Month guide · Seoul · South Korea
Seoul in December
What December is really like in Seoul: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -4°C (25°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 9.6 hours of daylight. Cold and dry with Christmas lights in Myeongdong and department-store façades; skating rinks open.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -4°C (25°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Seoul: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about -4°C (25°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (12°C (54°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:40
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:15
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
Winter (December–February). Bitterly cold with sub-zero nights and occasional snow, but sunny days, festive lights and lower prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in October). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas lights on Myeongdong department stores (December)
- New Year's Eve bell-ringing at Bosingak pavilion in Jongno (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Museum · Yongsan
National Museum of Korea
Korea's largest museum covers the peninsula from the Paleolithic to the Joseon dynasty, with gold crowns from the Silla kingdom, Goryeo celadon and a ten-storey marble pagoda in the main hall.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Yongsan
War Memorial of Korea
Combine it with the National Museum of Korea, about 15 minutes away by subway or taxi.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Jamsil
Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky
Korea's tallest building rises 555 metres over Jamsil, and its Seoul Sky observatory on the top floors has a glass-floored deck over the city.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Theme park · Jamsil
Lotte World
Weekday mornings outside school holidays have the shortest queues.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Active
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near -4°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Seoul?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Seoul in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Seoul?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold and dry with Christmas lights in Myeongdong and department-store façades; skating rinks open.
+How warm is Seoul in December?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Seoul in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.