Korean Beachwear

Koreans tend to keep themselves covered up no matter the weather, but especially when it's sunny.  I often go running through town wearing shorts and a tank top (sweating buckets because of the heat and humidity) and I'll pass a Korean running in long pants, long sleeves, gloves, a hat, and a face mask.  I don't understand how they don't pass out from heat stroke!  When it's sunny, many Koreans wear extra clothing, large hats, and carry umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun's rays.

UPDATE:  The Las Angeles Times just published this great article, In South Korea, Beachgoers Stay Out of the Sun by John M. Glionna, which discusses the Koreans' apparent dislike for the sun.  He writes that Korea is a country "where tans are dismissed as the mark of laborers."  The article is a fun read if you have the time!

The day we went to Mallipo Beach was beautiful weather!  There was lots of sunshine, only a few clouds, a little wind, high humidity, and temperature highs in the 90's.  It was a hot day, especially on a beach with no shade.  My friend and I were only wearing swimsuits and sunglasses and we were sweating.  Keep this in mind as you look at the photos below.  What we saw Koreans wearing at the hot, humid, and sunny beach was "not quite right."

No one in this photo is wearing an actual swimsuit!

These girls went swimming fully clothed!

There were very few shirtless guys at this beach.  Even the guy on the jet ski is fully clothed.

The girl on the left actually has on a bikini... under her clothes.

Careful not to get any sun on your face...

Let's go for a romantic walk on the beach in the ocean.

Just chillin'... in the water... with our clothes on...

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"There is no such thing as a weird human being.  It's just

that some people require more understanding than others."

~Tim Robbins