South Korea Travel Forum

When is the best month to visit South Korea - in terms of weather, sight-seeing and shopping?

I am from Singapore, and planning a guided tour to South Korea, sometime next year.

Thanks!

Hi there

It was long time ago when I left in Korea but still for me it’s one of the best season and month when it starting autumn in Korea (Sep. and Oct.)

I would also recommend late September and early October. The weather in the summer can be very hot and humid. The winter very cold (particularly farther north).

September and October are comfortable with the weather and the mountains will have their trees changing colors.

Secondly I'd recommend late April / early May. At that time the weather is also in a transitionary comfortable period. It is the time that most of the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom. Many festivals around that time.

I was in South Korea twice, once the whole month of October. The weather was mild and mostly sunny, and the colourful autumn trees were stunning. They have real Indian summers, the leaves in all colours from yellow to orange and red. As South Korea is a mountainous country and hiking is the people's favourite activity you should also consider some nature walks in this wonderful season.

July..because of the Boryeong Mud Festival..


btw...there will be a contest on the Boryeong..let's all join :)

http://www.worknplay.co.kr/boryeong/index.htm

http://www.worknplay.co.kr/event/boryeong-festival.html

I went to the Boryeong Mud fest last year, and may go again this year (this weekend).

Its a spring-break type weekend where all the foreigners of the country congregate on the beach, drink and consume copious amount of alcohol. 90% of those in attendance are foreigners. Definitely not the singular reason to visit in July.

I would also second the end of September/early October OR suggest May. But for May, aim for the Lotus Lantern celebration in Seoul, usually the weekend before Buddha's birthday I believe. In Sept/Oct, aim for the Seoul International Drum Festival. These are both two events I really enjoy! When aiming for April/early May...you should be wary of the Yellow Sand season (sand in the air from China). Good luck!

Referring to the Boryeong Mud Festival... Perhaps a first-time visitor would like to meet some locals? LOL

I went again to the Mud Festival this last weekend. I also went last year.

I stand by my original comment. It would not be a singular reason to visit Korea in the summer.. It is not a local Korean event. It is now the 11th annual festival, and is publicized and promoted as a waegook (foreigner) event. There were more than 15000 people visiting over this last weekend, about 90% of were foreigners (and ~70% between ages 22~27). It is less a festival and more an excuse to drink on the beach. Its a good time, but has no cultural value at all.

Sure - my comment was only a joke. But I am impressed by how many young foreign drinkers live in South Korea ;-)))

No worries. I know you were only kidding. But thought I should reiterate since others might not read between the lines.

Regarding the young drinkers... Korea is one of the largest drawing countries for young college graduates who want to teach English.

The money is good, so they can pay off their debts quickly. Also it is one of the few countries that does not necessarily imply a cultural immersion (as apposed to working for peanuts in rural China...). For most of the 20-somethings here, having an extended college-style life while making decent money is perfectly alluring.

There are two types here... the types that go to the bars and the types that go to the temples. On a few occasions (the Mud Fest being one of them), both types meet in the middle and drink under the pretext of it being cultural.

I also know about some people who have taught English in South Korea. However, when I travelled in S.K. the first time (1988) I was the only European traveller in many places, and people wanted me to pose with them in their photos, women wanted to touch my blond hair, and children wanted my autograph and offered me sweets. And I knew some locals and spent my time with them. I really never met a lot of foreigners, so learnt a lot. Even how to drink soju ;-)

I've been coming here quite regularly for 6 years. I've even had an apartment here for the last 14 months... Things have changed drastically since I even came for the first time.

I experienced the same that you describe many times over on my first visits. But in recent years, things have shifted. Occasionally I get people to stop in their tracks in smaller towns, but in larger towns, people mostly just stare. Blonde hair is still a rarity here so it attracts a lot of attention.

I do not mean to portray all the foreigners here as revelers, but working Monday through Friday, they usually hit the bars on the weekend. Due to hagwan schedules, the average tourist will not cross paths with these expats unless its on a weekend.

i was reading how most of you recommend end sep/early oct as best time for korea. Would I be able to see red/golden leaves? Or a later time eg end Oct be better for that view?

Middle to end of October would be better chance of fall colors. But it depends on the year's weather, which even the best of us cannot predict.

I once travelled the whole month of October in South Korea and had this Indian Summer all the time.

When I was in South Korea the first time, it was for the Olympic Games in 1988, and they were from mid September to start of October because before that it was too steaming hot, and during the Games it was still hot but good - and the October after that was marvellous. Another time I was there in September, the weather was great the whole month.