Winter in Korea is a season filled with charm, warmth, and unique traditions. In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, we explore the magic of Korean winter—from iconic festivals to nostalgic street foods that will warm your heart (and hands!).

Whether you’ve experienced winter in Korea or dream of visiting someday, this episode will help you connect with the season while expanding your Korean vocabulary.

We also introduce our brand-new TOPIK Focus segment, designed to help you practice Korean in a fun and practical way. This week, you’ll learn how to describe winter activities and memories in Korean with essential seasonal vocabulary.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Winter Festivals and Activities:
    
   • Explore the beauty of Korea’s 눈 축제 (snow festivals) and the thrill of 얼음 낚시 (ice fishing).
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   • Discover winter activities like 스키 (skiing) and 눈썰매 (sledding).
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4. Street Food Favorites:
    
   • Learn about iconic winter snacks like 붕어빵 (fish-shaped pastry), 호떡 (sweet pancake), 호빵 (steamed bun), and 오뎅국물 (fish cake broth).
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   • Hear a personal story of warming up with friends over steaming street food on a cold winter day.
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7. Winter Vocabulary & Phrases:
    
   • Build your Korean vocabulary with words like:
      
     • 눈사람 (snowman)
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     • 핫초코 (hot chocolate)
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     • 패딩 (padded jacket)
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   • Practice using these words in sentences and storytelling.
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10. TOPIK Focus:
     
    • A brand-new segment! Listen to a short Korean story about winter and practice understanding vocabulary in context.
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    • Get involved: Write your own winter story in Korean and share it with us using #TOPIKandBeyond and tagging @korean.joa on Instagram.
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Engage With Us!

We’d love to hear from you:

• What’s your favorite winter memory in Korea—or your home country?
• What’s a new winter-related Korean word you learned today?

Share your thoughts in the comments, or create your own winter story using the vocabulary we’ve covered. Don’t forget to tag us at @korean.joa and use #TOPIKandBeyond for a chance to be featured in the next episode!