What’s the most important thing for traveling?
WEATHER.
WEATHER.
WEATHER.
Korea weather by month changes drastically, so choosing the right time is crucial. I’ll even let you in on the school break schedules, so listen up!
❄️ Seriously?
Do you really have to?
: December, January, & February
Reason 1: Winter in Korea is freezing. Koreans survive this by wearing thick “Long Padding” (full-length puffer coats). Most people on Earth probably don’t even own one of these. A thin jacket will NOT cut it. You might have heard that Koreans only wear colorless clothes—well, it’s worst in winter. Since most puffer coats are black, you’ll see crowds of people walking around looking like Kimbap (seaweed rice rolls).
Reason 2: Holidays and Atmosphere. In February, we have Seollal (Lunar New Year). It’s a 3-4 day holiday where many shops close, and the streets get very quiet. January 1st is similar. On the flip side, Christmas is insanely crowded everywhere!
Reason 3: School Vacations. University students are on break from mid-December to February, and K-12 students are usually out from late December through February.
🌱 How about March?
People think it’s spring, but it’s still cold. It’s also the “Back to School” season in Korea. It’s better than January, but definitely pack some layers. (Also, watch out for the Yellow Dust / Fine Dust blowing in from China!)
✅ Highly Recommended: April, May, & June
Spring in Korea is truly the best. By May and June, you can wear short sleeves. It’s not “sweating-my-eyes-out” hot yet; it’s just perfect. If you time it right, you can catch the Korea Cherry Blossom season in early April! 🌸
☀️ July & August: So-so
It’s summer break for everyone, so places are crowded. It’s not just hot—it’s humid. We also have a Monsoon season in Korea (Jangma). You might end up seeing nothing but grey clouds and rain for two weeks straight. Personally, I prefer heat over cold, but the humidity is no joke.
🍁 The Golden Time: September & October
This is the best month to visit Seoul and Korea. The sky is crystal clear blue, there’s a light breeze, and the sun is beautiful. This is also when you can see the amazing Autumn foliage in Korea. 🍂 And you’ll be able to see the yellow ginkgo trees and autumn leaves all over the streets. (Make sure not to step on the ginkgoes—the smell is absolutely terrible.)
Why do I prefer Autumn over Spring? Honestly, it’s just my preference because of my pollen allergies!
🍂 November
This is the transition from Autumn to Winter. It gets cold very suddenly, so if you come, try to visit in the beginning of the month to enjoy the last of the crisp autumn air.
📌 Summary: When to travel to Korea
- Highly Recommended: April–June & Sept–Oct
- So-so: March, July–August, & Nov
- Seriously? Do you really have to?: Dec–Feb
See you in my other posts. An-nyeong!