By the Korea Vibe Hopper team · Updated October 24, 2026
November is the month Korea changes gear. The first week can still feel like autumn, with palace trees in colour. By the last week Seoul mornings are near freezing and the sun sets before 5:20 p.m. The useful question is how fast it gets cold, and what else is happening that week. Here are the official numbers, the new seasonal outlook, the key dates and a packing list built from them.
Key takeaways
- Seoul's normal November runs from an 11.9°C average high to a 3.5°C average low; Busan and Jeju nights are about 5–7°C warmer.
- The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) gives a 60% chance of a warmer-than-normal November 2026 outside Jeju. Plan for mild days, but still pack for frost.
- Thursday, November 19 is Suneung, the national university entrance exam: a later rush hour and early-afternoon flight changes.
Contents
- November weather in Seoul, Busan and Jeju
- What the KMA outlook says for November 2026
- First frost, first ice and the chance of snow
- Short days and the clock change back home
- November 2026 dates that change your trip
- Jeju and Hallasan: winter rules already apply
- How to pack for Korea in November
- FAQ
- Final thoughts
- Sources
November weather in Seoul, Busan and Jeju
These are the KMA's 1991–2020 climate normals, as listed in Wikipedia's climate tables for each city (as of October 2026). They are averages, not forecasts.
| November normal (1991–2020) | Seoul | Busan | Jeju City |
| Average high | 11.9°C | 16.6°C | 16.4°C |
| Daily mean | 7.5°C | 11.9°C | 13.3°C |
| Average low | 3.5°C | 8.3°C | 10.4°C |
| Precipitation | 51.1 mm | 50.4 mm | 69.5 mm |
| Wet days | 6.4 (≥1 mm) | 6.0 (≥0.1 mm) | 9.8 (≥0.1 mm) |
| Snowy days | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
Seoul: a fast slide into winter
Seoul's average high is 20.2°C in October and 4.2°C in December, so November sits on the steepest part of the slide. With about 157 hours of sunshine in the month, November days tend to be crisp and bright.
Our fall foliage peak-date guide covers peak dates by mountain and a Seoul-based plan. In Seoul, palace gardens can still be colourful in early November; the photo at the top was taken on November 4.
 Fallen leaves on a Korean street, November 9, 2014. Photo: revi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 kr |  Deoksugung's stone-wall road, November 23, 2013. Photo: Byung do jung / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 |  Seoraksan in autumn colour, October 2015. Photo: Joycekim77 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Busan and Jeju: the mild option
Jeju City is the mildest at night but also the wettest, with almost ten days of measurable rain. If you dislike cold, a Seoul-then-south itinerary works better in November than the reverse.
What the KMA outlook says for November 2026
The KMA published its three-month outlook on October 23, 2026. For Korea excluding Jeju, it puts the odds for November temperature at 10% below normal, 30% near normal and 60% above normal. For precipitation the split is 10%, 40% and 50%, leaning wetter than usual. December temperature leans warm as well (10%, 40%, 50%). The next outlook is due on November 23.
How to read it
"Above normal" describes the month's average, not every day; a cold snap can still follow a rain front. Read it as "fewer bitter days", not "leave the coat at home".
First frost, first ice and the chance of snow
According to the KMA averages listed for Seoul, the first frost arrives around October 28, the first ice around November 3 and the first snow around November 20. A recorded first snow can mean a few flakes, not a white city; with 2.3 snowy days in an average November, settled snow is unusual.
Short days and the clock change back home
In Seoul, sunrise moves from 6:56 a.m. on November 1 to 7:26 a.m. on November 30, while sunset moves from 5:34 p.m. to 5:14 p.m. (timeanddate.com, as of October 2026), losing about 50 minutes of daylight. Put hikes and palaces early in the day and save markets and night views for after dark.
Check the time gap before you book calls or flights
Korea has no daylight saving time. The UK falls back on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and the US on Sunday, November 1. After that, London is 9 hours behind Korea and New York 14 hours behind, so recalculate any calls or online check-ins.
November 2026 dates that change your trip
| Date | What happens | Why visitors should care |
| Sun, Nov 1 | US clocks fall back | New York gap becomes 14 hours |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Busan Fireworks Festival, Gwangalli Beach | Huge crowds, scarce Busan hotels |
| Wed, Nov 11 | Pepero Day, also Farmers' Day | Easy, cheap souvenir |
| Thu, Nov 19 | Suneung (college entrance exam) | Later rush hour, flight changes around 1 p.m. |
Busan Fireworks Festival (November 7)
The festival schedule lists Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Gwangalli. Our Busan fireworks guide covers show times, seat prices and how to get home afterwards.
Pepero Day (빼빼로 데이, November 11)
11/11 looks like four thin biscuit sticks, so Koreans swap Pepero, Lotte's chocolate-dipped sticks. Lotte has marketed the day since 1997 and, as of 2012, made half its annual Pepero sales on it. For visitors, that means big convenience-store displays and cheap gift boxes to take home. The date is also Farmers' Day (농업인의 날), and garaetteok (가래떡) rice-cake sticks have been promoted as a home-grown alternative.
 Pepero Day display, November 2024. Photo: Saipiny / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 |  Pepero Day stock piled up at a shop front. Photo: Saipiny / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 |  Original chocolate Pepero sticks. Photo: Fumikas Sagisavas / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 |
Suneung day (수능, November 19)
This year's College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) takes place on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Yonhap reports 551,864 registered test-takers at 1,312 test sites. Public offices and private businesses are asked to have staff start after 10 a.m., the Seoul-area subway adds trains from 6:00 to 8:10 a.m., and vehicles are restricted within 200 metres of test sites. During the English listening section (1:10–1:35 p.m.), airplane and helicopter takeoffs and landings are prohibited.
In 2025 that halt ran from 1:05 to 1:40 p.m. and moved 140 flights (65 international, 75 domestic), Yonhap reported. If your flight on November 19 is near that window, expect a changed time and check with your airline the day before. Sightseeing is fine; just give school gates space.
 Suneung morning at Kyungbock High School, Seoul, 2014. Photo: Republic of Korea (Korea.net, KOCIS) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 |  Cheering squad with drums, Suneung 2014. Photo: Republic of Korea (Korea.net, KOCIS) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 |  Banners and a mascot at the same site. Photo: Republic of Korea (Korea.net, KOCIS) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 |
Jeju and Hallasan: winter rules already apply
Hallasan National Park's winter hours run from October 1 to March 31. Trails open at 5:00 a.m.; on the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa summit routes, entry closes at 11:30 a.m. and you must leave the Baengnokdam summit by 1:30 p.m. The Eorimok and Yeongsil trails close to new entries at noon. A summit hike on Seongpanak is 9.6 km each way, about four and a half hours up. Book summit slots in the park's official reservation system, which opens on the 1st of each month for that month and the next.
The summit can be icy even when the coast is mild; the park advises winter clothing, crampons, spare layers, hot water and emergency food.
 Ice on Hallasan's summit, November 20, 2019. Photo: Jaccoob23 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 |  Baengnokdam crater in January 2025. Photo: Sadopaul / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 |  A Hallasan trail in winter, December 2017. Photo: Emilynoh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Tangerine season starts
Lower down, Jeju's tangerine (귤) harvest begins. VisitKorea lists tangerine-picking at the Citrus Museum in Seogwipo from November to February (as of October 2026).
How to pack for Korea in November
Korean subways, buses and buildings are well heated, and floor heating (ondol) is common, so you go in and out of warm spaces all day. Layers beat one heavy coat.
- Check which half of the month you are in. Before mid-month, a light padded jacket or wool coat is enough in Seoul on most days. After that, bring a proper warm coat; by late November, long padded coats become a common sight on Seoul streets.
- Build three layers. A thin thermal base, a sweater or fleece, and a windproof outer layer.
- Pack for wind, not just temperature. Han River parks, Namsan and coastal Busan feel colder than the forecast. A scarf and hat matter most after sunset.
- Choose shoes you can walk in all day. Waterproof trainers or low boots handle rain and sleet; crampons only for Hallasan or high trails.
- Plan for dry air. Heated rooms dry out skin; lip balm and moisturiser are easy to buy at Olive Young.
- Leave room for cheap warmth. Disposable hand warmers, heat-pack patches and gloves are easy to find in convenience stores and Daiso.
- Keep evenings flexible. With sunset around 5:15–5:30 p.m., a warm snack stop helps. Our winter street food guide lists what bungeoppang and hotteok usually cost.
FAQ
Is November a good month to visit Korea?
For many travellers it is one of the best: early foliage and clear skies. The trade-off is short daylight and cold evenings later in the month.
Will it snow in Seoul in November 2026?
Possibly, but rarely much. The average first snow is around November 20, and an average November has 2.3 snowy days.
Should I avoid flying on Suneung day?
No, but do not assume an early-afternoon departure time will hold. In 2025, flights near the listening window were moved, so check with your airline.
Final thoughts
November rewards planning by the calendar as well as the forecast. Go early for colour, late for a first taste of winter, and check whether your dates touch November 7 in Busan or November 19 nationwide. Pack layers, not bulk, and Korea's late autumn is clear, comfortable and very photogenic.
Sources
- Climate of Seoul (KMA normals)
- Busan climate and Jeju City climate
- KMA three-month outlook, Oct 23, 2026
- Yonhap: Suneung 2026 and 2025 flight halt (Korean)
- Seoul sunrise and sunset, US and UK clock changes
- Pepero Day
- Busan Fireworks Festival schedule
- Hallasan trail hours, Seongpanak Trail and winter hours report
- VisitKorea: Citrus Museum
Details as of October 2026. Normals are long-term averages and the outlook is a probability forecast. Exam-day arrangements, flights, trail rules and festival schedules can change; check official sources before you travel.
Related reads
- Korea Fall Foliage 2026: Peak Dates by Mountain and a Seoul-Based Plan
- Busan Fireworks Festival 2026 Guide
- Korean Winter Street Food Guide
- How to Use a Jjimjilbang in Korea
- Korea eSIM and T-Money Guide