What I Noticed About Everyday Life in Korea
Living in Korea for several years has given me the chance to notice many small but meaningful parts of daily life. In the beginning, everything felt unfamiliar, but over time these tiny habits became the things I looked forward to observing. They’re not major traditions or historical customs—just everyday behaviors that show how people in Korea adapt to the weather, commute, fashion trends, and student life.
For foreigners living in Korea, these details can feel surprising at first, but eventually they start to make perfect sense.
Mini Fans and Warm Packs: Korea’s Seasonal Survival Tools
One of the first things I noticed is how Koreans are always prepared for the weather—almost like the whole country switches “equipment” depending on the season.
Summer
Everywhere you go in Korea—buses, cafés, subway stations—you’ll see people holding small portable fans.
Students use them walking to school, adults use them at lunch, and commuters use them while waiting for the bus. Korean summers are humid and hot, so these fans aren’t just cute accessories—they’re essential.
Winter
When winter arrives, the fans disappear. Suddenly everyone has hot packs (핫팩) tucked into their pockets or hands. Some people even place them inside their coat sleeves. For foreigners struggling with Korea’s freezing winters, this habit is a very helpful one to copy. Hot packs are cheap and easy to find at convenience stores, Daiso, and pharmacies.
This seasonal “gear swap” shows how Koreans prepare for weather in a practical, coordinated way.
Fuzzy Jackets: Unofficial Winter Uniform in Korea
From late autumn to early spring, fuzzy jackets dominate the streets of Korea. Students wear them to school, couples wear matching ones, and even older people wear their own comfortable versions.
On cold mornings, it looks like a fluffy parade of beige, cream, and soft pastel colors walking down the sidewalk. For foreigners, this is a cozy reminder that Korean winter fashion usually mixes comfort, warmth, and a bit of cuteness.
If you move to Korea, you might find yourself getting one too—they’re warm, soft, and surprisingly affordable.
Socks With Slippers: The Indoor–Outdoor Style Mix in Korea
Another daily habit in Korea that stood out to me is wearing socks with slippers. At first, this combination felt unusual, but over time I understood why people do it:
- It’s comfortable
- It’s quick
- Koreans move between indoor and outdoor spaces often
- Students and adults frequently slip shoes on and off throughout the day
Even though I could never wear socks with slippers on hot days, once you get used to it, it doesn’t look strange anymore—it simply feels Korean.
Crocs Everywhere, All Year Round
Crocs aren’t just a fashion trend in Korea—they’re a lifestyle.
I see Crocs on:
- elementary, middle, and high school students
- adults running errands
- people going to convenience stores
- commuters on lunch breaks
- winter walkers wearing Crocs with thick socks
They’re easy, comfortable, and practical for Korea’s take-off-your-shoes culture. Whether you love them or hate them, it’s almost impossible to live in Korea without noticing them everywhere.
Did You Know? A Pyeongtaek Surprise
If you’re living in Pyeongtaek, here’s a fun fact:
📍 Right near Jinwee High School, you can visit a historic Confucian school.
The Jinwi Local Confucian School (Gyeonggi-do Cultural Property Material No. 40) was founded in the early Joseon period. It includes the Daeseongjeon Shrine, where memorial rites were once held for Confucius and other great scholars. The building showcases beautiful 18th-century Korean architecture and is located at the foot of Mubongsan Mountain, offering peaceful walking paths and great views.
It’s a quiet, meaningful place to explore if you want to see how traditional Korean values and education shaped daily life—both then and now.
Conclusion: Small Habits That Show the Rhythm of Daily Life in Korea
Fans in summer, hot packs in winter, fuzzy jackets, socks with slippers, and Crocs as everyday footwear—these may seem like tiny things. But together, they paint a real picture of what daily life in Korea looks like from the inside.
If you’re a foreigner living in Korea, these details become part of the local rhythm you eventually recognize, appreciate, and sometimes even adopt yourself.
About the “Shared Voices” Initiative
South of Seoul volunteers collaborate with Korean public schools to provide students meaningful opportunities to expand their English communication experience while sharing their world views with the international community in Korea.
Through guided projects, students in Korean classrooms use digital and creative tools to express themselves in English, building confidence in their communication skills. At the same time, they learn to approach writing with empathy. They participate in guided discussions that consider different perspectives, practicing cultural awareness, and developing a deeper understanding of how their words can connect communities across borders.
It’s important to know that schools in South Korea are becoming increasingly diverse, this includes the students who participate in South of Seoul programs like “Shared Voices.”
