Seasons in South Korea
South Korea lies in the mid-latitude temperate zone and has four clear seasons: spring and autumn are clear and dry under migratory high pressure, summer is hot and humid under the North Pacific high, and winter is cold and dry under a continental high.[3] The Korea Tourism Organization counts spring as March to May, summer as June to August, autumn as September to November and winter as December to February.[4]
The summer monsoon rain is called changma. The KMA defines it as the heavy rain that falls from late June to late July under the changma front. In the 1991 to 2020 normals it starts on Jeju on 19 June, in the southern region (which includes Busan) on 23 June and in the central region (which includes Seoul) on 25 June, and it ends on 20, 24 and 26 July. A typical changma period lasts 31 to 32 days with rain on 17 to 18 of them and brings about 340 to 380 mm.[1] Typhoon season runs from June to October.[4] In an average year 25.1 typhoons form in the North Pacific and 3.4 of them affect Korea, counted by the month in which they form: 1.2 in August, 1.0 in July and 0.8 in September, against 0.3 in June and 0.1 in October.[2]
Region by region
Seoul and the central region (Seoul)
Seoul has the widest seasonal swing of the three places. The mean daily high rises from 2.1 °C in January to 29.8 °C in August, and the mean daily low falls to -6.5 °C in January. Summer (June to August) brings about 63% of the year's rain in Seoul and winter (December to February) only about 5%.[5]
Seoul is rated best in April, May, June, October and November. July (345 mm) and August (299 mm) are rated poor, with tropical storms within 200 km in 7 and 9 of 30 years respectively.
Southeast coast (Busan)
Excluding islands, Busan has the highest mean annual temperature of any region in Korea, about 15 °C.[3] In January the mean daily high is 7.1 °C and the mean daily low is -2.1 °C, against 2.1 °C and -6.5 °C in Seoul.
The KMA describes a Busan summer in which stationary fronts or deep lows often bring local downpours, and in which heat and humidity persist after changma ends because of the south-east monsoon. It adds that autumn is mostly clear under migratory high pressure, apart from typhoon damage, with a larger day-to-night temperature range.[6] Busan is rated best from March to May and in October and November. August is poor (255 mm, with storms within 200 km in 12 of 30 years) and September is mixed (174 mm, with storms in 14 of 30 years).
Jeju Island (Jeju)
The KMA classes Jeju as subtropical: warm, humid and strongly marine all year, with a smaller daily temperature range than the mainland. Compared with the inland, it is warmer, wetter and windier.[7] Rain varies a lot across the island: the normal annual total is about 1,180 mm at Gosan on the west coast and about 1,500 mm at Jeju City, but about 2,000 mm at Seogwipo in the south and Seongsan in the east. Gosan also has the strongest wind, averaging 6.8 m/s against 2.5 to 3.3 m/s at the other three stations.[7]
Jeju is rated best in March, October and November. April, May and June are good, July (266 mm) and August (272 mm) are poor, and September (212 mm) is mixed. In August, tropical storms came within 200 km of Jeju in 14 of 30 years, the most of the three places, and in 12 of 30 years in September.
South Korea month by month
South Korea in January
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Busan and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 64 mm.
Hottest days: Jeju, 8 °C on average.
January is the coldest month: Seoul has a mean daily high of 2.1 °C and a low of -6.5 °C and is rated mixed, while Busan (7.1 °C high, -2.1 °C low) and Jeju (8.0 °C high, 1.6 °C low) are rated good. Snow-covered Hallasan counts among Jeju's finest winter views[8], but winter hikers need spikes for their shoes.[9] From October to April the KMA issues a cold wave advisory when, among other conditions, the morning minimum is expected to be -12 °C or lower on at least two consecutive days.[10]
South Korea in February
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 66 mm.
Hottest days: Jeju, 9 °C on average.
February is still cold in Seoul (4.9 °C high, -4.3 °C low) but all three places are rated good, with Busan at 9.2 °C and -0.4 °C and Jeju at 9.3 °C and 2.3 °C. Seollal, the Lunar New Year, falls on 7 February in 2027, and the public holiday that year runs from 6 to 9 February.[11] Intercity train and bus tickets sell out fast during Seollal, and many department stores, malls and restaurants close on Seollal Day or for part of the holiday.[12]
South Korea in March
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Busan, Jeju, and Seoul.
Most rain: Jeju, 106 mm.
Hottest days: Busan, 13 °C on average.
March is rated best in Busan (13.4 °C high, 4.0 °C low, 72 mm) and Jeju (13.0 °C, 5.4 °C, 106 mm) and good in Seoul (10.7 °C, 0.6 °C, 40 mm). Asian dust mainly appears in spring.[13] In the 2010s, cherry trees in Busan flowered on average on 27 March.[14] The KTO advises a light jacket or trench coat in March, because temperatures can drop in the morning and evening.[4]
South Korea in April
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 141 mm.
Hottest days: Busan, 19 °C on average.
April is rated best in Seoul (18.0 °C high, 6.6 °C low, 69 mm) and Busan (18.7 °C, 9.0 °C, 110 mm) and good in Jeju (17.6 °C, 9.5 °C, 141 mm), where the rain is already heavier. In the 2010s, cherry trees in Seoul flowered on average on 6 April.[14] Seoul's strongest average winds of the year come in March and April.[5]
South Korea in May
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 167 mm.
Hottest days: Seoul, 23 °C on average.
May is rated best in Seoul (23.4 °C high, 12.6 °C low, 90 mm) and Busan (23.0 °C, 13.7 °C, 122 mm) and good in Jeju (21.6 °C, 13.8 °C, 167 mm). The KTO suggests packing both outerwear and short-sleeved clothing for May.[4] The changma rains normally begin on Jeju on 19 June, so a May trip falls before them.[1]
South Korea in June
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 215 mm.
Hottest days: Seoul, 27 °C on average.
June is rated best in Seoul (27.3 °C high, 17.9 °C low, 122 mm) but only good in Busan (165 mm) and Jeju (215 mm). The changma rains normally start on Jeju on 19 June, in the south on 23 June and around Seoul on 25 June, so late June is wetter in the south than in the capital.[1] The KTO advises checking the forecast in advance if you travel from the end of June to the end of July.[4]
South Korea in July
SeoulBusanJeju
No place on the map has great or good weather.
Most rain: Seoul, 345 mm.
Hottest days: Seoul, 29 °C on average.
July is rated poor in Seoul (345 mm) and Jeju (266 mm) and mixed in Busan (243 mm). Changma normally ends on 20 July on Jeju, 24 July in the south and 26 July around Seoul.[1] The KMA issues a heavy rain advisory when 60 mm in 3 hours or 110 mm in 12 hours is expected, and a warning at 90 mm in 3 hours or 180 mm in 12 hours.[10]
South Korea in August
SeoulBusanJeju
No place on the map has great or good weather.
Most rain: Seoul, 299 mm.
Hottest days: Seoul, 30 °C on average.
August is rated poor in all three places: Seoul (29.8 °C high, 299 mm), Busan (29.8 °C, 255 mm) and Jeju (29.4 °C, 272 mm). Tropical storms came within 200 km in 9 of 30 years at Seoul, 12 at Busan and 14 at Jeju. August has the highest average number of typhoons affecting Korea of any month, 1.2 per year by formation month.[2] The KMA issues a heat wave advisory when the daily maximum feels-like temperature is expected to reach 33 °C or higher for at least two consecutive days, and a warning at 35 °C.[10]
South Korea in September
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul.
Most rain: Jeju, 212 mm.
Hottest days: Seoul, 26 °C on average.
September is rated good in Seoul (26.1 °C high, 127 mm) but mixed in Busan (174 mm) and Jeju (212 mm), where storms came within 200 km in 14 and 12 of 30 years respectively. Typhoons still affect Korea on average 0.8 times per year by formation month.[2] Chuseok falls on 15 September in 2027, with a public holiday from 14 to 16 September.[11] Train and express bus tickets sell out quickly at Chuseok, and many department stores, malls and restaurants close on Chuseok Day or part of the holiday, while subways and city buses run as usual.[15]
South Korea in October
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 79 mm.
Hottest days: Busan, 22 °C on average.
October is rated best in all three places: Seoul (19.9 °C high, 9.2 °C low, 50 mm), Busan (21.9 °C, 12.6 °C, 65 mm) and Jeju (21.5 °C, 14.0 °C, 79 mm). In the 1991 to 2020 normals, autumn foliage on Seoraksan peaks on 17 October, and on Bukhansan (Seoul) and Hallasan (Jeju) on 28 October.[16] Reaching the Hallasan summit needs an advance reservation on the Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa trail[8], and all hikes must finish before sunset.[9]
South Korea in November
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 70 mm.
Hottest days: Jeju, 16 °C on average.
November is rated best in all three places: Seoul (11.8 °C high, 2.3 °C low, 47 mm), Busan (15.8 °C, 6.0 °C, 48 mm) and Jeju (16.1 °C, 8.5 °C, 70 mm). In Seoul the normal date of the first frost is 28 October and of the first snow 20 November.[5] The Seoul Lantern Festival lights up Cheonggyecheon Stream every year in November.[17]
South Korea in December
SeoulBusanJeju
Great or good weather: Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Most rain: Jeju, 62 mm.
Hottest days: Jeju, 11 °C on average.
December is rated good in all three places: Seoul (3.9 °C high, -4.6 °C low, 22 mm), Busan (9.3 °C, -0.2 °C, 27 mm) and Jeju (10.5 °C, 3.5 °C, 62 mm). The KTO advises thick outerwear and non-slip shoes for walking on snow in winter, and names skiing and snowboarding as winter activities.[4]
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit South Korea?
April, May, October and November. Seoul and Busan are rated best in all four months, and Jeju is rated best in October and November.
When is the rainy season in South Korea?
The changma rainy season normally starts on Jeju on 19 June, in the south on 23 June and in the central region around Seoul on 25 June, and ends on 20, 24 and 26 July respectively (KMA normals, 1991 to 2020).[1]
When is typhoon season in South Korea?
Typhoon season runs from June to October.[4] On average 3.4 typhoons a year affect Korea, most of them forming in August, July and September.[2]
When do cherry blossoms bloom in South Korea?
In the 2010s, cherry trees flowered on average on 27 March in Busan and on 6 April in Seoul.[14]
When is autumn foliage best in South Korea?
In the 1991 to 2020 normals, foliage peaks on 17 October on Seoraksan, on 28 October on Bukhansan and Hallasan and on 4 November on Naejangsan.[16]
How cold does South Korea get in winter?
In January Seoul has a mean daily high of 2.1 °C and a low of -6.5 °C, Busan 7.1 °C and -2.1 °C, and Jeju 8.0 °C and 1.6 °C.
About the data
Temperatures and rain are long-term averages for 1991 to 2020 from TerraClimate, and the typhoon risk counts tropical storms from NOAA IBTrACS. The ratings use the same rules for every country. How the rating works.
Long-term averages, not a forecast. The weather in a given year can be quite different.
Travel guide: South Korea
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Korea Meteorological Administration (Open MET Data Portal): 기상자료개방포털 장마 일반조회 (Open MET Data Portal, rainy season statistics) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [2] Korea Meteorological Administration: 태풍발생현황 통계 (Typhoon occurrence statistics) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [3] Korea Meteorological Administration: 한국 기후특성 (Climate characteristics of Korea) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [4] Korea Tourism Organization: Climate & Seasons: A Year-Round Travel Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [5] Korea Meteorological Administration: 한국 지역별 기후특성 (서울·경기도) (Regional climate characteristics, Seoul and Gyeonggi) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [6] Korea Meteorological Administration: 한국 지역별 기후특성 (경상남도, 부산) (Regional climate characteristics, Gyeongnam and Busan) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [7] Korea Meteorological Administration: 한국 지역별 기후특성 (제주특별자치도) (Regional climate characteristics, Jeju) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [8] Jeju Tourism Organization (Visit Jeju): Hallasan National Park. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [9] Jeju Tourism Organization (Visit Jeju): Hiking Hallasan Mountain. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [10] Korea Meteorological Administration: Current Severe Weather Status, issuance criteria for weather advisories and warnings. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [11] Korea AeroSpace Administration: 「2027년 월력요항」 발표 (Announcement of the 2027 official calendar) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [12] Korea Tourism Organization: 2026 Seollal Holiday Travel Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [13] Korea Meteorological Administration: 손에 잡히는 예보기술 제12호: 황사분석 및 예측 가이던스 (Asian dust analysis and forecast guidance, March 2012) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [14] Korea Meteorological Administration: 온실가스 감축 없으면, 21세기 후반 봄꽃 2월에 필 수도 (press release, 16 March 2022) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [15] Korea Tourism Organization: 2026 Chuseok Holiday Travel Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [16] Korea Meteorological Administration (Daejeon Regional Office): 2025 대전지방기상청 웹진 가을호 (제41호) (Autumn 2025 webzine) (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [17] Seoul Metropolitan Government: Must-see sights in Seoul 5 (Seoul Lantern Festival) (page dated 2016). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
