Edutainer: Yeon-hwa
📌 Heads up before you read
When you're heading off on an adventure to another country, packing some basic medicine for unexpected sickness or just feeling off is so essential.
Let’s be real – nothing makes you miss home like being sick, especially if you're in a place where you don’t know the language. Imagine feeling unwell and not even being able to explain what’s wrong – talk about stressful! Even going to a doctor can feel overwhelming when you don’t know how to communicate your symptoms. But what if you forgot to pack medicine, or you’ve run out of the ones you brought? And what if your friend or someone you really care about catches a cold, and you have no clue how to help them feel better? Don’t worry – we’ve got just the thing to help you out! Compare the remedies from your country and Korea as you read along.
🔎 Table of Contents
Part 1: Korean-Style Cold Self-Care Tips
Part 2: How to Buy Cold Medicine Like a Pro
Part 3: Visiting the Doctor
As winter hits in Korea, more people are catching colds, and Koreans have some special DIY remedies they turn to when they're feeling under the weather.
Today, we're sharing some of these go-to home remedies that Koreans often use to fight off a cold before reaching for medicine or heading to the doctor. These tips are super handy, especially when symptoms aren’t too bad, so it’s good to keep them in mind. One day, if you’re feeling a little under the weather, these might be just what you need! And if someone you care about catches a cold, you can use these ideas to help them feel better or even put together a little care package. ❤ A small act of kindness like this can make a big impact!
1. Rest, Rest, and More Rest 🛌💤😴
When you’re sick or just not feeling great, the first reaction from Koreans is usually, “Go home and rest!” You’d be surprised how often you’ll hear this phrase in Korea.
But here’s a cultural twist: in Korean, 'rest' doesn’t just mean to relax; it actually means “go to sleep.” So when someone says, “Go home and rest", they’re really saying, “Go home and get a good sleep.” Koreans believe that a good nap or night’s sleep strengthens your immune system, giving you the power to beat the cold virus. That’s why, when they first feel symptoms, their go-to remedy is sleep, even before considering medication or a doctor's visit.
Here’s a bonus tip: in Korea, heated mats are super popular, and they’re amazing for staying warm when you’ve got a cold. From electric mats with built-in heating wires to water-circulating mats that keep warmth flowing, there’s a variety to choose from. Especially in winter, many people use heated mats on their beds or floors to stay cozy. Wrapping yourself in this warmth can really help ease cold symptoms, which is why Koreans love this method.
🎁 And if the person with a cold is your parent, spouse, or child, a heated mat makes for a thoughtful gift.
2. Dry Air Makes a Cold Worse, So Turn On a Humidifier 💧🌫️
When Koreans catch a cold, they pay a lot of attention to indoor humidity. Many believe that dry air can make cold symptoms worse. So, when they feel sick, they’ll turn on a humidifier right away, or if they don’t have one, they’ll hang a wet towel in the room to add moisture to the air.
Especially if you visit a friend’s place or someone who lives alone, you may see laundry hanging around or towels draped here and there. It’s not just for drying clothes—it’s a simple trick to keep the air moist and prevent cold symptoms from getting worse. Keeping the room humid is a popular DIY cold remedy in Korea.
🎁 If a friend of yours catches a cold, ask if they have a humidifier. If not, surprise them with one—they’ll be truly touched! ❤ In Korea, humidifiers come in all sizes and designs, from mini ones for your desk to bedroom-sized models and even larger ones for living rooms. There's one for every style and purpose.
These small, practical items can really lift a friend’s spirits when they’re feeling down. The reason humidifiers are so popular here is that Koreans really care about staying healthy, especially in dry environments.
3. Drinking More Orange Juice and Other Vitamin-Rich Foods Than Usual 🍊🍓
When Koreans catch a cold, they pay a lot of attention to getting enough vitamins. Even if they don’t usually drink orange juice or take vitamin supplements, they’ll start doing so, believing it helps strengthen the immune system and relieve cold symptoms.
Aside from orange juice, they also go for fruits rich in vitamins like tangerines, strawberries, and kiwis, or buy vitamin supplements. Even those who don’t usually eat fruit will start stocking up on it and taking vitamins as soon as they feel a cold coming on.
🎁 If a friend of yours catches a cold, a humidifier would be a thoughtful gift, but grabbing some orange juice or vitamin supplements from a nearby store to give them would really make their day!
4. Drinking Different Types of Cold-Fighting Teas 🍵🍯🍋
You might already know about the tips in 1–3, but now we’ll tell you about some special home remedies unique to Koreans! While chicken soup is the classic go-to in English-speaking countries, Koreans rely on these teas to help soothe cold symptoms.
(1) 🍯 Honey Tea
A popular choice is honey tea, made by mixing honey with warm water. This tea is known for soothing the throat and boosting the immune system, so it’s a go-to for many Koreans when they’re feeling under the weather. 🎁 At convenience stores or supermarkets, you’ll find a variety of drinks made with honey as an ingredient.
(2) 🍋 Yuja Tea
Yuja tea is one of the must-buy treats for visitors to Korea! Rich in vitamin C with a refreshingly tangy flavor, this tea is perfect for soothing the throat and giving you an energy boost when you’re feeling down with a cold.
🎁 At convenience stores, you’ll find drinks made with yuja, and at larger stores like supermarkets, you can find not only those drinks but also preserved yuja tea and yuja extract tea, along with a variety of other yuja-based options.
(3) 🍐 Pear Drink
Korean pears are famous worldwide, known for their unique shape and sweetness, which stand out from the pears commonly found in Western countries. Korean pears are large, round, and incredibly juicy, earning them a reputation as a flavorful and nutrient-packed fruit.
Pear juice, made from blended Korean pears, is excellent for soothing throat pain when you have a cold. It’s especially helpful for relieving a bad cough, making it one of the traditional home remedies that Koreans frequently turn to when dealing with a sore throat.
🎁 You can find pear-based drinks at convenience stores, but heading to a larger store, like a supermarket, is recommended. There, you’ll find a variety of pear juices made from fresh, pressed pears.
(4) 🌿 Ginger Tea
Ginger is great for warming up the body and easing inflammation, so ginger tea is often enjoyed when you feel chilly from a cold. Just like in other countries, Koreans also enjoy ginger tea in powdered form or as tea bags.
All the teas mentioned above are easy to find at convenience stores or supermarkets. So, if you’re feeling sick or know someone with a cold, picking up one of these teas for them will definitely be appreciated.
🎁 Convenience stores mainly carry powdered ginger tea and ginger-flavored drinks, while larger supermarkets often have preserved ginger tea options as well.
In addition to these, there are other self-care methods like wrapping a towel around your neck to keep it warm.
But the tips we shared above are the main ones, so try to remember them! And if someone around you catches a cold, you can use these remedies to show you care—Koreans will definitely appreciate your thoughtful gestures without any hesitation!
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 Thank you