Minjun tilted his head. “Two winters?”
His grandfather, who grew up in a mountain village near Sokcho, chuckled softly. “In my heart,” he said, “winter starts the first morning you see your breath freeze in front of you. But officially? Korea has two winters.” when does winter start in korea
He underlined the last sentence: That was November 18 this year. And I think that’s the real answer. Minjun tilted his head
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.” But officially
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.
Minjun thought for a long time. Finally, he said, “So winter starts twice?”