We need preparation for passing the cold winter. For example, there are heavy clothes that prevent the cold swind, and there is kimchi that people eat during the winter. Of course, a warm heating culture is included among them.
  Korea developed a heating system that is known as one of the special heating systems around the world. When we think of the heating system in Korea, a large family is usually shooting the breeze on a warm floor. That is ondol. Ondol is a Korean heating system which heats the whole floor through heated granite blocks. When we heat our rooms by using ondol, the hot air will protect us from cold nights while radiant heat is emitted. However, we also need to consider some flaws of ondol. Ondol needs a closed room for maintaining a constant temperature, so we can’t freely ventilate. Besides, ondol is made up of a granite block, so it does not easily change properties. Therefore, ondol slowly gets warm and cool, so it is difficult to control the temperature of ondol.
  Other countries also have their own traditional heating systems. When watching Japanese animation or dramas, we can easily see kotaku, where a large family peels an orange and watches TV together. Kotaku is the heating apparatus of Japan, and they can make it easily. First, cover a rectangle table with a quilt, and then put a wooden board on the quilt. That is all. The method for making kotaku is easy, so Japanese can easily use kotaku in their homes. When the floor is cold, it does not need any additional electric apparatus. Therefore, we can call it economical. They heated the floor with charcoal in the past, but nowadays they are easily heating the floor by using electricity.
  In Europe, there is a stove as a heating apparatus. On the snowy days in winter, when Europeans are sitting in rocking chairs and reading books with a hot coffee, a stove naturally comes to mind. After the middle ages in Europe, people used a cast metal stove. It was good for heating as well as carving pictures on the stove, so it is used not only as a heating apparatus but also for aesthetic expression. As you see, each country has its own traditional heating system. Look into them more deeply with our interviews.

By Go Jeong-eun
je35@cbnu.ac.kr

What is the traditional heating culture in your country? Do you like it?

Yan Shiyi(China) : China has heating culture, but it is not special. Usually, the south uses electric blankets, and the north uses ondol.
Astanaev Oyatillo(Uzbekistan) : Uzbekistan uses stoves or heaters. Besides, cover floor with a carpet.
Sawyer Hirt(America) : Fireplace. l like it. Because l like the smell and crackling of the wood. Personally I think oak is the best materials for burning.

Do you have a favorite heating system? If you do, tell me why.

Yan Shiyi(China) : My favorite is the midnight electricity heating system because it does not charge a high price for electricity, so we can economically heat our rooms.
Oyatillo(Uzbekistan) : I like ondol of Korea because we can spend warm nights without a bed.
Sawyer Hirt(America) : l think campfire is best heating system. It is perfect for summer nights and roasting marshmallow and making smores or sitting next to while watching the stars.

Do you think there are any ways to avoid cold weather?
(Heavy clothes or hot soups or hot water bags, and so on)

Oyatillo(Uzbekistan) : I think that staying healthy is important. When you eat well-balanced meals and exercise regularly, you can keep in shape.
Sawyer Hirt(America) : Stay indoors and wear lots of clothes. Put plenty of clothes on in the house because you can always just take them off later. If you want to stay warm, drink hot cocoa or read a good book next to the fireplace.