What is the weather like in Seoul in January?

Expect temperatures between -7°C and 2°C with 7% average rain probability and about 8 hours of sunshine daily.

What is the weather like in Seoul in January?

Seoul in January scores 66/100 based on 30 years of climate data. Recommended for planning your trip.

Who should visit Seoul in January?

January in Seoul is ideal for: Photographers, Cultural tourists, Business travelers, Heat-sensitive visitors.

Seoul Weather in January | 30-Year Forecast

Avg High

2°C

Hottest around day 31

Avg Low

-7°C

Coolest around day 9

Rainy Days

0days

7% avg rain chance

Sunshine

8hrs/day

Winter season

Essential Travel Info for Seoul

🗓️ Best Time to Visit 📖 Travel Guide 🍴 Food Guide

Currency

KRW

₩ South Korean won

Language

Korean

Driving

Right side

Connect

Internet cafes known asPC bang(PC 방) (pr...

Safety

High Safety

GPI: 1.779

Travel Intelligence

Exclusive flight analytics & health data for Seoul

Smart Flight Estimator

Airport-to-Airport Logistics

unlock smart flight estimates

Add your home location in settings to see airport details.

Flight Connectivity Analysis

Airport traffic data & seasonal patterns

Major Hub

100/ 100

Traffic Index

Extremely busy airport

Peak Daily Arrivals

slots per day

Peak

Aug

Low

May

Monthly Traffic Distribution

561

Jan

573

Feb

542

Mar

497

Apr

493

May

1078

Jun

1050

Jul

1150

Aug

1054

Sep

1053

Oct

1028

Nov

655

Dec

Traffic Level

Low Season

Key Connections

Osaka Kansai (KIX)

Tokyo Narita (NRT)

Fukuoka (FUK)

Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok (HKG)

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)

Health & Safety Advisory

CDC travel health recommendations

10 Recommendations

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to South Korea.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to South Korea. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to South Korea.

Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers whoAre moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to liveSpend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitisFrequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitisConsider vaccination for travelersSpending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed netsGoing to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be thereNot recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of South Korea take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasLimited to the months of March–December in rural areas in the northern parts of the provinces of Incheon (also spelled Inch’ŏn), Gangwon (also spelled Kangwŏn), and Gyeonggi (also spelled Kyŏnggi), including the demilitarized zone (DMZ)Drug resistanceNoneSpeciesP. vivax(100%)Recommended chemoprophylaxisAtovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine5, or tafenoquine2Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

+4 more

Source: CDC Travelers' Health

View Complete Health Guide

Is January a Good Time to Visit Seoul?

👍Recommended for planning your trip(66/100)

Short Answer

Bundle up for Seoul in January: temperatures hover around 2°C during the day and drop to -7°C at night. Just 7% rain probability but bring winter layers.

Decision Factors

Vaccinations required

Yellow Fever

Cold weather expected

1.8°C average highs

Excellent dry conditions

Only 7% rain probability - ideal for outdoor activities

Health precautions needed

Be aware of: Leptospirosis, Avian/Bird Flu, Hantavirus

Shoulder season - balanced conditions

49% of peak - good value with moderate crowds

Rich cultural heritage

4 UNESCO World Heritage sites nearby

Good For

📸
Photographers
7.4h sunshine, 56% clear skies for golden hour shots
🏛️
Cultural tourists
Comfortable conditions for exploring museums and sites
💼
Business travelers
Climate-controlled meetings unaffected by weather
🌡️
Heat-sensitive visitors
Manageable 1.8°C without oppressive humidity

Who Should Avoid

👴
Elderly travelers
-2°C temperatures require extra precautions
💑
Honeymoon couples
Wedding score only 27/100 - better months available

"According to 30YearWeather's analysis of 30 years of NASA POWER satellite data,Seoul in January averages 2°C with 7% precipitation probability."

📊 Source: 30YearWeather.com🛰️ Data: NASA POWER (1991-2021)View Methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: Seoul in January

What are the temperatures in Seoul in January?

Daytime highs average 2°C, nights drop to -7°C. Temperatures remain fairly consistent.

How many rainy days in Seoul in January?

Expect around 0 days with measurable rainfall. Rain is unlikely to disrupt plans.

What to wear in Seoul in January?

Warm winter clothing: insulated jacket, boots, gloves.

Is January peak season in Seoul?

This is shoulder season—moderate prices and manageable crowds.

Seoul Weather in January

Seoul January Weather Calendar