Korea in Winter (2026–27): How Cold It Really Gets, What to Pack, Ski Resorts, Ice Festivals and Lunar New Year Dates

Winter in Korea is cold, dry and bright. Seoul often sits below freezing for days at a time, the wind off the Han River bites, and the mountains of Gangwon Province fill with skiers. It is also one of the best-value times to visit: flights and hotels are cheaper outside the holidays, the skies are often clear blue, palaces look beautiful under snow, and there is a whole season of food and festivals that only exists when it is freezing.

This guide gives the real winter temperatures, a packing list that works, the best winter experiences, and the dates to plan around for winter 2026–27, including Lunar New Year. Checked in October 2026.

Winter in Seoul at a glance (1991–2020 averages)
• December: high 4.2°C / low −3.4°C
• January: high 2.1°C / low −5.5°C (the coldest month)
• February: high 5.1°C / low −3.2°C
• Little rain or snow: about 17–28 mm a month
• Lunar New Year 2027: the holiday is expected around February 5–8

How cold is it really?

The averages above are only half the story. Korea gets cold waves from Siberia, when temperatures in Seoul drop to −10°C or lower for a few days and the wind makes it feel like −15°C or colder. Then it warms up for a few days again; Koreans call this pattern “three cold days, four warm days”. Inland and mountain areas (Gangwon Province, Pyeongchang) are much colder than Seoul; Busan and Jeju are milder, often above freezing during the day.

Snow in Seoul is usually light and does not last long on the streets, but a few proper snowfalls each winter turn the palaces white. The air is very dry, and fine dust can build up on still days, particularly from late winter.

Gyeongbokgung after snow. Snowy palace mornings are one of the rewards of a winter trip. Photo: Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What to pack

• A long padded coat (the knee-length puffer that half of Seoul wears in January is popular for a reason) or a warm down jacket with a hood.
• Thermal base layers top and bottom. Inexpensive heat-tech style underwear is sold at Uniqlo, SPAO and Topten across Korea if you need more.
• Hat, scarf, gloves (touchscreen gloves help with map apps) and warm socks.
• Waterproof shoes with grip for icy pavements and hills.
• Lip balm, hand cream and a rich moisturiser. Indoor heating is strong and dry. Our Olive Young guide covers what to buy and the instant tax refund.
• Hand warmers (핫팩) from any convenience store, and a KF94 mask for fine-dust days.

Dress in layers you can take off: subway trains, cafes, shops and restaurants (especially those with heated floors) are warm.

The best things to do in winter

Skiing and snowboarding

Gangwon Province has Korea's main ski resorts, including Yongpyong and Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang (the 2018 Winter Olympics region) and High1. Nearer Seoul, several resorts in Gyeonggi and Gangwon can be reached in an hour or two by shuttle bus. The season usually runs from late November or December to early March. Resorts rent equipment and clothing, and many tour companies run day trips from Seoul with transport and rentals included.

Ice fishing festivals

Korea's most famous winter festival is the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Gangwon Province, where thousands of people fish through holes in a frozen river for mountain trout, then grill their catch. It is usually held in January; listings for 2027 point to around January 9–31, 2027, but Hwacheon County had not confirmed the final dates and prices when we checked. Other towns run similar trout and smelt festivals. Festivals can be cut short if the ice is not thick enough.

Ice fishing at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Photo: Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Winter lights in Seoul

From late November, Myeongdong's department stores, Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon light up for Christmas and the new year. The Seoul Lantern Festival along Cheonggyecheon has recently been held from mid-December into January (the 2025–26 edition ran from December 12 to January 18). Dates for the 2026–27 festival had not been officially announced when we checked, so look for the Seoul city announcement in November.

Warming up, the Korean way

• Jjimjilbang: Korean bathhouses with hot pools, kiln saunas and heated floors are at their best on a freezing evening.
• Winter street food: bungeoppang (fish-shaped red bean waffles), hotteok, roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts, and fish cake skewers in hot broth.
• Hot soups: seolleongtang (ox bone soup), kalguksu (noodle soup), budae jjigae and gukbap.
• Palaces and hanok villages in the snow: go early in the morning after a snowfall.

Dates to plan around in winter 2026–27

• Christmas (December 25) is a public holiday in Korea, celebrated mostly as a couples' and friends' night out. Restaurants and Myeongdong are very busy on Christmas Eve.
• New Year's Day (January 1) is a holiday; many people watch the sunrise on the east coast or from mountains.
• Lunar New Year (Seollal) 2027: Lunar New Year's Day falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. The holiday is expected to run from February 5 to 7, with Monday, February 8 as a substitute holiday because one of the days falls on a Sunday. During Seollal many Koreans travel to their hometowns: KTX and express bus tickets sell out, and some small restaurants and shops close for a day or two. Palaces, big museums, department stores and tourist areas in Seoul mostly stay open, and some palaces hold special events. Book trains and hotels early if your trip overlaps.

Practical winter tips

• Daylight is short: sunset around 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. through December and January. Plan outdoor sights for the morning and early afternoon.
• Palaces close earlier in winter and have closing days (Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays; Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung on Mondays). See our 5-day Seoul itinerary for winter hours.
• Ferries and mountain trails: island ferries are cancelled more often in winter wind, and mountain trails (including Hallasan on Jeju) need chain spikes when icy.
• Getting around: the subway is warm and unaffected by snow; buses and taxis slow down on snowy days. Our Seoul subway guide covers fares and transfers.
• Jeju and Busan are good escapes from the cold, several degrees milder than Seoul. Our Jeju guide covers the island by area.

Is winter a good time to visit Korea?

Yes, if you dress for it. You get clear skies, fewer crowds than in spring and autumn, lower prices outside Christmas and Seollal, snowy palaces, skiing within a couple of hours of Seoul, ice festivals you will not find anywhere else, and the best season for hot soups and street snacks. Pack proper layers and plan your outdoor sightseeing for the daylight hours, and winter can be the most memorable season of all.

Climate figures: Korea Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals for Seoul. Lunar New Year 2027 date and expected holiday period from published Korean holiday calendars; confirm the official substitute-holiday announcement. Hwacheon festival dates are provisional listings; Seoul Lantern Festival 2025–26 dates from Seoul Metropolitan Government. Checked October 2026.