Why Your Room Is Still Cold in Korea: Boiler vs Air Conditioner Explained
❄️ Why Your Room Feels Cold in Korea (Even with the Air Conditioner On)
If you're staying in Korea during the winter, you might have experienced this:
You turn on the air conditioner...
But the room stays cold. 🥶
Many travelers are surprised to learn that Korean homes don’t use the air conditioner for heating.
Instead, we use something called a boiler – and it works very differently!
In this post, I’ll explain:
- The difference between air conditioner and boiler in Korea
- How the Korean floor heating system (온돌) works
- How to use a Korean boiler controller (with translation)
- What not to do when heating your room in winter
🔥 What Is the Korean Boiler System?
Most Korean homes are heated using a boiler (보일러), not the air conditioner.
The boiler heats water and circulates it through pipes under the floor.
This system is called 온돌 (Ondol) – a traditional Korean floor heating method.
It makes the floor warm, which then warms the entire room.
👉 This means: If you only turn on the air conditioner in winter, your room will still feel cold!
🧭 How to Use a Korean Boiler Controller (With English Labels)
Here’s a typical Korean boiler controller:
Let’s look at the main buttons:
✅ Best Way to Heat Your Room (And What to Avoid)
- Turn on the boiler using the 전원 (Power) button.
- In most homes, the temperature is already set to an ideal level — usually around 23°C.
💡 Important:
In my Airbnb, we’ve already set the temperature for you.
If it feels a bit cold, just raise it by 1–2 degrees.
Don’t set it too high — the boiler might show an error if the temperature is excessive!
🤔 What About the Air Conditioner?
Some newer Korean air conditioners do support heating mode.
Look for a button like 운전선택 (Mode Select) and check if you see:
- 냉방 (Cooling)
- 난방 (Heating)
- 제습 (Dehumidify)
- 송풍 (Fan)
If 난방 appears, then yes — it can heat. But it’s usually weak compared to the boiler.
So when in Korea, remember:
Use the boiler to stay warm, not the AC.
🛎 Final Tips for Travelers in Korea
- 💡 Boiler = Heat, AC is mainly for summer
- 🧣 Set temperature to around 23°C
- 🙅 Don’t set it too high – error risk!
- ❓ Ask your host if unsure – we’re happy to help!
