Winter
Dec → Feb2 to 6°
nights -7 to -4°
- 4 rainy days · 26 mm
- 7.8 h of sun
- sea 5°
When is the best time to visit South Korea?
- Jan2°not recommended
- Feb6°not recommended
- Mar12°fair
- Apr18°recommended
- May22°recommended
- Jun27°fair
- Jul29°not recommended
- Aug29°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct18°recommended
- Nov12°fair
- Dec3°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in South Korea, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2° | -7° | 7.8 h | 28 mm | 4 d | 4° | |
| February | 6° | -4° | 8.4 h | 28 mm | 5 d | 4° | |
| March | 12° | 0° | 9.1 h | 53 mm | 7 d | 6° | |
| April | 18° | 7° | 9.3 h | 58 mm | 6 d | 12° | ✓ |
| May | 22° | 12° | 10 h | 128 mm | 9 d | 17° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 18° | 9.8 h | 177 mm | 12 d | 23° | |
| July | 29° | 22° | 8.2 h | 324 mm | 20 d | 27° | |
| August | 29° | 23° | 9.2 h | 358 mm | 19 d | 30° | |
| September | 26° | 18° | 8.6 h | 199 mm | 11 d | 27° | ✓ |
| October | 18° | 9° | 8.3 h | 75 mm | 7 d | 21° | ✓ |
| November | 12° | 2° | 7.2 h | 66 mm | 7 d | 16° | |
| December | 3° | -6° | 7.2 h | 22 mm | 3 d | 8° |
The four seasons in South Korea, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May12 to 22°
nights 0 to 12°
- 7 rainy days · 80 mm
- 9.5 h of sun
- sea 12°
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 29°
nights 18 to 23°
- 17 rainy days · 286 mm
- 9.1 h of sun
- sea 27°
Autumn
Sep → Nov12 to 26°
nights 2 to 18°
- 8 rainy days · 113 mm
- 8 h of sun
- sea 21°
Book early for April to May and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in South Korea, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h45 of daylight, in December 9h35, a difference of 5h10.
9h50Jan
10h45Feb
11h51Mar
13h07Apr
14h11May
14h45Jun
14h31Jul
13h36Aug
12h22Sep
11h09Oct
10h05Nov
9h35Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace" (37.58°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in South Korea, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsCherry blossom seasonMarch to AprilLotus Lantern FestivalApril to MayBoryeong Mud FestivalJulyChuseokSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: March, April, May, October, November
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: March, April, May, June, September, October, November
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in South Korea, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- March to AprilCherry blossom season big crowds
The cherry trees bloom first in the south, in Jinhae and Busan, then the wave moves north to Seoul in early April.
- April to MayLotus Lantern Festival
For Buddha's Birthday, thousands of lanterns parade through central Seoul to Jogyesa Temple.
- JulyBoryeong Mud Festival
On Daecheon Beach, people roll in the grey mud of the west coast for around ten days in July.
- September to OctoberChuseok big crowds
The harvest festival empties Seoul and jams the roads for three days, and many shops stay closed.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit South Korea, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended2°-7° at night
- 28 mm · 4 d
- 7.8 h
- sea 4°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended6°-4° at night
- 28 mm · 5 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 4°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair12°0° at night
- 53 mm · 7 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 6°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended18°7° at night
- 58 mm · 6 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 12°
High season, book early
May
Recommended22°12° at night
- 128 mm · 9 d
- 10 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair27°18° at night
- 177 mm · 12 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 23°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended29°22° at night
- 324 mm · 20 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 27°
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair29°23° at night
- 358 mm · 19 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended26°18° at night
- 199 mm · 11 d
- 8.6 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
October
Recommended18°9° at night
- 75 mm · 7 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 21°
High season, book early
November
Fair12°2° at night
- 66 mm · 7 d
- 7.2 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended3°-6° at night
- 22 mm · 3 d
- 7.2 h
- sea 8°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 4 days. Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -4 °C at night. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 5 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 12 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Rain stays light: 53 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 7 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 58 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (128 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (177 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. A very wet month, 324 mm of rain over 20 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 358 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (199 mm). Expect 8.6 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
October. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 75 mm over 7 days. Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
November. Cool: 12 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 66 mm over 7 days. Expect 7.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -6 °C at night. Hardly any rain (22 mm over 3 days). Expect 7.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit South Korea?
April to May and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 26 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
Which month should you avoid in South Korea?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 324 mm over 20 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
What is the hottest month in South Korea?
July, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
What is the coldest month in South Korea?
January, with 2 °C at best during the day and -7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
What is the driest month in South Korea?
December: 22 mm over 3 days of rain, against 358 mm in August, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in South Korea?
May, with 10 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in South Korea?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in March: 12 °C in the afternoon, 0 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in South Korea?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September (warmest 30 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
When is the best time to hike in South Korea?
March, April, May, October, November: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in South Korea?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable South Korea guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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