Captivating. That’s the main word I would use to describe winter in Korea when the snow comes. The cold of Korea’s winter can be so deep that it reaches to your bones. And wind can brutalize exposed skin in mere minutes. In spite of all that, winter here is just…captivating. Seeing an ancient pavilion draped in snowfall is enough to make you forget how cold you are for a while.

Korea at its best

I feel like snowy conditions showcase traditional Korean architecture and design at its finest. The vivid colors of the artwork contrast so starkly with the whites, blacks, and browns of the surrounding forests.

I called Korea home for a few years and while Seoul is a lot of fun, I was fortunate enough to live elsewhere in a smaller city. There, traditional buildings are abundant and snowfall is a breathtaking surprise instead of an inconvenience. It was very easy to find places that were both beautiful and devoid of any visitors, which meant I was outside with my camera exploring the snow whenever I was able to, no matter how cold it was.

I worked harder and suffered more to get the shots in this gallery compared to my other galleries of Korea. Even so, I feel a sense of peace when I reflect on visiting these places and waiting for my shot. Winter has a quiet serenity to it that other seasons can’t match.