By Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana

Folding fans have been replaced by electric "handy fans," while long aerated bamboo pillows -- known as "bamboo wives" or jukbuin (죽부인) -- have given way to cooling mats in the summer heat. Korea's must-have items for beating the hottest months of the year have undergone a makeover, and they are here to stay.

Starting from the end of June, intense heat waves have hit major cities across the country, with temperatures peaking above 30 C. In the sweltering heat, one type of cooling device has become a consumer staple: the portable, battery- or USB-powered handy fan. In a crowded subway car during rush-hour, it's easy to spot women blowing a cooling wind toward their faces, expressions hopeful that their makeup won't run in the humidity. Dressed in dark suits, men can be seen clutching these fans, eagerly blowing wind in their general direction.

Just one generation ago, this typical morning scene would have looked very different. Back then, people were much more likely to cool themselves using pieces of paper or folding fans. With the arrival of electric handy fans, it has definitely become harder to spot people fanning themselves using such outdated tools.

Portable handy fan owner Kim Minjung, aged 30 and from Gyeonggi-do, said she decided to make the purchase because an electric fan has better cooling capabilities compared to a folding fan. Woo Soyoung, also 30 and from Gyeonggi-do, said that he mostly uses his fan on the subway, to and from work, and pointed to the fan's small size and light weight as the main reasons for buying the product.

The evolution of cooling devices extends to bedding as well. For all those sleepless nights in the summertime heat, the "cool mat" has come to the rescue. A type of mattress filled with a cooling gel, the "cool mat" helps to lower the body's temperature for a good night's sleep. In a sense, it has replaced traditional "bamboo wives," hollow bamboo bolsters that can be embraced during slumber to cool off in the heat.

Lee Jaeeun, aged 31 from Seoul, an office worker, said she tried using a bamboo wife for six months and found it to be ineffective, especially if you live in a house without much air current. She now uses a cooling mat instead, as it helps to maintain a cool temperature throughout the night.

Could this signal the end of traditional cooling devices? Some people disagree. A business owner, Kim Hyunguen, aged 33 from Seoul, said that portable handy fans, small as they are, don't cover enough surface area, and prefers to use a large folding fan.

With advancements in technology, a wide range of cooling devices for the summer have hit the market, attracting modern consumers. It seems traditional methods are here to stay too, diversifying the ways in which people deal with Korea's hottest months.

jesimin@korea.kr