Best time to visit South Korea
South Korea has its best weather in May, June, September, and October.
South Korea weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F | 20°F | 0.7 in | 3 | 7.8 h |
| February | 41°F | 23°F | 1 in | 5 | 8.4 h |
| March | 53°F | 32°F | 1.6 in | 6 | 9.1 h |
| April | 64°F | 44°F | 2.5 in | 7 | 9.3 h |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 4.2 in | 8 | 10 h |
| June | 80°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 10 | 9.8 h |
| July | 84°F | 72°F | 12.2 in | 18 | 8.2 h |
| August | 85°F | 72°F | 10.2 in | 16 | 9.2 h |
| September | 78°F | 63°F | 5.2 in | 9 | 8.6 h |
| October | 65°F | 48°F | 3 in | 6 | 8.3 h |
| November | 52°F | 35°F | 2.3 in | 7 | 7.2 h |
| December | 38°F | 23°F | 1 in | 5 | 7.2 h |
South Korea month by month
South Korea in January
Highs around 36°F, lows near 20°F. About 3 rainy days and 7.8 h of sunshine a day.
Hardest monthSouth Korea in February
Highs around 41°F, lows near 23°F. About 5 rainy days and 8.4 h of sunshine a day.
Hardest monthSouth Korea in March
Highs around 53°F, lows near 32°F. About 6 rainy days and 9.1 h of sunshine a day.
Cherry blossoms · Jeju canola flowers
Mixed weatherSouth Korea in April
Highs around 64°F, lows near 44°F. About 7 rainy days and 9.3 h of sunshine a day.
Cherry blossoms · Jeju canola flowers
Good weatherSouth Korea in May
Highs around 73°F, lows near 53°F. About 8 rainy days and 10 h of sunshine a day.
Best weatherSouth Korea in June
Highs around 80°F, lows near 64°F. About 10 rainy days and 9.8 h of sunshine a day.
Best weatherSouth Korea in July
Highs around 84°F, lows near 72°F. About 18 rainy days and 8.2 h of sunshine a day.
Jangma rainy season
Hardest monthSouth Korea in August
Highs around 85°F, lows near 72°F. About 16 rainy days and 9.2 h of sunshine a day.
Hardest monthSouth Korea in September
Highs around 78°F, lows near 63°F. About 9 rainy days and 8.6 h of sunshine a day.
Chuseok
Best weatherSouth Korea in October
Highs around 65°F, lows near 48°F. About 6 rainy days and 8.3 h of sunshine a day.
Chuseok · Autumn foliage
Best weatherSouth Korea in November
Highs around 52°F, lows near 35°F. About 7 rainy days and 7.2 h of sunshine a day.
Autumn foliage · Busan Fireworks Festival
Mixed weatherSouth Korea in December
Highs around 38°F, lows near 23°F. About 5 rainy days and 7.2 h of sunshine a day.
Hardest month
Seasons and events
- Mar and Apr
Cherry blossoms
Blossoms open first in Jeju and Busan in late March, then in Seoul in early April. Peak bloom comes about a week after opening.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) - Mar and Apr
Jeju canola flowers
From late March to early April, yellow canola and pink cherry blossoms bloom together along Jeju's Noksan-ro.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) - Jul
Jangma rainy seasonWeather risk
The summer monsoon starts in the south in late June and lasts about 30 days. More than half the year's rain falls in this season.
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration - Sep and Oct
Chuseok
Three-day harvest holiday, usually in September or October. Royal palaces offer free admission during the holiday.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) - Oct and Nov
Autumn foliage
Peak autumn color moves across the country from mid-October to early November, starting with Seoraksan.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) - Nov
Busan Fireworks Festival
Fireworks show over Gwangalli Beach, Igidae and Dongbaekseom island, hosted by Busan city in November.
Source: Busan Metropolitan City
Plan South Korea for May
Lay the trip out day by day in Waiz, on a timeline and a map, and plan it with friends in real time. Pro adds AI itineraries and the forecast for every day.
Questions about visiting South Korea
May scores highest for weather in Seoul, with highs around 73°F and about 8 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is May, June, September, and October.
July is the wettest month in Seoul, with about 12.2 in of rain over 18 days. January is the driest, with about 0.7 in.
August is the warmest month in Seoul, with average highs of 85°F. January is the coolest, at 36°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
