South Korea used to be one of the poorest countries in the world but in less than 50 years, it has become one of the richest nations. The country still depicts the old traditions, temples, palaces and museums spread throughout the country. Despite being located next to China and Japan, South Korea has carved its name and it stands true to its culture and traditions.

South Korea has seen a peak in tourism in the last years and the reason is obvious. The country is blessed with breathtaking landscapes, white sand beaches, historic sites, mountains and much more that would draw any visitor to itself. Just like the landscapes, South Korea has diverse cultureand cuisine as it exists of a mix of various ethnicities. It’s also home to various breathtaking national parks. If you are looking to travel to a place where you can enjoy nature, history and modernism altogether along with delicious cuisine, head off to South Korea.

Next comes the weather of South Korea. If you are planning a trip to this stunning country, it’s important to know about the weather beforehand. To make your travel experience more enjoyable, we have created a month-by-month guide that will help you in deciding the best time to visit South Korea.

January

January is the coldest month in South Korea. The average monthly temperature in this month lies around -4 °C. Daytime temperatures rarely stay above freezing temperatures making a maximum of 1 °C while the nightly temperatures can drop to -9°C. With a rate of 30 mm, there is a 10% chance of precipitation during the month either in the form of ice, snow or rain. The skies are clear during this month. The length of the day increases from nine and half hours to ten and quarter hours by the end of the month. Average humidity reaches upto 64%.You’ll definitely be part of a big party if you find yourself in Seoul during New Year’s Eve.

February

The temperature gets slightly warmer in February. The average monthly temperature is around -2 °C with temperature reaching 4 °C in the daytime and -7 °Cat night. The chances of rain are minimal at the start of the month.However,the increase as the month passes by. The sun shines for around 11 hours between sunrise and sunset. The humidity is around 64% just like in January. TtukseomHangang Park is very popular among tourists and locals for sledding.

March

This month marks the end of winter and the country now gets warmer. The average daily temperature is 4 °C with 9 °C at day and -2 °C at night. The precipitation rate increases during the month and can reach upto 47mm.The humidity level reaches almost 63%. To avoid this weather, locals and tourists alike, tend to head towards the monorail in Lotte World Adventure Theme Park.

April

April continues to become warmer day by day, as the temperatures increase. The average daily temperature can reach upto 17 °C with nighttime temperatures around 5°C. The level of rainfall increases, averaging 65mm. The chances of precipitation in Seoul, the capital city, increase to around 20% while the sunshine hours tend to rise to 13 hours and 42 minutes. Humidity level reaches approximately 61% during April. One of the top attractions in Seoul in April is the JinhaeGunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival. Over two million visitors come to Seoul every year to watch the blossoms, which typically happen between late March and early April.

May

Just like the previous month, the daily temperature increases in this month as well. The average temperature is 17°C while the daytime temperature can go to 22°C and 11°Cat night. The chances of rainfall are also there in this month. The sun shines more than 14 hours per day along with humid weather. Cheonggyecheon is one of the best places to see during this month. Yeon Deung Hoe, Seoul’s lantern festival that celebrates the birthday of Buddha is also a must if you are visiting the country in May.

June

The increase in average temperatures like in the previous months start to slow down this month. The average temperature in Seoul increases to 21°C, with maximum values of 26°C and the nights being 16 °C. Rainfall increases drastically during this month, totaling 90mm but often reaches 230mm by the end of the month. Daylight can be enjoyed for more than 14 hours a day. As the month approaches monsoon season, the average humidity also reaches approximately 72%.You should check out the very colorful Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Deoksungung Palace three times a day, and it’s one of Seoul’s top attractions.

July

The average temperature reaches 24°C with the daytime temperatures reaching 27°C and the nights 20 °C. This is the hottest month of the year for South Korea. The average precipitation reaches 50% with 395mm of rainfall. The sun shines for 14 hours during the day. The humidity is intense, reaching upto 81.3%. South Koreacan get extremely hot during summer, and one of the more enjoyable ways to cool off is to participate in the Sinchon Water Gun Festival.

August

Just like July, August is also one of the hottest months in South Korea. The average monthly temperature is 24 °C with daytime temperatures reaching 28°C and the nights 20°C. The average rainfall tappers off during this month, but still averages 364mm. The chances of precipitation however reach 40%. The humidity is still high at 79%. Seoul’s largest museum is the National Museum of Korea, located in central Seoul.This gorgeous museum is one of the most visited in the world and tourists agree that it is one of the top attractions in Seoul to see in August.

September

The hot season of South Korea finally comes to an end by late September. The average temperature is 19 °C with daytime temperatures reaching 24 °C and nights dropping to 14°C. The days now become shorter with only 11.5 hours of sunshine every day. The humidity level reaches 73% in this month. 28^th of September is the celebration of Confucius’ birthday and the cultural festival known as SeokjeonDaeje. This festival also takes place on May 11th, the anniversary of Confucius’ death.

October

October is a month of mild temperatures. The average temperatures lies around 13 °C with maximumvalues of 18°C and the nights being 7 °C cold. The precipitation rate is only 52mm with 20% chances of rain during the month. The sunny hours are tenper day and the levels of humidity reach 70%. The Seoul Street Art Festival is Korea’s largest art festival and has been going strong for over fifteen years. The festival takes place in the first week of October every year and lasts for four days and is a popular tourist attraction.

November

This month cools down any of the leftover heat from the previous months. The average daily temperature is 5°C, with daytime temperatures reaching 10°C and the nights being -1 °C cold. The weather becomes very dry with only 52mm of total precipitation. The sunshine hours are only nine and half hours with humidity levels of 66% along with clear skies. An Asian tradition that you’ll find in South Korea is the Jogyesa Temple Chrysanthemum Festival. The festival takes place from mid-October to mid-November and is set amid the beautiful backdrop of Jogyesa Temple – a must see in November.

December

This is one of the coldest months in South Korea with temperatures around -2 °C and nighttimetemperatures dropping to -7 °C. This is also the driest of all the months with an average precipitation rate of only 22mm. The 22^nd of December is the shortest day of the year and South Korea sees only about nine and a half hours of sunshine a day. People of Seoul getinto party mode and holiday spirit as they approach the Christmas season. One of the more popular Christmas events is the Seoul Christmas Festival, which takes place along the Cheonggyecheon Stream.

CONCLUSION –THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTH KOREA:

September to November are the best months to visit South Korea as you’ll get to experience fall season. You’ll witness the country covered with beautiful orange leaves making it a breathtaking site. You can also visit the country in Spring season (April to June). During these months, you’ll see pink cherry blossoms almost everywhere in the country. Winter and summer on the other hand are bit crowdy and you’d want to avoid these months.

Start planning your trip today and have the best time of your life!If you’relooking for more information on South Korea or any other country you’d like to visit, take a look at Backpackertrail. The German start-up knows all about backpacking and will help you with planning your adventure, so you to get the best out of your travels and experience the world’s diversity and beauty. Find information about climatic conditions, the best places to visit, activities and so muchmore. Have a nice trip!