The temperature has been gradually increasing these days and In the middle of Korea’s blazing summer, I noticed something curious. While people were fanning themselves, sipping iced americanos, and hiding under sun umbrellas, almost no one was wearing sunglasses. Meanwhile, I had mine on like armor, practically squinting at everyone else because, how are their eyes okay right now?
Turns out, in Korea, sun protection is more about skin than glare. Umbrellas (sometimes dainty, sometimes full-on camping worthy) are a common sight, especially among women. They're used to shield faces from the sun, preventing tanning or freckles. Meanwhile, sunglasses just don’t carry the same popularity, especially among older generations. You can occasionally see someone wearing a stylish pair on the streets, but many of them think they’re unnecessary, too flashy, or even impolite in certain situations. It seems that unlike in many Western countries where sunglasses are a summer staple, in Korea they still feel more like a fashion statement than a functional item.
I couldn’t help but notice how common it is to see people walking around with full sun coverage that includes arm sleeves, face visors, parasol, still squinting in the bright light. It’s not about comfort. It’s about keeping that skin protected at all costs. For me personally, I would like to also ensure that my eyes and vision gets protected despite it making me seem a little out of place!
Photo by Yonhap
The temperature has been gradually increasing these days and In the middle of Korea’s blazing summer, I noticed something curious. While people were fanning themselves, sipping iced americanos, and hiding under sun umbrellas, almost no one was wearing sunglasses. Meanwhile, I had mine on like armor, practically squinting at everyone else because, how are their eyes okay right now?
Turns out, in Korea, sun protection is more about skin than glare. Umbrellas (sometimes dainty, sometimes full-on camping worthy) are a common sight, especially among women. They're used to shield faces from the sun, preventing tanning or freckles. Meanwhile, sunglasses just don’t carry the same popularity, especially among older generations. You can occasionally see someone wearing a stylish pair on the streets, but many of them think they’re unnecessary, too flashy, or even impolite in certain situations. It seems that unlike in many Western countries where sunglasses are a summer staple, in Korea they still feel more like a fashion statement than a functional item.
I couldn’t help but notice how common it is to see people walking around with full sun coverage that includes arm sleeves, face visors, parasol, still squinting in the bright light. It’s not about comfort. It’s about keeping that skin protected at all costs. For me personally, I would like to also ensure that my eyes and vision gets protected despite it making me seem a little out of place!
Photo by Yonhap