Spring (March–May)
The temperature gap between day and night is large, so you will need a light jacket. Many days in this season bring yellow dust and heavy fine dust. On days when fine dust is "bad" or worse, wear a KF80 or higher mask and avoid keeping windows open for long.
Summer (June–August)
It is hot and humid, and the monsoon (jangma) brings heavy rain from late June into July. Always carry an umbrella, and use a dehumidifier or ventilate well to prevent mould at home. During midday heatwaves, cut down on outdoor activity and drink water often. Typhoons can come from summer into early autumn, so check emergency alert texts.
Autumn (September–November)
This is the clearest and most comfortable season. It is a great time for autumn-leaf trips, but it can turn cold suddenly from November.
Winter (December–February)
In some regions the temperature drops below minus 10°C.
Clothes: a thick padded jacket, gloves, a scarf, and thermal underwear keep you much warmer.
Heating costs: many Korean homes use an ondol boiler that heats the floor. When you go out, leaving it on "away" mode instead of switching it off completely helps prevent frozen pipes and saves on heating.
Frozen pipes: on very cold days, leaving a tap running slightly can stop the pipes from freezing.
Icy roads: the day after snow, roads freeze and get slippery, so non-slip shoes are a good idea.
Checking weather and disaster information
Always check the emergency alert texts sent to your phone (heatwave, cold wave, typhoon, fine dust warnings, and so on). You can also see the weather by region on the K-lifeon weather screen. Fine dust levels are available in real time on AirKorea (airkorea.or.kr).