I See That It's Icy: How To Stay Warm, In Style with Korean Winter Fashion

Anyone who has traveled to Korea during the winter months knows that its winters can be brutal. Keeping warm in Korea can be challenging, with temperatures dropping below 0, strong gusts of cold wind hitting your face, and streets blanketed with ice and snow. To keep yourself warm, gear up with the best Korean winter fashion.

Korean winters are the complete opposite of summers in the country, where you often have an iced americano and handheld fan with you at all times. In contrast, during the winter, you have your hands deep within your pockets, clutching hot packs and multiple layers of winter korean outfits under your puffer coat.

So while the cold may not bother some of us who have gotten used to these temperatures, others may wonder how they can stay warm in Korean winter style.

Here are Korean winter clothes and tips to keep warm during the winter months in South Korea while also looking great!

While puffer jackets are largely a kpop winter fashion trend, they are also 100% necessary when enduring the harsh temperatures in Korea during the winter.

A puffer jacket is a Korean winter outfit that will keep you warm and toasty from head to toe, allowing you to explore the streets of Korea both comfortably and fashionably. While they are very big and bulky, these jackets are a must-have during the winter months in Korea.

These trench-style coats give off a chic Korean fashion in winter look that you can wear practically anywhere, whether you are shopping with friends or going out to eat on a cold winter’s night.

If you aren’t into puffer coats, or if it isn’t quite cold enough to wear one, these long, trench-style coats are the way to go for your Korean fashion for winter.

Layering up is the key to surviving winter in Korea. During the winter, it’s no secret that the temperatures are incredibly low, so layers are easy to ensure you keep cozy while looking camera-ready with your Korean winter dress.

By wearing a few different layers, like a sweater or hoodie on the bottom and a puffer jacket on top, you can take them off or layer more as needed. Layers are especially helpful when you plan on being indoors and for an outdoor aesthetic Korean winter outfit. You only need to adjust your outfit accordingly if there is a dramatic temperature shift.  

One of the great things about these casual Korean winter outfits is that you can wear them with absolutely anything. If you have dinner plans, you can dress up an oversized hoodie with boots and jeans or dress it down with sweats if you are hanging out with friends in the city.

Oversized hoodies can be seen everywhere in Korea, no matter the season, proving their popularity and versatility among Korean winter fashion men and women. 

Plus, they are so comfortable and keep you warm at any temperature, so why wouldn't you want to wear them throughout wintertime?

While they are not necessarily a fashion item, hot packs are a necessity if you plan to be outside for any amount of time in the winter in South Korea.

You can find these hand-warming devices in almost any convenience store in Korea, and they are a quick and easy way to warm up on a freezing winter day.

While many people opt for puffer jackets and long coats when the weather is unforgiving, turtlenecks are another excellent option for winter in Korea.

Since they cover your neck and are typically made of sweater material, they are perfect to layer underneath your coat of choice to add another level of warmth during those chilly winter days.

They are especially useful and cute Korean winter outfits if you don’t want to wear a scarf or forget to bring one when you head out into the cold.  

Plus, turtlenecks are popular Korean style winter clothes among many of your favorite idols and kdrama actors/actresses, so you can use them as your style inspiration to up your Korean winter fashion game!  

Boots are one of the best shoes to wear during the wintertime, whether you are trying to get through snowy sidewalks or just trying to keep your toes from falling off while walking in the city.

There are many different types of boots out there, such as ankle boots or knee-length boots, so they will keep your legs and feet warm while also making a fashion statement during those colder months!

Like oversized hoodies, you can dress boots up or down depending on what you're wearing, making them essential to surviving winter in Korea.

While these aren’t necessarily fashion items that will keep you warm, they are definitely something you’ll want to keep on you during the wintertime in Korea.

No matter where you are in the world, winter seasons are incredibly drying, so it is super important to be applying and reapplying lotion and chapstick to hydrate your skin.

Keeping your skin moisturized and hydrated makes the cold much more tolerable, as it keeps your skin from peeling and drying out.

Also, we wouldn’t want all those K-beauty products and Korean skincare to go to waste, so what better time to use it than in the winter?

While Korean winters can be freezing, they are amazing to experience! From seeing the first snowfall with friends and family to visiting a popular ski resort and the winter festivals, the cold weather shouldn't hold you back from visiting Korea in the winter.

Let us know if you plan on visiting Korea in the winter in the comments below and if you have any tips for surviving winter in Korea!

Written by: Stephanie Leung 

Updated by: Bridget Abbott