Surviving Korean winter: essential shopping list

Coming from a warm country, my first Korean winter was BRUTAL. -15°C is no joke. Here's what I wish I had bought before winter hit:

Padded jacket (패딩) - THE essential item. Every Korean wears one. You can get a good one from Uniqlo or ABC Mart for 80,000-150,000 KRW. Worth every won. Don't cheap out on this.

Heat tech inner wear - Uniqlo's heat tech line is a lifesaver. Wear it under everything. Get at least 3 tops and 2 bottoms. About 15,000 KRW each.

Hand warmers (핫팩) - Buy these in bulk from Daiso. 10 pack for about 3,000 KRW. Stick them in your pockets, shoes, even inside your jacket. Koreans love these.

Thermal water bottle - Fill it with hot water in the morning. Doubles as a hand warmer and hydration. Available at any Daiso for 5,000 KRW.

The good news: Korean buildings are WELL heated. Ondol (floor heating) is amazing. The challenge is just surviving the walk between heated spaces. Layer up and you'll be fine!