Visiting Korea in February | Weather, Best Festivals + What to Wear [2023]

Compared to the festive vibes of Korea in December and the many icy activities of January, Korea in February feels positively serene. This last month of winter is a small chance to recharge, before cherry blossom festivals have us running all over the country again.

There’s still plenty of winter activities in Korea during February.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• what the February weather in Korea is like
• the Seoul weather in February and other major cities and tourist hotspots, including Busan, Jeju, Pyeongchang and Gangwondo
• the best winter festivals to attend in Korea in February
• what to wear and the best things to pack for a successful trip to South Korea in February

Visiting Korea in February

Many people (rightfully) save their travel time for cherry blossom season in Korea, so the number of tourists traveling to Korea in February is lower than at other times of the year. It’s a great time to visit if you’re on a budget, don’t like crowds, or just want a little peace at major attractions.

Major tourist attractions are more peaceful during February in South Korea.

In February, it’s easier to book good value accommodation in popular neighbourhoods like Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam. With less people making a trip to South Korea, you’ll avoid major queues at the airport, and there are plenty of deals to be found.

This is the last month of winter, so it starts to get ever so slightly warmer by the end of February in Korea. That doesn’t mean it’s warm enough to throw off all your winter gear though. You’ll definitely still need it!

Nothing like a steaming cup of odeng to warm you up atop a frozen lake.

READ NEXT: From Myeongdong to Gangnam: The 7 Best Areas in Seoul for Travelers to Stay + Hotel Recommendations (from a 12 year expat)

Korea in February | Weather

You can still expect freezing temperatures, strong winds, and bitter cold from the Korea weather in February. Average temperatures across the country range from -11°C | 13°F in Gangwon-do to 9°C | 49°F on Jeju Island.

February is a great month to ski in South Korea.

There’s still quite a bit of snowfall in Korea in February. It’s the ideal time to head out to ski resorts, and sledding hills like Vivaldi Park Snowyland, for a day of winter fun. Ski resorts like Yongpyong and Alpensia, out in Gangwon-do are a good bet for the most real snow and best conditions.

There is some light (and heat) at the end of the tunnel though. Days get longer, and average high temperatures rise to as much as 7°C | 45°F in Seoul by the end of February in Korea.

You should still expect snow and ice in Korea in February.

READ NEXT: 27 Incredible Places to Visit in Korea during Winter

Korea in February | Seoul Weather

It’s still quite cold in Seoul in February, with average temperatures in the range of -4°C | 26°F to 5°C | 41°F. Daily high temperatures increase a full 5°C | 8°F from January, reaching up to 7°C | 45°F in February, so there are definitely some warmer days by the end of the month.

Snowy beauty on a hanok rooftop.

Do not be fooled though. It’s still winter, and there are days with temperatures that reach as low as -11°C | 13°F. With average wind speeds of 15-km/hour | 9-miles/hour pretty constant throughout the month, it can feel a whole lot colder.

There’s a mix of snow and rain in Seoul during February, so be prepared with umbrellas, snow boots, and waterproof gear if you have it. In my experience, there’s always a major dump of snow near the end of the month – almost like the last gasp of winter, before balmy temperatures take over Korea for spring.

This winter has been very cold and snowy in Seoul.

* Personal note: this is one of the coldest, snowiest winters I’ve ever experienced in Seoul. It’s snowed quite a bit, with temperatures as low as -25°C | -13°F with the windchill. It’s been so cold that snow isn’t melting instantly like usual. Bring REAL winter gear if you’re visiting Korea in February 2023.

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Korea Weather in February | Busan

Busan is located on the southeastern coast of Korea in Gyeongnam-do. It’s one of the warmer cities of Korea in February. It has average daily high temperatures of 8°C | 47°F, and average lows of 3°C | 38°F.

There’s no snowfall in Busan in February © Busan Tourism Organization

February in Busan is a little wet, with an average of 5 days of rain, totalling approximately 20-mm of precipitation. There is no snowfall in Busan.

With a sea temperature of just 13°C | 56°F, it’s dangerous to go swimming, but that doesn’t mean that you’re safe from UV rays. The UV Index starts to increase in South Korea in February. Be cautious, even when there’s cloud cover – especially if you’re prone to burning easily.

Gamcheon Culture Village is worth exploring © Kim Sangseok, Korea Tourism Organization

Korea Weather in February | Jeju Island

February is another winter month on Jeju Island, with temperatures ranging from 4°C | 39°F to 9°C | 49°F. It rains for about 10 days of the month, but there’s not too much overall precipitation.

Do not be surprised by snow on Jeju Island © Lim Jong-do, Korea Tourism Organization

Lest you think it doesn’t snow on Jeju Island, stand corrected. There can be a lot of snowfall in the higher mountainous regions, and there are beautiful snowscapes to be seen on various hiking trails around Hallasan Mountain.

Flight cancellations in Korea in February are a real possibility © Kim Dae-su, Korea Tourism Organization

Be aware that flight and ferry cancellations and delays due to unfavourable weather conditions are a very real possibility if you’re traveling to Jeju in February.

Korea Weather in February | Pyeongchang (Gangwon-do)

Pyeongchang in Gangwon-do is likely one of the coldest places in Korea in February, with average temperatures ranging from -11°C | 13°F to 0°C | 31°F. The temperature literally never rises above freezing in the region.

Pyeongchang is freezing in February © Woo Jae-Yong, Korea Tourism Organization

Every week, there’s an average of 2 to 3-cm of fresh snowfall in Pyeongchang, with the exception of the last week of February. I bet you’d be surprised to learn that the MOST snowfall happens around Pyeongchang in the last week of February (average 12-cm), and the first week of March (average 24-cm).

There’s a ton of snowfall in Pyeongchang © Lee Beomsu, Korea Tourism Organization

So while most ski resorts around the country are closed by the end of February in Korea, this is the ideal time to head to Gangwon-do for the best snow and conditions on the slopes.

Korea in February | Public Holidays 2023

There are no public holidays in South Korea in February, but Valentine’s Day is observed.

Valentine’s Day in Korea

Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday in Korea, just like in other countries around the world. However, it’s celebrated with a slightly Korean twist.

Valentine’s Day has a Korean twist © Korea Tourism Organization

On February 14th, WOMEN in Korea give their partners chocolate, sweets, and other gifts for Valentine’s Day. It’s also an opportunity for women to confess their feelings to a crush, if they’re brave enough.

Here are some ideas for a romantic Valentine’s Day in Seoul:

• admire panoramic cityscapes and hang a love lock at Namsan and the N. Seoul Tower
• staycation at the Grand Hyatt hotel, with ice skating at their romantic private rink
• dine on the Royal Court Cuisine of the Joseon Dynasty at Jihwaja in Seoul
• craft a unique handmade ring for your beloved

She’ll always be my Valentine.

Limited Edition Winter / Spring Tours in Korea

If you’re visiting Korea in February, it’s likely your last chance to participate in snow, ice, and lighting festivals around the country. Why? Because everything starts to melt, as we head into the warmer spring months.

February is the last month for snow and ice festivals © Ryu Sang-hoon, Korea Tourism Organization

• Cheongyang Alps Village Ice Fountain Festival | until February 10th, 2023
• Ice Fishing and Snowflake Tour in Gangwondo | until February 12th, 2023
• Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival, Snowy Land + Strawberry Picking | until February 28th, 2023
• Vivaldi Park Snowy Land Sledding Tour | unti February 28th, 2023
• Skiing, Snowboarding, and Sledding Tours across Korea | Various dates
• Elysian Ski Resort + Nami Island + the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival | until March 3rd, 2023
• Alpaca World + Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival | until March 15th, 2023

Spring Tours in Korea

Plum blossoms in Gwangyang Maehwa Village are usually the first sign of spring in Korea, with petals bursting into bloom at the end of March. Like cherry blossom season in Korea, the dates for most of these tours is incredibly limited. Most run for just a few short weeks, so catch them while you can!

Plum blossoms are one of the first signs of spring in Korea.

• Gwangyang Maehwa & Jeonju Hanok Village Tour | March 13th – 24th, 2023
• Jeju Island Package: Flight, Private Tour + Hotel Option | March 20th – April 9th, 2023
• Jeju Island Cherry Blossoms and Canola Private Taxi or Van Tour | March 21st – April 10th, 2023
• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour from Busan | March 24th – April 9th, 2023
• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour from Seoul or Busan | March 27th – April 6th, 2023
• Exclusive VIP Tour Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival | March 27th – April 7th, 2023
• Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Busan | March 27th – April 12th, 2023
• Daegu E-WORLD Land & Spring Cherry Blossom Day Tour | March 28th – April 7th, 2023
• Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do | April 5th – 16th, 2023
• Ganghwa Island Cherry Blossom & Luge Ride Experience | April 9th – 17th, 2023
• Eden Cherry Blossom Festival + Alpaca World + Nami Island | April 11th – 18th, 2023
• Taean Tulip Festival + Strawberry Picking Experience | April 14th – May 7th, 2023
• Pink King Cherry Blossom Tour from Seoul | April 15th – April 30th, 2023

Jinhae is the cherry blossom festival you’ll want to go to ⓒ Lim Bo-hyeok, Korea Tourism Organization

Korea in February | Best Festivals and Events

There’s a very slight pause in the busy festival schedule in the last few weeks of February in Korea. There’s an incredible variety of events coming up in the busy spring months of April and May, so maybe it’s just a small chance for us to catch our breath.

Not to worry though – even in its quietest months, there’s still plenty to do in Korea.

Ski resorts in Korea stay open until the end of February ⓒ Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

Visiting Korea at another time of the year? Learn about the weather and festivals for each month in the following detailed guides.

• Korea in April: Chasing Cherry Blossoms
• Korea in May: In Full Bloom
• Korea in June: The Best Month of Summer
• Korea in July: The Peak of Summer
• Korea in August: Summer Vacation for EVERYONE!
• Korea in September: Autumn Relief
• Korea in October: Full on Fall Foliage
• Korea in November: Autumn to Winter Transition
• Korea in December: Christmas Lights Galore
• Korea in January: The Coldest Month of the Year

There are fun festivals in every month of the year © Korea.net (CC BY-SA 2.0)

READ NEXT: 9 Terrific Things to do at Starfield Coex Mall in Gangnam

Korea Grand Sale | 코리아그랜드세일

Festival Dates: January 12th – February 28th, 2023

Address: Various locations

One big advantage of visiting Korea in February, is that you can take advantage of the Korea Grand Sale. This festival promotes culture, tourism and shopping to travelers all year round, but the biggest discounts and promotions are reserved for January and February.

From free room upgrades to discounted flight deals to special coupon books for restaurants and shopping, it’s definitely worth checking their website for all the deals.

E-World Illumination | 이월드 일루미네이션

Festival Dates: until February 28th, 2022

Address: 200, Duryugongwon-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu | 대구광역시 달서구 두류공원로 200

For the entire month of February in Korea, the Illumination Festival in Daegu stuns with 10-million lights decorating E-World and the landmark 83 Tower. Look out for gorgeous photo zones, including a sparkling 250-metre long road, and a dazzling garden of 100,000 LED roses.

The 83 Tower is a Daegu landmark © 대구광역시 (CC BY 4.0)

There’s also 4 different outdoor amusement parks at Daegu E-World, with a ton of thrilling rides for all ages to explore. Don’t forget to head up the 83 Tower Observatory for excellent views of Daegu at night.

More details here.

Gapyeong Singsing Trout Festival | 가평씽씽송어축제

Festival Dates: all of February 2023

Address: 119, Gapyeongjebang-gil, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 가평군 가평읍 가평제방길 119

The Gapyeong Singsing Trout Festival is one of the only ice fishing festivals that continues on until the end of February in South Korea.

The Gapyeong Singsing Trout Festival continues in Korea in February © Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

Check out hands-on programs and winter activities like ice fishing and sledding, snow sledding, or riding bumper cars on ice. Be sure to get any trout you catch grilled on-site, so you can eat it while it’s super fresh.

READ NEXT: How to Rent a Hanbok in Seoul in 9 Easy Steps

Herb Island Light Festival | 허브아일랜드 불빛동화축제

Festival Dates: until March 31st, 2023

Address: 35, Cheongsin-ro 947beon-gil, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 포천시 신북면 청신로947번길 35

If you can’t get enough of sparkling lights, the Herb Island Lighting Festival is not too far from Seoul. You could combine it with a trip to Pocheon Art Valley, with strawberry picking, or visit one of the winter festivals in Pocheon at the same time.

There are a lot of strawberry farms in Pocheon.

Herb Island is a huge botanical garden so the light displays are spread out around the large grounds, so be prepared for a little walking.

There are also hands-on activities, like herbal soap and candle-making on-site. If you’re traveling independently, I recommend getting there before sunset, so you can take advantage of all those activities too.

All the sparkling lights at Herb Island in Pocheon.

Check their website for full details (Korean only).

Korea in February | What to Wear

While there can be a few “warm-ish” days in Korea in February, it’s still very much winter. Sub-zero temperatures, Siberian winds, and bitter cold are the norm, so you should prepare your clothing accordingly.

There are a few warm-ish days in February in Korea.

You’ll need a super warm winter parka, heattech inner wear, hats, scarves, and mittens to survive the February weather in Korea.

It’s a lot colder once the sun sets, so if you’re exploring Seoul at night, throwing a couple of hot packs into your pockets can be very helpful. These can be picked up for very cheap in any convenience store, Daiso, or supermarket.

A late February in Korea snowfall last year.

Snowfall is likely in February in South Korea… especially this year. If the snow sticks around, it’s useful to wear some type of waterproof winter boots or running shoes, with good tread. The sidewalks can get pretty slippery.

Gear up and catch the last of the winter festivals in February!

Visiting Korea in February | Packing List

Here’s a rough guideline of items to pack for the Korea weather in February.

Bring from Home

• travel documents: passport, itineraries, hotel reservations, plane tickets, travel visas, insurance
• adaptor / plug
• long sleeved shirts, sweaters, hoodies, cardigans
• warm pants, fleece-lined leggings, thick tights
• winter skirts or dresses
• sunglasses
• deodorant, feminine hygiene items
• comfortable running shoes for lots of walking (water resistant shoes are good at this time of year)
• warm winter boots if you plan to be outside a lot
• winter gear like a down jacket, scarf, mittens, gloves, and hat, snow pants if you plan to ski or snowboard
• any special medications you might need

Buy in Korea

• hot packs (at the convenience store or DAISO)
• gloves, scarves, and winter hats are cheap and easy to buy everywhere
• HEATTECH inner layers for warmth (Uniqlo)
• umbrella if it rains
• disposable air pollution / medical masks
• batteries / charging cables (super cheap at Daiso)
• skincare products like sunscreen (high quality and cheap in Korea!)
• eyeglasses and contact lenses can be purchased just by walking into a store (a free eye test will be provided)
• birth control can be purchased over the counter, without a prescription (but all brands may not be available)

Korea’s snow-covered landscapes are stunning! © Yu Yeong-bok, Korea Tourism Organization

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All ready for the perfect trip to Korea in February? What have you got planned?