Despite love of down jackets, why are Koreans so indifferent to the warmth of their feet?

Pedestrians bundled up in thick, knee-length padded jackets, but wearing slippers? This style, surprisingly common in South Korea during winter, often raises the eyebrows.
A TikToker, who introduced himself as Russian, posted a video of several Koreans walking on the street in rubber slippers or Crocs sandals, commenting, "Such a fashion is unthinkable in my country."
A similar observation was shared on Instagram, where one user wrote, "Why do they cover their whole body with a padded jacket but leave their feet cold? Is it good for their health?" To this, another user remarked, "Maybe Koreans naturally have a lot of body heat."
To help satisfy their curiosity, The Korea Herald spoke to slipper enthusiasts online and offline to uncover the secret behind the popularity of the winter slipper trend.

Heated floors, cozy indoors
Han Ji-won, a 26-year-old male graduate at Hongik University, said the traditional floor heating system of Korean homes, known as “ondol,” may be one reason why people don’t pay much attention to their feet getting cold.
“Since the floor at home is always warm, I don't often think about my feet being cold. Maybe that's why I just throw on a thick padded jacket and wear slippers when going to a nearby convenience store or gym,” said Han who was walking in rubber slippers on a Yeonnam-dong street, Seoul, on Jan. 9, when a cold weather advisory was issued.
Traditionally, the ondol system used a fire or stove to send hot air through channels beneath the floor, warming the surface above. Modern versions use hot water pipes or electric heating elements under the floor. As the heat radiates upward, it creates consistent, cozy warmth, making the floor feel comfortably warm even in cold weather.
“I guess Koreans may be less concerned about keeping their feet warm thanks to ondol. It's interesting that foreigners find this aspect of Korean life so intriguing,” he added.
Yoon Jeong-hwan, a 42-year-old office worker living in Mapo-gu, Seoul, pointed to Korea's public transportation and other public facilities being warm as the reason behind Koreans' craze for slippers in winter.
“The subway in Korea during winter is not just warm, but often too warm. When I ride the subway wearing a padded jacket and it gets too warm, having cool feet makes it a bit more bearable.”
He shared that during his business trip to New York last winter, he was surprised by how cold the subway was -- it felt colder inside than outside. This made him realize that Koreans are used to staying warm not just at home but also in indoor facilities and public spaces.
“Whether it's restaurants or cafes, they're always toasty. Even restaurants with outdoor terraces install large heaters, ensuring warmth in every corner,” he said.
No Jae-ok, 38, had another theory.
He lives in one of those large, sky-high apartment complexes, which offer the convenience of community centers, retail shops and quick access to public transit.
Before No moved into his current home located right next to an exit of Hapjeong Station on the Seoul Subway, he never wore slippers outside in the winter. But with a convenience store, library and shopping mall just a 2-3 minute walk from his place, he naturally began stepping out in comfy slippers, regardless of the weather outside.
“For those living in apartment buildings directly connected to cafes, laundromats and other commercial facilities, wearing slippers outside is more common,” he said.
“There are also mixed-use apartment complexes in Seoul connected directly to the subway, so people there are even less likely to bother with warm shoes when heading out.”
Part of teen culture

In Korea, most grade schools require students to wear indoor-only shoes in the building, primarily for cleanliness. This is why Korean students, in addition to their backpacks, typically carry shoe bags, not lunch bags (most kids eat meals provided by the school).
Shin Jeong-min, 48, a mother of a daughter in high school, believes that Koreans are so used to the comfort of indoor shoes from childhood that they’re not bothered by wearing slippers in the winter, despite the cold.
"I’m old, so even when I wear slippers just to go out in front of the house to take out the recycling, it feels way too cold. So, I usually wear thick socks and boots,” she said.
"It's really surprising to see young people wearing slippers in winter. It seems, for them, convenience matters more than the cold."
Since uniform rules don't extend to shoes, the popular choice for school shoes is slippers with stripes, designs apparently influenced by similar three-striped footwear from Adidas. These slippers are widely available at local stationery stores for around 3,000 won per pair.
The authentic Adidas slippers, priced between 20,000 and 30,000 won ($13.75-20.62), are also popular. While many students wear them with socks, some opt to go without.
Young people more mindful of the cold have also adopted a range of slippers specifically for winter. These include fur-lined slippers, winter Crocs and slipper-style boots.
Lee Ji-in, an elementary school student in Mapo-gu who usually wears fur slippers or Crocs to her private cram school, or hagwon, finds them more comfortable than sneakers.
"I always wear indoor shoes at school, so I just wear slippers at the hagwon. They're just so comfy. The hagwon classroom is warm, so I’ve rarely felt that my feet are cold," said Lee, who was wearing black rubber Crocs with pink socks Thursday morning. Seoul on that day saw morning temperatures drop to as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius.
“I also have a pair of fur Crocs. I’ve recently gotten into decorating them with Jibbitz (small, decorative charms that can be attached to the holes of Crocs shoes)."

