Cool Tips: How to stay cool in the Korean Summer

Korea's weather can be quite extreme, from ultra hot and humid summers to freezing dry winters.

How to stay cool in the summer without breaking the bank

1. Portable Fans

You have probably seen a lot of people carrying these everywhere. These range from hand-held mini fans, to those you strap around your neck, or even some that are directly attached to your clothes.

 

2. Cooling Sprays

These items are relatively cheap, and they offer a quick fix to staying cool temporarily. As the name suggests, you just spray this around your clothes and it will create a cooling effect. Daiso sells these in a spray can for 2000 won.

 

3. Mists

Unlike the cooling spray mentioned above, this is actually just water in an aerosol spray can. But don't let that fool you into thinking that this is not effective. Go ahead and try it for free at the nearest olive young near you.

 

4. Cooling Clothes and cooling sheets

It may not be Korean, but Uniqlo's Airsm is really popular during the summer. AIRism is comfort conditioning technology. The special material which is made of ultra-thin fibers absorb and emit water vapor from your body. This could be similar to those sweat-wicking clothes as well. As for cooling sheets, there are a lot of bed sheets or linens that say that they don't obstruct airflow so you don't sweat as much while lying down.

 

5. Escaping to Cafes and Banks

Going to cafes on a hot day to cool off might be common, but have you heard about going to banks? I actually heard this from my Korean Teacher. In the past, not a lot of people could afford to have airconditioning in their homes, so many would visit banks, marts, and department stores just to cool off.

 

6. Stay hydrated and drink cold drinks

I'm not sure if it's just me, but whenever I chug an iced-cold drink I immediately start shivering.

 

7. Place cooling packs on your neck and wrists

They say that these are the parts of our body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin. Puting cold items in these areas can cool you down quickly. You can use a chilled towel, ice pack, or chilled wet tissue.

 

8. Take a cold shower

Bring down your body temperature by taking a cold shower or a cold bath. Pro Tip: Use cooling shampoo and soap to stay fresh longer.

 

9.  Chill your facemasks

There are a few satisfying ways to end a hot summers day, one of which is to treat your skin with a cool face mask. Keep your face mask in the fridge to extend the cooling sensation on your skin.

 

10. Use blinds or blackout curtains to block the sun

These curtains help reduce the amount of sunlight that enter your room, keeping heat out while insulating or help maintain the cooler temperatures inside. However, do take note that you still have to keep the inside of your room cool by turning on the aircon. Lighter colors also reflect more light so they absorb less heat.