I actually run cold. In summer I want something icy, in winter I want something hot — that's just how my body works. My husband is the opposite. He runs hot, and no matter how cold it gets outside, he's ordering an iced Americano. It's not just him. Most of my male coworkers do the same thing. I don't know if they all just run hot like he does, but the pattern is hard to miss.
This is the famous "Eol-Juk-A" — short for "frozen to death, but still iced Americano." It's not universal; plenty of Koreans, myself included, switch to hot drinks in winter. But enough people don't that it's become its own cultural joke. Even foreigners living here have been caught doing it on camera — Italian YouTuber Alberto and Chef Fabri, both former coffee purists from a country famous for its hot espresso culture, have shown themselves gulping down iced coffee in the middle of Korean winter. If it can convert them, it's clearly not just a Korean quirk anymore.
💡 Key Summary
In winter 2023, iced drinks accounted for 76% of total coffee sales in Korea.
Indoor heating systems make indoor environments much warmer than the outside temperature.
Iced Americanos act as a perfect palate cleanser after spicy or oily Korean meals.
The 'Ppalli-Ppalli' Culture and Swift Caffeine Fix ⚡
A big part of it is Ppalli-Ppalli — Korea's hurry-hurry culture. Lunch breaks are short, and nobody has time to wait for a hot coffee to cool down before drinking it. An iced Americano is ready the second it's handed to you. It's not about savoring it; it's about getting caffeine into your system and getting back to your desk.
Starbucks Korea's own data backs this up — in 2022, iced drinks made up 76% of its total beverage sales for the year. Even in the dead of winter, the numbers don't drop as much as you'd expect: other Korean coffee chains have reported iced Americanos still making up over half of January sales, even on days when temperatures dropped below minus 10.
💡 Pro tip! In fact, data from 2023 showed that iced beverages constituted a remarkable 76 percent of total coffee sales even during the peak of winter.
Battling the Indoors: Ondol Heating Meets Dry Air 🔥❄️
Indoor heating in Korea is intense. Thanks to the Ondol floor-heating system, most offices and homes stay warm enough that you could wear short sleeves indoors in January. Korean winters are also dry, which makes the cold feel less biting than humid cold in other countries. Spend the day in a warm, dry office, and an ice-cold drink starts to feel less like a dare and more like balance.
A Refreshing Counterpoint to Flavorful Cuisine 🍽️
Korean food leans heavy on garlic, spice, and oil — think samgyeopsal straight off the grill. Even after brushing your teeth, there's an urge to rinse that heaviness away immediately. A cold, bitter Americano cuts through it in a way a hot coffee just doesn't.
Cooling Down the 'Internal Fire' of Stress 🧘
There's a Korean concept called Hwa-byeong — something like an internal heat that builds up from stress. After a frustrating day, pouring something ice-cold down your throat can feel like putting out a small fire. Koreans even have words for that exact feeling of relief: gae-un-hada, si-won-hada. It's less about the drink and more about what it does to your nervous system in the moment.
Unrestricted Enjoyment of Cold Beverages Year-Round 💧
Korea also doesn't have the same hesitation around cold drinks that some cultures do. Tap water here has long been safe and clean enough that drinking things cold, whether it's water or coffee, never became something to avoid. There's no instinct telling you hot is safer or cold is risky — so when everything else points toward iced coffee, there's nothing culturally stopping you either.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is 'Eol-Juk-A' a widely used term?
Yes, 'Eol-Juk-A' is a popular, humorous slang term used to describe the Korean practice of drinking iced Americanos even in freezing weather, highlighting a playful defiance of the cold.
Q. Is Eol-Juk-A something all Koreans do?
A. Not really — it's more of a noticeable pattern than a universal rule. I personally switch to hot drinks in winter, but my husband and most of my male coworkers stick to iced Americanos no matter the temperature. Whether that's about body heat, habit, or something else, it's common enough that it's become a running joke.
📌 Official Sources
This article was written with reference to the following official materials.
· 한국인은 '얼죽아'…추운 겨울에도 아이스 아메리카노 먹는 이유
· Starbucks Korea: Annual Iced Drink Sales Report (Via The Korea Herald)
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