Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Weather and climate in South Korea - statistics & facts
Located in the temperate zone, South Korea is known for its four distinct seasons: The winter season is typically cold and dry, while summer is generally hot and humid with a lot of rainfall. Spring and autumn are mostly dry and clear. The average annual temperature stands at around 13 degrees Celsius and ranges from 10 to 16 degrees Celsius depending on the region. South Korea belongs to a relatively humid region, having significantly more precipitation than the global average. Precipitation is mostly concentrated in the summer months.
Summer (from June to August) is warm, humid, and rainy. About 60 percent of precipitation falls in summer, mainly during the rainy season of the East Asian monsoon (Changma) which lasts from late June to late July. Heatwaves with maximum temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius usually occur after the rainy season in the second half of the summer. After the hot summer period, the autumn season from September to November offers clear and mild weather with beautiful foliage.
The Siberian high-pressure system influences the Korean winter (from December to March), the coldest and driest season with an average temperature of about 0.6 degrees Celsius. January is usually the snowiest month, followed by December and February. From 1973 to 2024, the average number of snow days in January amounted to about 5.2.
The four seasons of South Korea
Spring in South Korea (from March to May) is usually cool, with temperatures slowly getting warmer. This time of year also brings unexpected cold snaps, with temperatures shifting from one extreme to the other. Spring is also the season when yellow dust storms (Hwangsa) originating from the Gobi Desert and China blow into the Korean peninsula. Extreme cases of yellow dust can cause respiratory problems and have even led to the temporary closing of schools in the past.Summer (from June to August) is warm, humid, and rainy. About 60 percent of precipitation falls in summer, mainly during the rainy season of the East Asian monsoon (Changma) which lasts from late June to late July. Heatwaves with maximum temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius usually occur after the rainy season in the second half of the summer. After the hot summer period, the autumn season from September to November offers clear and mild weather with beautiful foliage.
The Siberian high-pressure system influences the Korean winter (from December to March), the coldest and driest season with an average temperature of about 0.6 degrees Celsius. January is usually the snowiest month, followed by December and February. From 1973 to 2024, the average number of snow days in January amounted to about 5.2.
Changing weather patterns
Global climate change has also increasingly affected South Korea in recent decades. Average temperatures have increased in all seasons, particularly in spring and winter. While precipitation and the intensity of precipitation increased significantly, the number of rainy days, on the other hand, decreased. Changing climate patterns have also led to longer summers and shorter winters, as well as more heat waves in South Korea.
