When Does Winter Start In Korea May 2026

Instead of answering, his grandfather took him on a weekend trip to the old village. On November 8— Lidong —they woke before dawn. The old man pointed to the persimmon trees, dried and hanging with orange fruit like little suns. “See? The birds are already fluffing their feathers. The air smells of frozen earth. This is when we say winter has entered.”

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

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. Instead of answering, his grandfather took him on

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.’ “See

“But which one is right?” Minjun asked.