Lifestyle
South Korea — Living: Climate
South Korea averages 12.2°C over the year and about 1370 mm of precipitation (national averages for 1991-2020, World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, CRU TS 4.07 data), with August the warmest month and January the coolest.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceWorld Bank — Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.07 climate normals, 1991-2020)Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Key facts
- Average annual temperature: 12.2°C (national average, 1991-2020)
- Warmest month: August, 25.0°C on average
- Coolest month: January, -1.6°C on average
- Average annual precipitation: 1370 mm (1991-2020)
- Wettest month: July, 302 mm on average
- Driest month: January, 27 mm on average
Steps
- Understanding the Climate Zones — South Korea is divided into several climate zones, including the temperate zone in the south and the continental zone in the north. The climate varies from coastal regions to inland areas.
Monthly averages, 1991-2020 (national)
January: -1.6°C, 27 mm February: 0.8°C, 38 mm March: 5.7°C, 56 mm April: 11.7°C, 94 mm May: 16.8°C, 107 mm June: 21.3°C, 166 mm July: 24.4°C, 302 mm August: 25.0°C, 285 mm September: 20.2°C, 153 mm October: 14.1°C, 64 mm November: 7.2°C, 48 mm December: 0.6°C, 29 mm
What these figures do not cover
These are country-wide averages. Climate varies a lot between regions, coasts, mountains and cities, and individual years differ from the long-term average. Heat waves, humidity, air quality and seasonal hazards are not covered here.