If you stand in front of a school on a winter morning, you'll be surprised. Almost all the students are wearing the same black long padded coat. A foreign student once asked, "Is that a uniform?" He asked me that once. It's not a uniform. Many schools don't specify an outer layer to wear over the school uniform, so the students chose these themselves. ## Why Is Everyone Wearing the Same Thing? The school uniform is a thin jacket with a skirt or pants, so it's way too cold in winter. Lots of students also walk to school. That's why a long puffer coat that covers the knees is so comfortable. Black goes well with the uniform and shows less dirt. Feeling at ease by dressing similarly to friends also plays a part. There are various accounts of when it became popular. But it's clear that cold weather and comfort came together. ## What to check before heading out - **Wind chill**: Korean winters have biting winds, so it feels colder than the number says. - **School rules**: Some schools set the color or length of outerwear. Check the notice before you buy. - **Write your name**: There are so many identical coats that they're easy to mix up. It's a good idea to write your name on the inside. - **Gloves and a scarf**: A long puffer coat covers your body, but your hands and neck are left bare. - **Somewhere to take it off**: The classroom is warmly heated. Once you go in, just take it off and hang it on your chair or fold it up.