03/30/2023
24K
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Korea_Tour
festival
culture
spring
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guide
Are you dreaming of a trip filled with laughter, touching moments, surprises, unexpected events, and passion-driven experiences? Then, Korea is the perfect destination for you. If this is your first time to Korea, check out this essential guide on Korea’s climate and seasonal tips to help you get ready for your adventure!
Weather in Korea
Korea is a mid-latitude region and has an overall temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring and fall display clear and mild weather, summer is hot and humid, and winter shows cold and arid climate characteristics. Although the temperatures do not differ much among regions, the southern areas including Busan tend to be warmer as the average temperature is around 4 degrees Celsius higher.
Highest average monthly temperature by city
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seoul | 1°C | 4°C | 10°C | 17°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 25°C | 19°C | 11°C | 4°C |
Busan | 7°C | 9°C | 13°C | 17°C | 21°C | 24°C | 27°C | 29°C | 26°C | 21°C | 15°C | 10°C |
Gwangju | 5°C | 7°C | 13°C | 19°C | 24°C | 28°C | 30°C | 30°C | 26°C | 21°C | 14°C | 7°C |
Highest average monthly temperature by city
Seoul | Busan | Gwangju | |
---|---|---|---|
Jan | 1°C | 7°C | 5°C |
Feb | 4°C | 9°C | 7°C |
Mar | 10°C | 13°C | 13°C |
Apr | 17°C | 17°C | 19°C |
May | 23°C | 21°C | 24°C |
Jun | 26°C | 24°C | 28°C |
Jul | 28°C | 27°C | 30°C |
Aug | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C |
Sep | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C |
Oct | 19°C | 21°C | 21°C |
Nov | 11°C | 15°C | 14°C |
Dec | 4°C | 10°C | 7°C |
Lowest average monthly temperature by city
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seoul | -6°C | -3°C | 3°C | 9°C | 14°C | 19°C | 22°C | 23°C | 19°C | 11°C | 4°C | -3°C |
Busan | 0°C | 2°C | 6°C | 11°C | 15°C | 19°C | 23°C | 24°C | 20°C | 15°C | 9°C | 3°C |
Gwangju | -5°C | -3°C | 1°C | 7°C | 13°C | 18°C | 22°C | 22°C | 17°C | 9°C | 3°C | -3°C |
Lowest average monthly temperature by city
Seoul | Busan | Gwangju | |
---|---|---|---|
Jan | -6°C | 0°C | -5°C |
Feb | -3°C | 2°C | -3°C |
Mar | 3°C | 6°C | 1°C |
Apr | 9°C | 11°C | 7°C |
May | 14°C | 15°C | 13°C |
Jun | 19°C | 19°C | 18°C |
Jul | 22°C | 23°C | 22°C |
Aug | 23°C | 24°C | 22°C |
Sep | 19°C | 20°C | 17°C |
Oct | 11°C | 15°C | 9°C |
Nov | 4°C | 9°C | 3°C |
Dec | -3°C | 3°C | -3°C |
If you are planning to travel on foot, we recommend to visit in spring (March to May) or fall (September to November) when the temperature is moderate between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. For those who wish to enjoy water activities or have fun under the sun by the beach, a visit in the summer (June to August) can also be a great choice. If the fascinating combination of quiet, romantic walks through snowy mountains and the contrast of beating the cold with a hot spring bath sound interesting, winter (December to February) in Korea cannot be missed. Even the same attraction reveals a different charm with the change of seasons, making Korea a worthy place to revisit.
Spring (March to May)
Spring, the season of flowers, has the ideal climate for enjoying the lovely blossoms. From forsythia and cherry blossoms to azalea and roses, you can enjoy beautiful scenes filled with flowers wherever you go.
Summer (June to August)
Summer in Korea is under sweltering heat but, since it is a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, over 270 beaches are open to display colorful and diverse summer scenes. However, this also partially coincides with the rainy season so if you plan to visit Korea from the end of June to the end of July, it’s recommended to check the weather forecast in advance. Keep in mind, the period between July and October also sees several typhoons.
Fall (September to November)
Fall in Korea is a beautiful season even without any special events. The average temperature in fall hovers around 15 degrees Celsius, making it a pleasant time for some outdoor fun. Fall is also the season of festivals, allowing travelers to enjoy the exciting atmosphere, food, and entertainment unique to Korea.
Winter (December to February)
In winter, the average temperature drops to 0 to 1 degree Celsius and frequently plummets to sub-zero so you need to wear thick outerwear at all times. On the other hand, this is also the perfect season to enjoy hot springs, ondol culture, and warm soup dishes. It is also exciting to enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding with the beautiful snowscape in the background.
Q) Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of weather?
Travelers are advised to take special care in summer and winter. During the midsummer period (end of July to August), the weather may get extremely hot and humid. Additionally, stay alert for typhoon or heavy rainfall advisory before or during your trip. In winter, the northerly wind from Siberia causes intense cold temperatures so it is recommend to pack cloths in preparation for the cold waves. Even in the warm spring, chilly weather often continues until mid-March, which is why it is recommended to prepare appropriate outerwear. With the recent occurrence of the global climate change, Korea is also seeing changes in weather patterns from the previous years and therefore it is recommended to check real-time weather reports during your travels and to be prepared in advance for unexpected rain or extreme heat.
Although there is no strict clothing etiquette, you often need to take off your shoes before entering a house. If you want to make cool memories in Korea, wearing hanbok is a great idea. There are many places near royal palaces and major tourist attractions that offer hanbok rental as well as hairstyling and makeup services that go well with hanbok. In addition, royal palaces such as Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung palaces offer free admission to visitors in hanbok.
Real-time weather
Korea Meteorological Administration guide map(English, Chinese, Japanese)
Check the average weather and weather by city
Weather Spark website (English, Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese)