Seoul · Month comparison
January vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs January at #7. Seoul at its most spectacular — autumn foliage rivals cherry blossom for sheer beauty.
January
#7 of 12 months
Strong option
Bitterly cold but clear — ski resorts in the mountains and Lunar New Year approaching.
- ↑Very dry and sunny: clear blue skies make palace photography exceptional
- ↑Ski resorts (Gangwon province) 2 hours from Seoul — day trips entirely viable
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Seoul at its most spectacular — autumn foliage rivals cherry blossom for sheer beauty.
- ↑Namsan, Bukhansan, and Changdeokgung Secret Garden in peak foliage: deep reds and golds
- ↑18°C: ideal hiking weather for the national parks surrounding the city
| Factor | January | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 9 |
| Value score | 8 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 4 |
| Events score | 5 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 1.1°C | 18.4°C |
| Monthly rain | 21mm | 60mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 7.5hrs |
January trade-offs
- ↓−6°C overnight: serious cold requiring full winter kit — base layers, down jacket, hand warmers
- ↓Most outdoor cultural activities significantly limited
- ↓Palaces and parks beautiful but exposure requires planning
October trade-offs
- ↓Foliage tourism drives accommodation prices 30–40% above summer lows
- ↓Popular hiking routes (Bukhansan) crowded on weekends — start before 8am
- ↓60mm of rain: some foliage weekends disrupted
Scores compare months within Seoul. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →