The Best Season to Visit Korea: When Should You Go?

Hello, this is Sophie.

I have been living in Malaysia for a long time,
so I have many foreign friends.
These friends often ask me about traveling
to Korea. Everyone knows that Korea has
four seasons, but the most common question
is: “Which season is the best to visit Korea?”

Today, I will share my own recommendations
about the best season to visit Korea.

🌸 Spring in Korea
(March – May)

The first season I recommend is spring.
The reason is simple: Korean summer and
winter are too extreme. Summer is very hot
and humid, and winter is very cold, often below
zero. In winter you need thick coats, gloves,
and scarves, which makes your luggage heavy.

Spring is different. A light jacket or long-sleeve
shirt is enough. The weather is not too hot or
too cold, so you can walk around all day
without feeling uncomfortable.

Also, spring is famous for cherry blossom festivals and flower events all around the country.

👉 For this reason, spring is the season
I strongly recommend first.

☀️ Summer in Korea
(June – August)

To be honest, I do not recommend summer
for traveling in Korea.

Even though I live in Southeast Asia,
I feel that the Korean summer is hotter and
more humid than here. The humidity is so high
that the moment you go outside, you feel like
you cannot breathe. Your clothes become wet
with sweat very quickly, even before you say,
“It’s hot.”

For travelers, this can be uncomfortable
because daily laundry is not easy.
Even people who normally don’t sweat
will sweat a lot in Korean summer.
Some of my African friends even said,
“Korea feels hotter than Africa.”

Of course, summer also has some good points.
Beaches in Busan, Jeju Island, or Gangneung
are very lively, and you can enjoy swimming
or water activities. But keep in mind,
summer is peak season in Korea,
so hotel prices are much higher,
and booking can be difficult.

👉 That’s why I usually do not recommend summer, unless you only want to enjoy
the beach and holiday mood.

🍁 Autumn in Korea
(September – November)

Autumn is my other top recommendation, together with spring.

If spring is about cherry blossoms,
autumn is about colorful leaves.
Mountains like Seoraksan and Naejangsan,
and even palaces in Seoul, look like postcards when the leaves change color.

The weather is cool and fresh,
so a light jacket is enough.
It is not hot, not cold, and perfect
for walking around. I like autumn
because you can enjoy quiet walks in cool air while looking at beautiful scenery.

The only small problem is the ginkgo trees.
They turn bright yellow and look beautiful,
but the fallen fruits can smell very bad
(AKA Poop small).
Still, the beauty of autumn is much stronger
than this small discomfort.

👉 So if someone asks me the best season
to visit Korea, I always recommend
Spring and autumn.

❄️ Winter in Korea
(December – February)

Winter is a season that people either love
or dislike.

For friends from Southeast Asia or Africa,
the snow scenery is very special and exciting.
Ski resorts in Pyeongchang or
Phoenix Park are also popular.

But Korean winter is very very very cold.
The wind can feel painful on your skin.
If you come from a hot country,
you may feel it is too much.
To travel safely, you need to prepare well:
thick padded jackets, thermal underwear,
warm socks, scarf, earmuffs,
and even a wool hat. Without these,
outdoor travel is very difficult.

👉 If you want to avoid the coldest days
but still enjoy snow, I recommend coming
in late February. Because of climate changes,
even in early March the weather can still feel like
winter, and sometimes until mid-March it stays very cold and snow.

👉 That’s why I only recommend winter
to people who really want to see snow
or try winter sports.