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There’s just something about summer in Korea that’s vibrant and magical, despite the heat and humidity! From energetic music festivals to tranquil lotus flower gardens, sweet summer treats, and mesmerizing nightscapes, Korea is the perfect summer vacation. This local guide to summer in Korea will take you through the best outdoor and indoor activities to enjoy while beating the heat.
Visiting Korea in another season? Check out my local guides to spring in Korea, fall in Korea, and winter in Korea.
Summer in Korea: FAQs
When is the best time to visit Korea?
Typically, travelers consider spring or fall as the best time to visit Korea. During these seasons, there are mild temperatures and beautiful changes in nature including the famous cherry blossoms and colorful fall foliage. Specifically, April and October are the best months to visit because they have the mildest weather.
However, summer and winter shouldn’t be ruled out. Depending on the experience you’re looking for, each season can be appealing or unappealing for different reasons. If you’re wondering when to visit Korea, check out my seasonal guide to the best time to visit Korea, including pros and cons, weather, activities, festivals, and best destinations by season.
When is summer in Korea?
Summer in Korea typically spans from June to August. During this time, Korea experiences its warmest and wettest weather.
What is the weather like in summer in Korea?
During summer in Korea, the weather is hot and humid. Average temperatures range from 77°F to 88°F, with high humidity levels making it feel warmer. There’s also significant rainfall, particularly in July and August, with occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms. Here is a chart of the average weather in summer in Korea:
| June | July | August | |
| Seoul | High: 80°F/26.7°C Low: 64°F/17.8°C Precipitation: 6.9 in/175.3 mm | High: 84°F/28.9°C Low: 70°F/21.1°C Precipitation: 15.6 in/396.2 mm | High: 85°F/29.4°C Low: 70°F/21.1°C Precipitation: 14.3 in/363.2 mm |
| Busan | High: 77°F/25°C Low: 66°F/18.9°C Precipitation: 8.9 in/226.1 mm | High: 81°F/27.2°C Low: 72°F/22.2°C Precipitation: 12.1 in/307.3 mm | High: 84°F/28.9°C Low: 73°F/22.8°C Precipitation: 12.5 in/317.5 mm |
Is summer a good time to visit Korea?
If you enjoy warm weather and aren’t bothered by humidity and rain, then summer is a good time to visit Korea. It’s a great time to explore Korea’s outdoor attractions, with opportunities for hiking, beach outings, and exploring parks. Summer also brings unique festivals and events, including music festivals, fireworks displays, and cultural celebrations.
Summer can be brutal if you aren’t good in the heat. After living in Korea for 3 years, I find summer to be my least favorite time of year because of the intensity of the heat and humidity. If you’re in the same boat as me, don’t worry; I’ve included many indoor and nighttime activities. A summer trip to Korea can be great, even for those bothered by the weather, if you plan accordingly!
What should I pack for summer in Korea?
When packing for summer in Korea, it’s essential to pack light and breathable clothing to stay comfortable in the hot and humid weather. Here’s a list of items to consider including in your packing list:
- Lightweight and moisture-wicking clothing
- Sunscreen (pro tip: head to Olive Young in Korea to try some amazing Korean sunscreen!)
- Sunglasses and a hat
- Insect repellent (mosquitos are bad – you can buy it here at Daiso or Olive Young)
- Portable fan (all the locals carry these, so don’t worry about looking silly)
- Reusable water bottle
- Rain jacket or umbrella
For a full guide to what to pack for your Korea trip, including year-round and summer essentials, check out my South Korea packing list.
What are the best tours for summer in Korea?
These seasonal group tours are the perfect addition to your summer trip, making your summer adventures easy and convenient:
- Boryeong Mud Festival Tour from Seoul (I personally did this and recommend it!)
- Jeju UNESCO Original Day Tour with local lunch included
- Yangyang Surfyy Beach Summer Party Day Tour from Seoul
- Seoul City Night View Tour
- Seoul Moonlight Walking Tour with Local Historian
- Korea Folk Village & Suwon Hwaseong Night Tour from Seoul
Summer in Korea: Things to do in Seoul
Go to a music festival
Every summer, Seoul hosts music festivals of all genres and themes. Whether you like K-pop, EDM, rock, or pop, there is a music festival for you. Korea’s most famous music festival is Waterbomb, a water-themed festival with some of the hottest performers in the Korean music industry. Everyone gets soaking wet as artists and attendees shoot water guns at each other. Here’s a list of the major music festivals being held in Seoul this summer:
- Waterbomb – held throughout the summer in cities all over the country, but Seoul dates are July 5-7, 2024
- Weverse Con – June 15-16, 2024
- World DJ Festival – June 15-16, 2024
- Pentaport Rock Festival – August 2-4 2024
- Ultra Music Festival – June 7-9, 2024
- RAPBEAT – September 21-22, 2024
Banpo Bridge light show
Every night in April to October, the Banpo Bridge comes alive with its spectacular Banpo Bridge Moonlight Fountain Show. There are 380 rainbow-colored jets that illuminate the water while synching to music. It was even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain. Here are the show times, and it lasts for 20 minutes:
- June weekdays: 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm
- June weekends: 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm
- July & August weekdays: 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm
- July & August weekends: 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm, 9:30 pm
Go to a baseball game
Trust me when I say that a Korean baseball game is unlike any other baseball game in the world! Instead of the laid-back games that I’m used to in the US, these games are lively and exciting because of the energy of the crowd. Most people choose to stand the entire time, and everyone participates in singing and cheering for their team. There is even a hype team for each team, including a center hype man and dancers. While you’re there, don’t forget to try the iconic stadium food, including the beer and chicken cup. This ingenious invention includes a cup of beer at the base and a circular food holder for fried chicken and fries around the straw.
Baseball season in Korea runs from April to October. You can buy Korean baseball tickets from Interpark or specific team websites. You can also buy tickets at the stadium before the game, which I recommend if you don’t speak any Korean. Just be sure to show up early to make sure they aren’t sold out.
Museum hop
Seoul is home to phenomenal museums that are a great break from the heat or rainy day activity. Whether you’re interested in history, art, culture, tradition, or war, there is a museum for you. Here are the best museums in Seoul:
- National Museum of Korea
- Leeum Museum of Art
- War Memorial of Korea
- National Folk Museum
- National Palace Museum
- Seoul Museum of History
The best part is, all of these museums have free entry to their permanent exhibitions.
Cafe hop
The cafe culture in Korea is no joke, with Seoul being a hotspot of trendy cafes. From amazing aesthetics to delicious drinks to pretty pastries, you can dedicate an entire day to exploring world-class cafes. It’s the perfect way to escape from the heat and rehydrate on a hot summer day. I recommend you head to Yeonnam-dong, Sinsa-dong, Ikseon-dong, or Seongsu-dong – these are my favorite neighborhoods for cafe hopping with endless options.
There are aesthetic, delicious cafes in every corner of Seoul, but which are the most worth a visit? After 3 years and countless cafe visits, I’ve compiled the 22 best cafes in Seoul that will blow your mind (and your taste buds).
Try bingsu
You might consider ice cream to be the top summer dessert, but that’s until you try bingsu. Bingsu has a milk-based shaved ice base and is loaded up with the sweet toppings of your choice. The most common flavor is pat bingsu, red bean shaved ice. Fruit flavors such as mango and strawberry are also popular. Sulbing (설빙) is a popular Korean bingsu shop with locations all over the country. They have a huge menu with flavor options for any craving. Word of warning – bingsu is meant to be shared as the portions are huge!
Han River water sports
The Han River flows through the heart of Seoul and is a year-round favorite attraction for walking, biking, and picnicking. But during summer, the river opens for water sports including kayaking, paddle boarding, peddle boating, jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, and more.
Sinchon Water Gun Festival
Every July in the Sinchon and Yonsei-ro area, people take to the streets to shoot water guns at each other. The festival is a cool escape from the city heat, with various water attractions and programs. These include live music, a water gun fight, a bubble party, and giant waterslides. The 2024 dates haven’t been announced yet, but you can check the official website for more information.
Take a cooking class
Taking a cooking class is one of the best ways to get in touch with the culture you’re visiting, and it’s a great escape from the heat. I highly recommend this cooking class with a local family in their home. Before starting the class, you’ll take a market tour, learning about traditional Korean markets and trying some street food. At the end, you’ll eat an extravagant full-course meal you prepared yourself. Best of all, you can bring what you learned home to share with family and friends. There is a vegetarian option available if you contact them in advance!
Night markets
If you’re a foodie, then a night market is the perfect way to spend a summer evening in Seoul. Once the sun goes down, the streets become lined with food stalls serving delicious, authentic Korean street food. The most popular dishes to try include tteokbokki, Korean hot dogs, kimbap, japchae, eomuk, savory pancakes, and hotteok and tanghulu for dessert. Along with food stalls, you’ll also find little shops selling crafts and souvenirs. Here are the best summer night markets in Seoul:
- Bamdokkaebi Night Market (actually the umbrella term for four night markets held in Yeouido Hangang Park, Banpo Hangang Park, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and Cheonggyecheon Stream on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer)
- Myeongdong Night Market
- Namdaemun Night Market
Explore the city at night
Seoul is truly a city that never sleeps. This is great for those who want to explore once the sun sets to avoid the heat of summer days. At night, Seoul comes alive with night markets, nightlife, and gorgeous lit-up landscapes. Some of the best places to explore at night in Seoul are:
- Namsan Tower
- Palaces
- Seoul Fortress Wall
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
- Hongdae nightlife
Summer in Korea: Things to do outside of Seoul
Boryeong Mud Festival
2024 Dates: July 17 – August 4
Every summer, millions of visitors flock to Boryeong to experience Korea’s most popular summer festival. The festival is meant to promote Boryeong’s mud-based cosmetics and skincare products, but it’s turned into an excuse for some dirty, summer fun. Over 10 days, visitors can partake in mud-themed activities such as mud wrestling, mud football, and blow-up obstacle courses and slides. Some events don’t require getting muddy, such as mud exhibitions and concerts. When you’re done in the mud zone, the beach is just a short walk away to wash off in the ocean.
The festival is held at Daecheon Beach, which is quite far from the bus and train stations. I highly recommend using this shuttle bus service from Seoul that takes you directly to the venue. I personally did it and found it very easy and convenient!
Daegu Chimac Festival
“Chimac” is the genius combination of fried chicken and beer that has taken Korea by storm. Every summer, Daegu celebrates its place as the center of the Korean chicken industry by holding a festival all about chicken and beer. The festival features a variety of chicken dishes such as grilled, spicy, and fried chicken, along with a wide selection of domestic and international beers to complement the chicken. Besides delicious food, there are also performances and EDM parties.
Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival
Buyeo County is a small county just two hours south of Seoul known for its annual lotus festival. It’s held every July when the lotuses are in peak bloom. During this time, the grounds of Buyeo Seodong Park are covered in white and red lotus flowers and the lakes come alive with pond lilies. From lotus-themed performances and crafts to tea ceremonies and kayaking, there are plenty of events to celebrate the gorgeous lotus flower.
Semiwon Lotus Flower Festival
Semiwon is a botanical garden in Gyeonggi-do, right on the outskirts of Seoul, dedicated solely to lotus flowers. When the flowers bloom in the summer, red and white lotus flowers will cover its waters and gardens. There are lotus-themed events such as lotus drawing, tours, and face painting. This is a great summer day trip option for those in Seoul wanting to see lotus flowers.
Herb Village lavender field
Just 1.5 hours north of Seoul is a massive, dreamy lavender field. Herb Village is a garden oasis with a gorgeous view of the Imjingang River. While the lavender field that comes alive in the summer is the highlight, plenty of other colorful flowers and great-smelling herbs cover the grounds. There’s also a lotus pond, a large cafe, multiple restaurants, and even a Korean spa!
Suwon Culture Night
Suwon is one of my favorite day trips from Seoul, just 30 minutes south by bus or train. It’s known for Hwaseong Fortress, an incredible structure from the Joseon Dynasty that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Summer evenings are an especially magical time to visit, when the fortress is lit up and decorated with digital media. There are also free traditional music and martial arts performances.
Go to a waterpark
What better way to cool off in the summer than spending a day at a waterpark? Korea is home to plenty of waterparks with both indoor and outdoor attractions, such as pools, slides, hot tubs, playgrounds, Korean saunas and spas, and more. Here are some of the most popular waterparks in Korea:
- Vivaldi Park Ocean World, Hongcheon County
- Caribbean Bay, Yongin
- Lotte Water Park, Busan
My favorite spa in Korea, Paradise City Cimer in Incheon, also doubles as a waterpark. This is the perfect summer destination if you want a traditional Korean spa experience mixed with waterpark fun. Check out my full guide to Paradise City Cimer so you’re prepared for Korean spa culture and the best facilities to enjoy.
Go to the beach
No summer is complete without a beach day. Luckily, Korea has some great beaches where you can relax, swim, surf, and even snorkel. Most are easily accessible from the surrounding major cities, making it possible to do a day or weekend trip. The best beaches are on Korea’s east coast and Jeju Island, where the water is blue and the sand is soft. Korea’s best beaches include:
- Gyeongpo Beach, Gangneung
- Sokcho Beach, Sokcho
- Haeundae Beach, Busan
- Surfyy Beach, Yangyang
- Hamdeok Beach, Jeju Island
Go glamping
Glamping (glamorous camping) is super trendy in Korea right now. There are many glamping campsites where you can experience staying in nature without sacrificing the comforts of air conditioning, a mattress, and a bathroom. Many people gather around the barbeque to grill meat and drink soju when the sun goes down. Here are some of the top-rated glamping campsites in Korea:
- Nomad Glamping, Gapyeong-gun
- Gapyeong Gratia Glamping, Gapyeong-gun
- Pocheon Noble Glamping, Pocheon-si
- Jeju Starlight Glamping, Aewol, Jeju-do
Go rafting
Did you know that Korea is home to some scenic whitewater rafting? While it might not be thrilling if you’re looking for huge rapids, it’s picturesque, fun, and safe. The water is clean and refreshing, making it perfect for beating the summer heat. You’ll paddle through gorgeous countrysides and mountains, taking in views while taking on the rapids. Three popular areas for rafting in Korea include the Naerincheon River in Inje, the Donggang River in Yeongwol, and the Hantangang River in Cheorwon.
Take a trip to Jeju
Jeju Island is Korea’s tropical paradise. Located only 50 miles off the southern coast, it’s a small volcanic island known for its natural wonders. Jeju is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It boasts the best beaches and the highest mountain in Korea, along with its own side of Korean culture. Summer is the perfect time to escape to Jeju, where you can swim in its clear blue waters, chase waterfalls, and eat peanut and green tea ice cream.
For help planning your perfect summer trip to Jeju, check out my Jeju travel guide and 3-day itinerary.
Whether you’ve spent summer in Korea lounging at the beach, eating cool treats, exploring at night, or experiencing unique festivals and events, you’ve undoubtedly had an amazing summer vacation. No matter what season you visit Korea, it’s a vibrant destination with amazing year-round and seasonal activities. Summer offers the perfect Korea trip for water lovers, sports enthusiasts, museum-goers, and foodies.
Keep reading:
- Best time to visit Korea: A seasonal guide to weather & activities
- 31 unmissable things to do in spring in Korea
- Fall in Korea: The 26 best things to do
- 25 unmissable things to do in Korea in winter
- 2 week South Korea itinerary & travel guide from a local
- South Korea Solo Travel Guide: Safety, tips, & what to expect
- 20 best things to do in Seoul, South Korea
- Seoul itinerary: Local’s guide to 1 week or less
- 15 unique things to do in Seoul: An unreplicable bucket list
- Where to stay in Seoul, South Korea: A local’s guide
- 15 BEST day trips from Seoul
- 16 best things to do in Busan, South Korea
- Busan itinerary: 2, 3, or 4 days in South Korea’s coastal gem
- 10 best day trips from Busan
- Jeju Island itinerary & travel guide
- Vegetarian in Korea: The ultimate survival guide
- South Korea packing list: A local’s guide to what to pack
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