So Just How Cold Is It In Korea Now?

So just how cold has it been in Korea? Temperatures were low enough to freeze the anesthetic supposed to be used on the runaway bear but if that's too abstract, check out the following pictures. If I were working in Korea, I'd save all my leave to stay away from the office in winter just so that I can hibernate at home. Question is, how much leave of absence does the average employee get to enjoy in South Korea?

Caption from source: A man taps on icicles on frozen stream at Jangheung Valley in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday when the mercury dropped to minus 10 degrees Celsius in Seoul and its neighboring areas. With a cold wave warning issued across the country, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast that the temperature will fall to as low as minus 11 degrees in Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Cho Young-ho

Caption from source: Frozen waterfall: A man-made waterfall in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, is frozen, forming huge icicles, Sunday when the mercury fell to the lowest points for this winter across the nation. The cold snap is forecast to ease this afternoon. / Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han

Caption from source: Bundled-up pedestrians in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, shiver on their way to work yesterday morning as cold descends on the nation. The mercury will dip below minus 11 degrees Celsius (12.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul today, the national weather agency forecast. [NEWSIS]

Caption from Chosun Ilbo: "People wrap up against the freezing cold in Seoul on Wednesday."

Is it just coincidence or do the ladies seem averse to covering up their heads? Is it some fashion trend?

Vanity means little when the temperatures are getting into the negative double digits, IMHO. Seeing these photos reminds me of a scene from the Emperor's March when the documentary film crew showed how they had to put layer upon layer themselves to protect themselves against the frigid Antartica cold.

It's December 16 and the temperature in Seoul right now is minus 10.8 degrees Celcius. Ok - I'll stop complaining about the air-con in my workplace.
sources:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/12/115_78039.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/12/115_77900.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/14/2010121400308.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2929679
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/16/2010121600435.html