Korea in winter: Seoul, Busan and Jeju
Korean winters are cold and dry in Seoul, milder in Busan and wetter on Jeju. KMA normals put Seoul’s January mean at -1.9 °C (about 29 °F), Busan’s at 3.6 °C and Jeju City’s at 6.1 °C. Days are short and evenings cold, so plan indoor afternoons, markets and the light festivals.
How cold is it, city by city
| Month | Mean (°C) | Average low (°C) | Precipitation (mm) | Days with snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DecemberSeoul | 0.2 | -3.4 | 22.6 | 6.4 |
| JanuarySeoul | -1.9 | -5.5 | 16.8 | 7.1 |
| FebruarySeoul | 0.7 | -3.2 | 28.2 | 5.1 |
| DecemberBusan | 5.8 | 2.0 | 33.8 | 0.9 |
| JanuaryBusan | 3.6 | -0.1 | 34.5 | 1.4 |
| FebruaryBusan | 5.4 | 1.5 | 49.6 | 1.2 |
| DecemberJeju City | 8.3 | 5.6 | 55.6 | 5.3 |
| JanuaryJeju City | 6.1 | 3.7 | 67.5 | 7.2 |
| FebruaryJeju City | 6.8 | 4.0 | 57.2 | 4.2 |
Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020 normals. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Days with snow counts the days on which snow was observed, not days with snow lying on the ground.
Seoul’s average low stays below freezing from December to February. Busan’s does so only in January (-0.1 °C), and Jeju City’s never does. For the Seoul January low of -5.5 °C that is about 22 °F. Jeju City has about as many days with snow in January as Seoul (7.2 against 7.1), although it is 8 °C warmer on average. Busan has about 1.4 such days.
The other nine months are in best time to visit Korea.
Winter lights and festivals
| Festival | Last season (2025–26) | Where | Address in Korean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Lantern Festival서울빛초롱축제 | Dec 12, 2025 to Jan 18, 2026 | Cheonggyecheon, from Cheonggye Plaza to Samil Bridge | 청계천 청계광장~삼일교 |
| Haeundae Light Festival해운대 빛축제 | Nov 29, 2025 to Jan 18, 2026, 18:00–23:00 | Haeundae Beach and the Gunam-ro area, Busan | 부산광역시 해운대구 해운대해변로 280(해운대해수욕장)·구남로 일원 |
| Camellia Hill카멜리아힐 | A camellia garden on Jeju’s Seogwipo side. Check its own site for opening hours and what is in bloom before you go. | Seogwipo side, Jeju | 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 안덕면 병악로 166 |
Checked Oct 4, 2026. These are last season’s dates. 2026–27 festival dates are usually announced in November. We update this page when they are.
Seollal 2027: what changes
Seollal (Lunar New Year) falls on Sunday, February 7, 2027. Because it lands on a weekend, a substitute holiday follows, so the public holiday runs from Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 9.
Long-distance trains and buses fill up around the holiday, and some shops and restaurants close for it. Book intercity travel early and check opening days for the places you want to visit. The Seoul to Busan guide has the train and bus options.
Checked Oct 4, 2026.
A warm-weather plan
Cold, dry weather suits short outdoor stretches with warm stops in between. Our 3-day Seoul plan keeps each day in one area, so the subway rides between stops stay short. Busan’s January mean is 5.5 °C above Seoul’s and Jeju City’s is 6.1 °C, so the south suits a milder week. On that plan the travel between stops adds up to about 2 h 7 min over 3 days, about 42 min a day, and the planner budgets about $9 (₩12,000) per person per day for local transport. Prices as of Sep 25, 2026 · USD at the Nov 13, 2026 rate.
Start from the 3-day Seoul itinerary or the 7-day Seoul and Busan itinerary, and check closed days and evening hours in things to do in Seoul. City guides: Busan and Jeju.
Opens the planner with the Seoul plan. Change the days, the cities or the style there.
Sources
- Korea Meteorological Administration: climate normals report 1991–2020 (PDF)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Seoul Lantern Festival 2025 (event listing)
- Korea Tourism Organization: Haeundae Light Festival (festival listing)
- Haeundae-gu Office: Haeundae Light Festival (official site)
- Visit Jeju: Camellia Hill (official tourism site)
- Korea AeroSpace Administration: 2027 calendar notice (월력요항)
- Korea Law Information Center: Regulations on Public Holidays, Article 3 (substitute holidays)
Before you go
Travel insurance
Check that your policy covers medical care in Korea, trip changes and the activities you plan.
- Check price on SafetyWingAffiliate linkTravel medical insurance for visitors
eSIM or SIM card
Mobile data keeps maps, translation and transit apps working. For an eSIM, check that your phone supports it and is unlocked.
- Check price on KlookAffiliate linkChecked Nov 65G Unlimited Prepaid eSIM South Korea (SKT)
The full checklist (K-ETA, T-money, airport transfers) comes with every trip you build in the planner.
Questions
How cold is Seoul in January?
Seoul’s January mean is -1.9 °C (about 29 °F) and its average low is -5.5 °C (about 22 °F), the coldest of the three cities, with snow on about 7 days of the month (KMA 1991–2020 normals). Pack a warm coat, a hat and gloves. Checked Oct 4, 2026.
Does it snow in Busan?
Rarely. Busan’s normal is 1.4 days with snow in January and 0.9 in December, against 7.1 and 6.4 in Seoul (KMA 1991–2020). A day with snow is a day on which snow was observed, not one with snow on the ground.
Is Seollal a good time to visit?
It can be, if you plan for it. The holiday runs February 6–9, 2027. Long-distance trains and buses fill up around the holiday, and some shops and restaurants close for it. Book intercity travel early and check opening days for the places you want to visit.