Korea by month / December
Korea in December
Last checked: October 2026
Cold and dry, with Christmas lights in the city. Busan and Jeju stay noticeably milder than Seoul.
- Season
- Winter
- Seoul high / low
- 4°C / -3°C
- Rain in Seoul
- 23 mm
- Don't miss
- Garden of Morning Calm light festival starts
Weather
| City | Average high | Average low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 4.2°C (40°F) | -3.4°C (26°F) | 23 mm |
| Busan | 10.4°C (51°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 34 mm |
| Jeju | 11°C (52°F) | 5.6°C (42°F) | 56 mm |
Averages for 1991–2020 from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Check the forecast before you pack.
What to wear
A winter coat, hat, and gloves for Seoul.
What's on in December
- Garden of Morning Calm light festival starts (December to mid-March)
- Tangerine picking on Jeju
- Camellias on Jeju (November–February)
Good to know
- Everland's twin pandas move to China around the third week of December 2026, after about a month of quarantine, so public viewing ends around mid-November.
Sources
- Korea Meteorological Administration – climatological normals 1991–2020
- Events and seasonal sights: see the sources on each linked guide.
Plan the rest
- Before you go: the checklist
- Seoul, Busan, and Jeju guides