Coping with cold waves
Korean cold snaps are severe. Falling asleep outside after drinking is fatal.
Basic rules
- Wear layers. Several thin layers are warmer than one thick coat.
- Cover head, hands and neck with a hat, gloves and scarf. Much heat escapes there.
- Change out of wet clothes immediately. Being wet drops body temperature fast.
- Check the forecast and disaster alerts before going out.
- Use cold-wave shelters — ask your community centre where they are.
Signs of hypothermia — call 119
- Violent shivering that then stops (the more dangerous sign)
- Slurred speech and poor judgement
- Drowsiness, lethargy
Call 119 immediately. Move them somewhere warm, remove wet clothing and wrap in dry blankets. If unconscious, do not give hot drinks. Do not rub the body vigorously.
Signs of frostbite
- Hands, feet, ears or nose turning pale and losing sensation
- Later swelling and blisters
Warm slowly in lukewarm water. Hot water, fire and rubbing are all forbidden. Go to hospital.
Looking after your home
- Prevent frozen pipes — during cold warnings let water trickle and wrap the meter box. See winter-support.
- Don't switch the boiler off entirely. Keeping it low while out helps prevent freezing.
- No charcoal, briquettes or gas heaters in sealed rooms — carbon monoxide. See winter-support.
If you work outdoors
- Employers must provide rest and a warm place during cold waves. If not, call 1350.
- Frostbite and hypothermia can be industrial accidents. 1588-0075.
Where to go
- 119 emergency (multilingual interpretation available)
- 1339 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
- Your local community service centre (shelters, emergency support)
- 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
- 1577-1366 · 1345 interpretation
Questions people ask
I can't afford heating. Call 129 about emergency welfare support and the energy voucher. See energy-voucher.
Why is sleeping outside after drinking dangerous? Alcohol dilates blood vessels and takes body heat away faster. You feel warm while actually dying of hypothermia. It happens every year.
My pipes froze. Don't pour boiling water. Thaw slowly with lukewarm water or a hairdryer.
I'm facing homelessness. Tell 129 and your community centre immediately. Emergency housing support is prioritised in winter.
Take care
Falling asleep outdoors after drinking is the most common winter death. If a friend is drunk, never leave them outside. Take them home or call 119 for help.
Related
winter-support · energy-voucher · heatwave-emergency · first-aid-basics · call-119
Source
Ministry of the Interior and Safety, National Disaster Safety Portal www.safekorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08