We can't say South Korea is uneventful because it's not. There is always a music or cultural festival going on each and every month. And the majority of the year it is very comfortable to travel to and around the country. Chances are you will be bothered more by the heat than the rain and any monsoon to worry about.
South Korea isn't Malaysia or the Philippines. As for the snow, most people we predict have encountered snow before in their life at least once. It's not a show stopper, is it? Pick out a date for your holiday vacation and set your heart on arriving in Seoul.
Whilst it is hot and humid in South Korea, it can also be wet and cold, and it snows too. The best time for travel is in spring and autumn. If you want winter sports or activities, such as skiing, then travel in December and January for the best results. If shopping is involved, then spring or summer: if the rain gets too much for you, you can always escape to Jeju Island.
We can't say there is a good time or best time to travel South Korea. The four seasons they have are much like those in Europe:
There are the obligatory rains, showers and torrential storms, typically July and August are bad. Ironically, summer is the best time for trekking throughout South Korea and family focused attractions.
Festival and celebrations such as the Chinese Lunar New Year, Chuseok and Seollal shuts most of the country down. Shops, cafes and restaurants are closed, as are many attractions. Even the beaches are off limits in some places.
The summer is the hottest, it's extreme in the true sense of the word, and it rains. In a lot of cases, you are glad of the showers, to cool the temperature a little but seek shelter from the storms when they come.
Spring winds from China and Mongolia blow dust into South Korea, and that really impacts on life in Seoul. Come prepared, that's all.
One thing that did irritate us about South Korea is the public signage, there is very little English writing on it. Further to this, some Koreans may not understand English, making it embarrassing when asking for help or advice.
January has more snow and is perfect for skiing and snowboarding. If you have zero interest in winter sports then put off coming to South Korea until the middle of February, at least. Towards the second half of February, it begins to warm by a few degrees more going into March.
The two skiing resorts to book in advance are: Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do. You could also consider catching a flight to Jeju Island for a celebration of the Hallasan Mountain. The Island's temperature is touching 45°F which is warm in comparison to Seoul's 36°F.
Most Korean people don't like the snow and that is evident when their subways are connected to the most frequented facilities they love:
It's convenient for them to step off the train and walk as short a distance as possible. And that's why you can come to Seoul in winter and not feel bothered by it too much. Be wary of the Korean Lunar New Year towards the end of January and the beginning of February. Because costs rise in shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as hotel accommodation and spas, beauty treatments.
When March comes around it is a sure sign that spring has arrived. The cold has long been forgotten about, it is drying up and becoming warmer each passing day. You are thinking about packing a lunch box and heading for the nearest mountain trek trail. Once there you are going to see wildflowers close to their full bloom, all around. Being in the open fresh air surrounded by nature has its own incredible beauty.
But wear warm clothes nonetheless because the temperature is unlikely to have risen more than 45°F. In spring you can expect a few days that it will rain but those showers will be light.
If you are after South Korean cultural fulfilment, think about the Gwangyang International Maehwa Festival. It has some of the best fragrance from flowering blossoms, and the sample southern Korean seafood. Or you could jump on a bullet train to Daegu for the annual bullfight and rodeo festival.
The country takes on a completely different atmosphere and purpose. More people are finding the outdoors again they're thrilled by the mature cherry blossom. Walking under the trees, amusing themselves with their smartphones and selfies. City parks and their lakes and paths are littered with blossoming trees, marking April as one of the best months to be in South Korea.
Be wary of the dust storms at this time of the year in South Korea, the dust in blown in from China and Mongolia and it can blanket much of Korea.
It isn't quite summer yet in South Korea, but the temperature has jumped by as much as half again since March. You are looking at figures in the region of mid-60's Fahrenheit, at least. If you are traveling to South Korea this month, you are best to pack something warm, a sweater would be a good idea ― just in case.
Now is the right moment to travel to Jeollanam-do to enjoy authentic Korean tea. The Boseong Tea Festival happens this month, keep an eye out for it. Flight and accommodation costs remain more modest before the summer peaks, of July and August. Be wary of the rains as they arrive in June and last until September.
July and August may be the hottest months in South Korea, but the wettest too.
June is the month you spend time on the beaches, but the weather continues to feel mild, even though the temperatures are now looking more favorable at 72°F in most coastal areas. If you are out for an early evening stroll, take a light jacket with you as it does cool quickly after sunset.
South Korea has just two months for its summer, and that's it. Very brief but they're an exceptional experience for the foreign holidaymaker. July and August are also the wettest months of the year. Temperatures are now in their high 70's Fahrenheit which is welcome because this month hosts the annual Boryeong Mud Festival. Participants arrive in their droves from all over the world for this fun packed event. There's no excuse for not showing up in a t-shirt and shorts and joining in.
The best of South Korea's short summer. It is also the time to be on the beaches and in the water parks. But this is when beaches, shopping malls and cultural centers become crowded, when Koreans take their annual summer holidays. Many attractions and facilities are inaccessible so it's best to arrive as early as possible and why booking in advance gives you the advantage.
You may wish to stay outdoors as long as you can but the humidity can be too much. Many do shelter with working air conditioning, such as a museum or art gallery. A shopping mall for refuge from the heat.
Temperatures are milder and more comfortable in early September but towards the end of the month it feels chillier, and autumn is closer. When out and about, trekking in the national parks be sure to thrown on an extra layer of clothing. Definitely it will be colder at such heights, and especially next month. You must be told about the annual Harvest Moon Festival. It pretty much closes down the country for quite a few days towards the end of the month. Traveling is difficult.
City parks and the countryside out of the city are preparing for winter and in doing so, turn Korea into a beautiful collage of orange and crimson red. Both Seoraksan and Bukhansan national parks are recommended adventures for the amazing sights of autumn. Just as people turned out for the April blossoms they turn out for another piece of natural beauty. It is warmest in Busan and on JeJu Island, averaging 71°F.
With temperatures struggling to rise above 40°F the air you breathe is crisp and cooler. Yet the natural beauty of autumn encourages you to get out and about, to the parks and away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets. A few of you may even be willing to trek the nearest mountain to you? Wear a heavy fleece jacket and sturdy walking boots.
South Korea is amazing at this time of the year as people prepare for festivities. People are full of fun, joy and are jolly good natured more than their usual. It's the time of the year ice rinks open up all around Seoul. City center streets and shopping malls are decorated over the top, in sheer extravagance.
There is Seoul's Lantern Festival to look forward to. Large towns and cities are a delight for families despite the decline in temperature.
South Korea is an expensive country to travel to, even at the best of times. There are no bargain basement prices to the country, how there are for other southeast Asian countries during their low season. Between November and March is South Korea's low tourist season, with cheaper prices. Just don't expect to enjoy large price drops on flight costs or accommodation.
South Korea's domestic market is the 3rd largest for travel in Asia, responsible for generating anything upwards of US$11B annually. In other words, there is little reason for prices to be lowered, to attract travelers.
The two most beautiful times to holiday in Seoul are October and April. October for the autumn because walking through the city parks there is nothing more moving than seeing the multi-colored leaves. That and the surrealness of the park and its peacefulness. Summer has gone, no more picnics you are shadowed by sadness. Until autumn arrives.
April gives you the blossom from the cherry trees, turning the streets and parks of South Korea into a fragrant, colorful parade of beauty. Just as it puts you at ease walking a path. Leaves falling and being picked up by a gust of wind, the blossom is just nature showing you how creative she can be.
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Hello, we are George and Elle Mae Melyre.
Over the years, amidst work and family life, we have traveled extensively throughout Asia. Any chance to briefly escape or properly holiday in our beloved Asian destinations is eagerly seized, motivated by the enduring dream of leaving behind the UK's dreary cold for tropical climes.