Winter (~December to ~end February*) is generally cold and dry, very dry. Although there used to be a lot of snow, that’s not the case these days. When it does snow, the white blanket melts either right away or in a few days. One must watch for ice patches however. The temperature can dip lower than 19°C but fortunately cold weather lasts for only about three days and is followed by four days of warmer weather. This cycle is the norm in winter and it, along with sunshiny days and bright blue skies makes the Korean winter more tolerable. The distinctive Korean ondol heating system is another winter plus. A series of pipes lie beneath the floor and hot water (in older homes, hot air) runs through the pipes making the floor pleasantly warm. Homes, however, are very dry and you will need humidifiers over the winter. Mandarin oranges from Jeju Island are available in winter.