Weather in Korea 101 | Creatrip Local's Guide
Complete guide on Korea's weather | Temperature, clothing, places and more!
Hello everyone! We are your personal Korean travel guide Creatrip.
Because of the geological position of Korea, Korea has dramatic weather changes throughout the year. This dramatic change makes four seasons more distinguished from each other, making it much interesting to travel at different times of the year.
Let's find out the characteristics of each season in Korea, and what to do on each of those seasons!
Spring
Feature
- Period : March, April, May
- Temperature : 0°C~25°C
- Note : Best weather of the year. Be careful of yellow dust.
In early spring it is still cold at nights, so even if it's hot in day-time carry an outer with you.
Spring is the best time to travel in Korea. It's the time of the year when flowers blossom, and all the flower festivals are held. Even if you are not participating in the festivals, cherry blossoms bloom everywhere, and it will make a perfect date to just walk around the streets in Seoul.
It has the best weather of the year. Not too cold or too hot, but just the right temperature. It is rather dry compared to other seasons, so you can walk around without sweating, but drink a lot of water. Also, because of the dry weather yellow dust from China is the worst.
Korean schools start with the spring semester, unlike some countries that start in the fall semester. Not just the weather but all people become more busy and lively in spring. It's a good time to learn Korean.
How to dress
As I have mentioned, Korean spring is warm enough to walk around without a thick coat, but in early spring temperature could fall close to 0°C, so it would be a good idea to carry a cardigan or thin outer.
It's a season full of love. Even though the temperature is almost the same as that of Autumn, people tend to dress in brighter and fancier clothes. You can find many pastel tone clothes, flower patterns, and a sporty look in Korean Spring. If you feel it's too cold pick a coat with lighter colours like beige.
Top 3 Activities
source : korean.visitkorea.or.kr
It's the most anticipate event for couples. Pink and white flower petals falling from the sky creates the most romantic atmosphere. You can visit nearby parks or just Hangang to enjoy cherry blossoms. If you travel outside Seoul cherry blossom festivals are held all around the country.
If you look a bit closer there are many other spring flowers that blossom along with cherry blossoms, such as azalea or magnolia. It's a season of flowers. Pack some lunch and go out with a friend or two. It'll make a perfect picnic!
There isn't any specific season to enjoy Hanbok experience. However, it is best to put on Hanbok and take a walk around the old palaces of Seoul and take pretty pictures. Bright colours and flower patters on Hanbok fit perfectly with the spring weather in Korea. You can find rental shops around Gyeongbokgung, Myeongdong, Busan, Jeonju and all around the country. Take a look around our full list of discounts for Hanbok rental shops.
Hangang is really a great place to go on a picnic but it is also a long river. Rent a bike at the entrance and you can take a bike ride around the Hangang Park. You can enjoy the cool breeze with the beautiful scenery of the Hangang River. You'll have to prepare an ID for your return. Return on time, at the right place. If you get hungry get some instant ramen which is a must-have in the Hangang River.
Top 3 Places
It's the first option if you are thinking of a cherry blossom picnic in Seoul. Yeouido Hangang Park is covered with cherry blossom trees and almost all couples living in Seoul must have visited Yeouido in Springtime. Hangang flows alongside Yeouido, which makes it a more beautiful place. Since it is a Hangang park you can enjoy all the activities listed above, such as bike riding, ramen, and chicken order.
Note that there will be a lot of people during the cherry blossom season, and if you can avoid holidays and weekends to enjoy a quieter trip.
If Yeouido is the most famous place for cherry blossom in Seoul, Jinhae is the most famous place in Korea. During the cherry blossom season Jinhae holds a festival called Gunhangje which is to commemorate Admiral Yi Sun-sin. It has grown to be the largest cherry blossom festival in the country. Since it is a festival you can also find concerts, activities and traditional market here. You will see the most beautiful cherry blossoms in Jinhae, but be aware that you will see lots and lots of people too.
Jeju Island is another place that is good to visit any time of the year, but in spring it is most beautiful. Meet all the spring flowers faster than any other place in Korea. Since you have to cross the sea, you will be able to avoid crowded streets like Seoul, and meet the natural environment you can't find anywhere else. It is especially beautiful to walk along the road with white cherry blossoms and yellow rape flowers on the sideways.
Top 3 Food
In spring it's best to taste the fresh vegetables and herbs. Bibimbap is a food that you mix rice, fresh vegetables and pepper paste together. It's a food that represents Korea and worth trying for once. If you order bibimbap, almost all places you will receive Korean side dishes, and enjoy authentic Korean meal.
It is told that Jukumi, which is a small octopus, is most delicious in Spring. If you are afraid it will be too fishy to taste, it is well cooked and seasoned with hot seasoning. It's a kind of spiciness that Koreans love, so if you are not fond of Korean spiciness it's better you skip this one, but if you love Korean spicy food, this might be just your favourite food!
It doesn't mean that you have to cook for your self, there are lots of places that serve home-style food. Since seasoned herbs and vegetables are the best menu, it is the best way to enjoy fresh vegetables. It's also very healthy and cost-efficient. Even though the stores might look old, they might be just that much better.
Summer
Feature
- Period : June, July, August
- Temperature : 17°C~29°C
- Note : Temperature is not that high, but the humidity makes it worse.
The average temperature doesn't go above 30°C. About 50% of the rain falls in summer, making it very humid.
For a lot of locals, summer is the worst season of the year. It's hottest, and the humidity is very high which also increases the discomfort index. Sun is hot, so it is easy to get a sunburn and outside activities are not recommended.
However, because of the heat there are activities you can only experience in summer. It's a season of festival, and all beaches are packed with people. Water parks, water extreme sports and anything to cool the heat is welcome. Also, people visit marts, cafes, department stores to avoid the heat with air conditioning.
You can certainly enjoy the heat but wear sunscreen, avoid excessive exercise, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Also to avoid getting wet, carry a small umbrella in your bag during this season.
How to dress
To avoid the heat people wear shorts and short sleeves. Since clothes are thinner and more revealing people target summertime to finish their diet. Korean society is getting more open about the clothes, and wearing a sleeveless, crop top, or hot pants is not a weird thing, so don't worry about it.
Because, the sun is too strong, some people wear long sleeves to cover the skin, even though it is too hot. For skin health it is recommended to wear hats, and sunscreen all the time. It's very humid, so if you are a sweaty person try to pick clothes that dry quickly.
Also, for beaches and water parks prepare a swimwear to play in the water. If you feel swimsuit is too revealing, the rash guard is very popular among locals. You can fully cover your body and still enjoy water activities!
Top 3 Activities
Playing outside in the heat is dangerous. You might get sunburn, heatstroke, and dehydrated, but you can't stay in all day. If you visit department stores, air conditioning is fully operating and it is almost cold there. Shop for summer clothes and swimsuits you will wear during your vacation in Seoul. If you shop in underground shopping malls or traditional markets, it might the worst choice...
- Water activities
You have to visit beaches in Korean summer. Korea is surrounded by the sea, so it is easy to visit where ever you are. Also, you can visit water parks if you don't want to travel too far. The places might be too crowded on holidays, weekdays and peak hours. Try to avoid those times if you want to swim or enjoy the activities. If you want to enjoy the lively atmosphere, anytime would be fine.
- Extreme Sports
If you try some extreme sports you can blow the heat away. Fly through mountains with paragliding, skydive in artificial dive zone, yacht ride on Hangang and much more. These activities are fun, exciting, and also very refreshing.
Top 3 Places
Busan has the most beautiful sandy beach in Korea. Famous beaches like Haeundae, Songjeong, and Songdo are all located in Busan. Busan is a very foreigner free city where you can find many restaurants and pubs that target travellers. If you want to experience more of Busan, Gamcheon Cultural Village is a town full of photo zones, with beautiful scenery. Busan and nearby Gyeongju are full of Korean cultural properties and it would be nice to travel after you have fully enjoyed the sea.
Gangneung and Busan are both located by the East Sea, but the atmosphere is much different. Gangneung has a much cooler impression to it. BTS took their album cover shot here, and you will recognize it right away if you are an ARMY. Coffee beach shore is also a great place to take a cup of coffee while enjoying the ocean view.
Boryeong's mud festival is the most famous summer festival in Korea. Korea's mudflat on the West Sea is one of the top 5 mudflats around the world. You can enjoy the festival soaked in mud and water. You don't have to worry about getting dirty because you will be in less than 5 seconds. Just bring extra clothes with you!
Top 3 Food
- Naengmyeon
Naengmyeon is a noodle with icy soup. It is likely that you lose appetite because of the heat and fatigue in summer. The sour and spicy taste of naengmyeon will bring your appetite up. There are two kinds of naengmyeon, spicy and not spicy. Spicy naengmyeon is spicy even for locals, and they usually add more cold soup to ease the spiciness. If it's too hot try mul-naengmyeon, which isn't spicy.
Patbingsu is an ice dessert made with red bean and ice flakes. It has cleaner aftertaste than milk-based ice creams. If you are not a fan of red beans, there are many bingsus developed from patbingsu, such as strawberry bingsu, chocolate bingsu and many more. It's the best dessert in Summertime.
- Golbaengi-muchim
Golbaengi is a sea snail that might look a bit weird if you never tried it before. It tastes like a clam and very chewy and delicious. It is seasoned with hot seasoning and served with noodles. Like naengmyeon, golbaengi-muchim is spicy, sour, and sweet. You can eat it along with rice, but it is even better to have it with some soju or beer.
Autumn
Feature
- Period : September, October, November
- Temperature : 0°C~27°C
- Note : Great time to travel. Be careful of the temperature change.
It feels colder, but it's actually warmer than spring and has less climate change.
Spring and Autumn have similar temperature but the atmosphere is completely different. Since spring is coming out of cold weather all the flowers are blossoming and people become more lively. In autumn, as it enters winter, maple trees become red, and people start to take out there coats and winter clothes.
Anyway, the weather is perfect for travelling, and it is a great season to go outside to see the natural environment of Korea. Locals enjoy hiking in this season to enjoy the maple and ginkgo trees. Also, at seashore you can see the golden reed field, and pink muhly grass in certain areas. Perfect season to go on a date.
It's a dry season, so you don't have to worry about sweating, and enjoy the pleasant temperature at day time. Temperature might fall sharply in the evening so don't stay out too long without outer.
How to dress
It's too early for long paddings or fur clothes. Coat is the most preferred outer by locals. Sweater or wool clothes also fit nicely with the autumn atmosphere. Just keep in mind that early autumn is still kind of hot during the day, so if it is hard to take off, you might get too hot and exhausted.
If you like sporty clothes wearing a hoody or sweatshirt is also appropriate. Carry a cardigan with you just in case it gets too cold at night. Late autumn is similar to winter, so do care about body temperature!
Top 3 Activities
Pink Muhly wasn't very common in Korea until recently. Now it has become a hot place on instagram. It full blooms in autumn which makes the place all pink and romantic. You can find a pink muhly colony in Seoul, Busan, Incheon and more. There are many tours featuring pink muhly, take a look around!
In autumn Korean mountains are coloured red and yellow. If you go hiking you can see the beautiful scene created by maple and ginkgo trees. More than 50% of Korea is covered with mountain and there are many styles of mountains. Choose the right mountain and you can enjoy light hiking, or climb rock mountains and enjoy sky view.
Hanok Village is great to visit at any time of the year. But, personally I think it is most beautiful in the autumn season. The quiet and tranquil atmosphere of Hanok goes well with the calm and solitude atmosphere of autumn. You can find many hanok villages in Seoul, or visit places like Andong to experience authentic Korean culture.
Top 3 Places
Nami Island is the most popular travel destination for both foreigners and locals. The whole island is designed as a tourist spot, and you can enjoy a beautiful natural environment and exhibitions. Walk or ride a bike alongside the river and forest. It will make you feel much healthier while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Dumulmeori means that two rivers meat together. River is so large it seems like an ocean but much quieter and peaceful. It's not a very exciting location, but just walking around will be a "healing" time for anyone.
Seoul Sky Park is a spot you can easily visit to enjoy silver grass and pink muhly. It is unbelievable that it was once a landfill, and it has turned into such a beautiful eco-park.
Top 3 Food
There's a saying that Jeoneo in autumn can bring daughter-in-law back home. In autumn fishes are fatter and are much more tender. It is good to eat as sashimi or roast it to taste it. Not just Jeoneo, but many fishes are more delicious and safer to eat as sashimi in autumn because of the weather.
Crabs are also the most delicious in autumn. You can steam it, make a soup with it, season it with soy sauce, or spicy seasoning to eat it. Crabs are more plump and full of flavour in autumn. Try crabs if you are travelling Korea in autumn.
In Namdaemun Market there is a Galchi alley full of ribbonfish dishes. You mostly eat it roasted or seasoned with spicy sauce and not sashimi. As we have mentioned it at Jeoneo section fishes are more delicious in autumn. It goes perfect with white rice and make a perfect Korean meal.
Winter
Feature
- Period : December, January, February
- Temperature : -6°C~7°C
- Note : Cold and snowy. Good season to go skiing!
Weather and temperature are most consistent. Consistently cold...
How to dress
There isn't much of a tip for winter wear. Put on anything to keep you warm. Down jacket, or long padding are necessary. It's not enough, get gloves and a muffler to keep your hand and neck warm. If you are still cold, wear innerwear to protect your body from the cold. It's good to wear a loose fit so you can fit all those clothing inside.
You'll have to take off your outer inside since the winter clothing is uncomfortable to move around. So if you have bought a fleece or light jacket for autumn weather, it is good to wear them inside your winter jacket.
Top 3 Activities
Korea snows a lot in the winter, and over 50% of Korea is covered with mountains, which makes it a great place for ski resorts. Ski resorts are mostly located in Gangwon-do, but there are many tours and shuttle buses to take you there. There are lessons for beginners and clothes rentals so don't worry if you don't have the gears. If you are afraid to ride ski or snowboard you can ride snow sleds which is exciting and easy to ride.
In wintertime, in cold areas of Korea, rivers freeze up. You cut a hole into the ice and put a fishing rod in it. It is very cold but an experience you can do in winter only. There are other activities like hand fishing, ice skating and snow sleds. You can cook the fish you caught and eat it on the spot. It's a unique experience, and worth trying it for once.
It's hard to travel in such cold weather. Spas nowadays are designed like water parks and you can swim in warm water and float around in tubes. Also, you can warm your body in a spa and play with your friends in jjimjilbang. It will be a good place to rest your body and mind and finish your tour.
Top 3 Places
Hanok Village in Jeonju is one of the largest and most beautiful Hanok Village in Jeonju. Traditional housing covered in snow makes the scenery much more beautiful. It feels like it came straight out of a Korean traditional painting. Jeonju is also famous for its food. Plan your trip around the Hanok village with authentic Korean food. You won't regret the long travel.
- Hallasan Mountain
Hallasan Mountain is the highest mountain in South Korea and in winter it offers beautiful scenery all the way to the top. It is very dangerous to climb snowy mountains because it is very slippery. You have to be fully prepared with gears. There are lots of courses to the top so pick the most appropriate one for you considering the time and starting point. It will present you with the most magnificent view of the Korean winter.
The reason I picked Gyeongju is because of Bulguksa's beautiful scenery in winter. Gyeongju is full of cultural relics, and traditional architectures look more beautiful covered with snow. You can find not just Bulguksa, but Seokguram, Observatory and more. It's a city of tradition and culture. You will learn more about Korea after you visit Gyeongju.
Top 3 Food
Street foods are especially delicious in winter because it is baked right away and is very hot. Eomuk with soup, hotteok and other foods are good to melt your body. If you travel to traditional markets you can skip your meal and finish with just street foods. They are usually sweet and high in calories. If you have an appointment for dinner, don't eat too much street food.
- Ddeokguk
Ddeokguk is a soup with Korean rice cake in it. It's special food you must eat on New Year's day in Korea. Some times you put dumplings in it to make it richer in flavour. It's occasional food but it is good to taste anytime. It's hot soup and great to melt a frozen body. It is said that if you have a bowl of ddeokguk you get a year older in Korea.
- Galbitang
Galbitang is a soup with beef ribs in it. It also has healthy ingredients like ginseng, jujube and is known as stamina health food in Korea. You can put a bowl of rice in it for a complete meal. For locals, it is recommended that you have galbitang if you feel a bit cold, or sick, which makes it a perfect meal to have in winter.
This posting is about general information about the weather in Korea. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment. Or send us an e-mail at help@creatrip.com, and we'll get right back to you.
This is it for today! See you next time~