.  This is because our Christmas stuff comes to Korea as an amalgamation of Christmas from all over the world: Germany, Italy, Canada, US, England, France, etc. Even at the fancy restaurants Christmas dinner will be amazing, but not like home. Prepare emotionally and then you can fall in love with the effort Korea has made to bring thing in from other countries instead of being angry at it for not being the same as home. Embrace the Christmas spirit and have grace for the differences. If you are looking for help with Christmas dinner at home, JP’s American BBQ will be smoking turkeys. Order early to get on their list. There is only so much room in the smoker so they may sellout. Not having things be the same as home during the holidays is very hard at first, especially if you aren’t prepared for it. Couple this with the fact the holidays are already the hardest time and it’s going to be difficult to fight off the culture shock. Be sure to set aside time to video message with home. It ALWAYS helps. Question: What if I have my heart set on finding something specific? You can always contact a concierge service like Wonderful. They have bi-lingual personal assistants who can help you find unusual things you have been looking for, like a real Christmas tree! So, now that we are coming to the end you might be thinking, “It doesn’t sound that bad, why were you so drama and telling us we would be disappointed?” Well, you are right, it’s not that bad. Christmas in Korea is truly delightful when you can escape your own heartache for what is waiting for you when you get back home. Breath deep, embrace the change, and explore the new type of Christmas. A few ideas for celebrating the holidays in Pyeongtaek. Now that we have broken the hard news about things not quite being like home, let’s talk about some of the truly fabulous things we adore about Christmas/Winter season in Pyeongtaek. These are the things we look forward to doing each year: Mulled Wine/ Gluehwein is in season. Hot spice wine will be served at restaurants and cafes across the country. It’s delicious and you should drink lots of it. Del Vino and Braai Republic are two great places to grab a hot mug of it in Pyeongtaek. Visit all seven areas Pyeongtaek has lit with lights. We do this every year. It’s fun to see how they change and evolve each year. Seasonal drinks at Starbucks. Don’t judge. It makes it feel just like home. Dinner out on Christmas day. We usually choose a place near the lights. The streets will be alive with people and it feels amazing. Participate in charity giving. There are many charities that host events. Look for an opportunity to give back to the community.  Gathering together for Church potlucks. Many churches have warm and inviting holiday meals that are a joy to attend. Find a church gathering and celebrate together. Hosting a Christmas dinner for friends. Gather together with other expats and celebrate at home. Have everyone bring a special food or tradition to share together. This is what we will be doing! We bake cookies together during the day and then go for that dinner we mentioned earlier. That often means Ceviche 210. Well, this is all we have time for this year. We are wishing everyone a wonderful and Merry Pyeongtaek Christmas. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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What should I expect from the Pyeongtaek holiday lights display? Every year Pyeongtaek sets up a series of free holiday light displays that last from December through March. The holiday lights installations are different each year and feature an eclectic display of imagery that makes winter a little more delightful. Since Christmas is considered a romantic holiday in Korea, the lights are often themed toward romance rather than the standard Christian or Santa themed lights seen in Western countries. Every display in each part of Pyeongtaek will be different. Each year we go see all of them over their 3-4 months on display. We find it a fun way to spend an evening during the winter. How can I enjoy the holiday lights with minimal discomfort? It’s going to be cold, especially at the lights display on the lake. Dress for the cold. Wear warm gloves, hat, jacket, and maybe even long-underwear. Warm is the key to happiness in winter, so don’t play yourself. Go buy cold-weather clothes and get serious about staying warm. Drink something warm. Take tumblers of hot chocolate or plan to stop at a cafe to warm up and enjoy a drink and dessert. Pay attention to wind chill. If the wind is blowing, it’s not the right day to view the lights. Wait for a calm day. Clear days mean cold nights. If you are going out on a clear night, dress EXTRA warm. Get the pocket and hand warmers from a quickie-mart and use them. Everyone does. It’s how we manage to not wear gloves in winter. Where can I see the Pyeongtaek holiday lights? Pyeongtaek hosts all of its large events, performances, and installations at the following seven locations. We recommend saving all of these locations because you will be visiting them again and again for local events. You can take any of the Korean addresses listed below and put them into Naver Maps or Kakao Maps to find the locations. Use WAZE or Google Maps at your own risk. Songtan City Hall: 경기 평택시 경기대로 1366 Pyeongtaek City Hall: 경기 평택시 중앙로 277 AK Plaza: 경기 평택시 평택로 55 Pyeongtaek Lake: 경기 평택시 현덕면 권관리 315-2 The street in front of Osan AFB walking gate: 경기 평택시 쇼핑로 2 The street in front of Camp Humphreys walking gate: 경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정순환로 118 Hyeonhwa Park in Anjung: 경기 평택시 안중읍 현화리 Learn more about the Pyeongtaek Holiday Lights display Read the Pyeongtaek Insight 2020 blogs: HAVE A BLAST AT PYEONGTAEK LAKE LIGHT FESTIVAL! Share your videos, photos, and blogs about the lights holiday/Christmas in Pyeongtaek! Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group or the Pyeongtaek Living Facebook group and share which holiday lights display you liked the most! One of the things that makes the holidays magical is hearing everyone’s stories about how they found the holiday spirit. You can also @south_of_seoul or #pyeongtaekholidaylights on Instagram. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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