Navigating Korean Summer Etiquette: Umbrellas and Fans

Stepping out onto a Seoul street in mid-July, you will notice a distinct choreography of movement. It is a humid, heavy heat, and the locals have developed a specific set of tools to navigate the commute, the lunch rush, and the walk to the subway. You will see people shielding themselves from the glare with UV-blocking parasols, and you will hear the faint, rhythmic whirring of portable fans.