South Korea’s first sunrise of 2026 will appear earliest at Dokdo (독도) at 7:26 AM on January 1. Most places nationwide will see the sunrise around 7:30 AM; Seoul’s sunrise is expected at 7:47 AM. Other major cities: Busan 7:32, Daegu 7:36, Incheon 7:48, Sejong 7:43, Daejeon 7:42, Gwangju 7:41, Ulsan 7:32. Times are calculated at sea level (0 m); higher elevations see sunrise earlier (about 2 minutes earlier at 100 m). Many mountains and parks in and around Seoul will host sunrise-viewing events. Cold temperatures are expected—overnight lows between –16°C and 4°C and daytime highs from –5°C to 4°C—so visitors should dress warmly. For exact sunrise and sunset times by location, check the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute’s website.
