Best time to visit South Korea

South Korea has four clear seasons. Cherry blossoms (late March–mid April) and autumn colour (October–mid November) bring the best weather and the biggest crowds. The jangma monsoon runs from late June to late July, August is hot and humid with typhoon risk into September, and December–February is cold and dry, with ski season in Pyeongchang. Seollal and Chuseok move each year and fill trains and buses.

Seasons in South Korea

Winter, Dec–Feb: Cold and dry, often below freezing in Seoul; skiing in Pyeongchang and winter lights. In season: Pyeongchang.
Spring, Mar–May: Cherry blossoms from late March (south) to mid-April (Seoul), then warm, green and mostly dry. Fine-dust days are common. In season: Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.
Summer (jangma monsoon), Jun–Aug: Monsoon rain from late June to late July, then hot and humid with typhoon risk on Jeju and the south coast. In season: Gangneung.
Autumn, Sep–Nov: Clear and dry, with autumn colour from mid-October on Seoraksan to mid-November in Seoul. In season: Sokcho (Seoraksan), Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

Peak, shoulder and off season in South Korea

Peak season, Apr, Oct: Cherry blossom and autumn-leaf weeks; hotels in Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju fill early.
Shoulder season, May, Aug–Sep, Nov: Pleasant weather or beach holidays; Chuseok (September or early October) books out trains and closes shops for 2–3 days.
Off season, Jun–Jul, Dec–Mar: Cold or wet months with lower prices; Seollal (late Jan or Feb) is a busy exception.

South Korea in January

Winter · Off season

Coldest month, dry and often below freezing in Seoul; ski season in Pyeongchang. Seollal (Lunar New Year) falls in late January or February — trains sell out and some shops close for 2–3 days.

In season: Pyeongchang.

South Korea in February

Winter · Off season

Still cold, with good skiing; Seollal in some years. Camellias flower on Jeju and Odongdo, and canola fields start late in the month on Jeju.

In season: Pyeongchang.

South Korea in March

Spring · Off season

Cold early, mild by the end; canola on Jeju and the first cherry blossoms on Jeju and the south coast in the last week. Fine-dust days are common.

South Korea in April

Spring · Peak season

Cherry blossoms from late March to mid-April (Busan and Gyeongju first, Seoul in early–mid April) — busy and pricier. Mild days, cool nights.

In season: Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in May

Spring · Shoulder season

Warm, green and mostly dry — one of the best months. Lantern festivals before Buddha's Birthday; Children's Day on 5 May brings domestic crowds.

In season: Sokcho (Seoraksan), Gangneung, Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in June

Summer (jangma monsoon) · Off season

Warm early summer; the jangma monsoon usually starts in late June (mid-June on Jeju). Seoraksan and the east coast are pleasant.

In season: Sokcho (Seoraksan), Gangneung, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in July

Summer (jangma monsoon) · Off season

Monsoon rain until mid or late July, then hot and humid. Beaches open on Busan and the east coast; school holidays begin.

In season: Gangneung.

South Korea in August

Summer (jangma monsoon) · Shoulder season

Hottest month (30 °C+ and humid) and peak domestic holidays at the beaches; typhoon risk for Jeju and the south coast through September.

In season: Gangneung.

South Korea in September

Autumn · Shoulder season

Heat eases through the month, with some typhoon risk early. Chuseok falls in September or early October — transport is booked out and many shops close for 2–3 days.

In season: Sokcho (Seoraksan), Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in October

Autumn · Peak season

Clear and dry — the best month for many. Autumn colour peaks around mid-October on Seoraksan and moves south; Busan film festival and Andong mask dance festival.

In season: Sokcho (Seoraksan), Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, Yeosu, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in November

Autumn · Shoulder season

Autumn leaves in Seoul, Gyeongju and the south until mid-November, then cold; tangerine harvest begins on Jeju.

In season: Nami Island, Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju, Andong, Gyeongju, Jeju City, Seogwipo & Jungmun.

South Korea in December

Winter · Off season

Cold and dry; ski resorts open mid-month. Winter lights in Seoul and Busan and the Garden of Morning Calm lighting festival.

In season: Pyeongchang.