Korea in November 2026 Travel: The Last Fall Foliage, Winter Weather Prep + What to See & Do

Jogyesa Chrysanthemum Festival | 조계사 국화축제

As the centre of Korean Buddhism, there are a number of stellar events and activities at Jogyesa Temple year round, including the can’t-miss Lotus Lantern Festival.

In Korea in November though, Jogyesa is all about chrysanthemums, with huge floral displays decorating the temple grounds.

Masan Chrysanthemum Festival | 마산국화축제

With fertile soil and a warm climate, Changwon (formerly Masan), is the biggest producer of chrysanthemums in Korea.

At the Masan Chrysanthemum Festival, gawk at an exhibition of over 120,000 chrysanthemums artfully displayed in a massive garden, watch a cool drone light show and see a singing competition.

Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival | 서산국화축제

See flower tunnels, displays and other exhibits made up of colourful chrysanthemums and other wildflowers at Hannogwon Garden during November in Korea. There’s also a handicraft market, a showcase of traditional folk games, and food and tea made from chrysanthemum flowers available.

I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to the quiet city of Seosan. There’s a ton to do! Be sure to stop into Haemieuipseong Fortress and check out the unique seaside Ganworam Hermitage while you’re there.

Jeju Hueree Camelia Festival | 휴애리 동백축제

As mid-November hits Korea, camelia takes over Hueree Park in Jeju. There are literally thousands of gorgeous red blooms, and if you’re lucky a carpet of bright petals too.

It’s also possible to pick Jeju tangerines, and feed animals at Hueree Park at the same time.

Seoul City Festivals & Light Shows

When the autumn foliage starts dropping, the capital really comes alive with beautiful evening light installations, food showcases, and local traditions. It’s a wonderful time to explore the city culture, join in on fun gift-giving days, or just bundle up for a crisp night walk under the sparkling Seoul lights.

Cheonggye Soul Ocean | 청계소울오션

Cheonggye Soul Ocean is a media art exhibition on top of the flowing Cheonggyecheon Stream takes places throughout the month of November in Korea.

Head to the lower section of Cheonggyecheon Gwanggyo Bridge and the Gwanggyo Gallery area, daily between 6 and 10 at night to see it.

Moonlight Lotus Show at Changgyeonggung Palace | 창경궁 물빛연화

If you want to see a historic royal space transformed by incredible modern design, keep an eye out for the special Moonlight Lotus Show at Changgyeonggung Palace. For about a month, the area around Chundangji Pond becomes the canvas for a brilliant outdoor media art exhibition.

The organizers do a fantastic job of keeping things tasteful, matching the glowing projections and floating lotus installations to the natural curves of the ancient trees and architecture. The best part? Unlike the high-stakes online ticket lotteries for some of the other grand palaces in the city, you don’t need a formal advance reservation for this light show. You can just show up and wander right in to enjoy the illuminations.

Seoul Autumn Festa | 서울어텀페스타

The Seoul Autumn Festa celebrates theatre, dance, music, traditional arts and more under the theme of “Performing Arts, Connecting Seoul”

There are over 110 performances and events to enjoy across Seoul, at iconic venues like Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Luminarie | 루미나리에

This year, the theme of Luminarie is Dream, Universe & Love.  Expect sparkling light displays, photo zones, performances, and cultural experiences at Seokchon Lake Park throughout November in Korea.

If you’re already in Jamsil, spend the afternoon hitting the rides at Lotte World, watch the sunset from the Seoul Sky Lotte World Tower, before grabbing a hot chocolate and joining the locals strolling the figure 8 walking path, while admiring gorgeous autumn leaves.

Taste of Seoul | 테이스트오브서울

If you’re visiting Korea in November, and don’t know where to eat, you’re in luck! Taste of Seoul will celebrate the city’s diverse and varied food scene, with 100 Taste of Seoul restaurants which have been selected by 20 gourmet curators to represent the city’s food scene.

Vegetarians can rejoice. For the first time, a full half of these restaurants are plant-based. Figure out where to eat here.

Pepero Day | 빼빼로 데이

Pepero Day is undoubtedly one of the most uniquely Korean events happening in November.

It’s an annual observance where people exchange boxes of Pepero chocolate-covered biscuit sticks with friends, family, and loved ones to express their love, and friendship.

It’s held on 11.11 because the shape of a Pepero stick is the same as a 1. On this day, and the week before (usually), you’ll find Pepero events, and special gift packages all over Seoul and beyond.

Seoul International Cafe Show | 서울국제카페쇼

If you happen to be in Seoul around mid-November and need a break from the crisp autumn wind, you’re in luck. The annual Seoul International Cafe Show completely takes over the exhibition halls at Coex, and it’s a dream come true if you love coffee culture as much as I do. Since South Korea has one of the most vibrant specialty coffee scenes in the world, this event pulls out all the stops with global barista competitions, roasting workshops, and endless rows of desserts to sample.

While the first couple of days are set aside for industry folks, the weekend dates open up to general public ticket holders. It’s an incredible spot to taste unique blends from top local independent roasters and see the upcoming café trends before anyone else.

Spectacular November Fireworks Festivals in Korea

Late autumn in Korea brings some of the most spectacular night sky events of the year, with world-class pyrotechnics illuminating the southern coastal regiona. Heading down to cities like Busan or Yeosu gives you a front-row seat to incredible music and light shows right over the water.

Busan Fireworks Festival | 부산 불꽃축제

The Busan Fireworks Festival lights up the sky above Gwangalli Beach every November in Korea. Aside from the epic fireworks display, you can also enjoy cultural programs, laser light shows and media facades.

This is a brilliant annual tradition, and if you want to make the most of your trip while checking out top sights around the coast, you can pick up a Visit Busan Pass to access major attractions and activities across the city. Grab your spot early along the shoreline to watch the colours reflect off the water, or grab guaranteed front-row seats for the Busan Fireworks Festival.

Pohang International Fire and Light Festival | 포항국제불빛축제

Head to Pohang for a spectacular fireworks display in Korea in June. When you’re not being wowed by the teams competing for the title of best fireworks, you can enjoy a dance party with DJ, busking, a parade and much more.

Jump on a tour to Pohang from Seoul or Busan, walk atop the amazing Space Walk, then enjoy the incredible pyrotechics above you. The round-trip transport alone makes the cost of the tour worth it!

Rural November Festivals in Korea

Head out of Seoul or Busan and you’ll find a completely different side of the season, where you can experience traditional island walking trails and local autumn harvests. I love these rural getaways because they give you a real taste of local life and a slower, more peaceful pace.

Cheongsong Apple Festival | 청송사과축제

Every November in South Korea, crisp, juicy Cheongsong apples flood markets, streets, and grocery stores. At this time of year, you can be guaranteed a delicious apple, for a relatively reasonable price.

At the Cheongsong Apple Festival, you can enjoy EVERYTHING apple – including an apple parade, apple contests, apple sculptures, and much more. And of course, there are Cheongsong apples available for purchase at the festival.

Jeju Olle Walking Festival | 제주올레걷기축제

Jeju Island’s nature is simply glorious during November in Korea, and participating in the the Jeju Olle Walking Festival is one of the best ways to see it.

Walk along 23 different hiking routes around the island, with visitors from all over the world, while watching local performances and eating local food. This is one of the most interesting autumn festivals in Korea!

Anyone can register, including children and groups. If you want a flexible way to reach the trailheads or explore between routes without figuring out local buses, you can always rent a car or book a Jeju private car charter to make getting around much easier.

Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival | 파주장단콩축제

If you want to experience a classic rural harvest celebration without traveling all the way down south, make your way up to Paju at the very end of the month. The Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival takes place right on the grounds of Imjingak Resort, which is right by the DMZ.

This region has been famous for growing top-tier soybeans since the Joseon Dynasty, and the local farmers put on a fantastic party to celebrate the final crop of the year.

The best part of this festival is definitely the food. You get to watch traditional craft methods of boiling and pressing gigantic blocks of fresh tofu, sample bubbling stews, and browse farmers markets packed with local goods. They also line up traditional folk music and street games, making it a very warm, lively day trip to break up that late-November in Korea winter freeze.

Best Late Autumn Tours in Korea

While northern mountain peaks wrap up their foliage season early, the first half of November is actually the sweet spot for chasing late-autumn leaves in South Korea. If you head south from Seoul, you can catch the deep crimson maples and golden ginkgo trees at their absolute peak before the true winter freeze sets in.

Beyond the fall colours, the crisp November weather brings incredibly clear skies that are absolutely perfect for city day trips, cultural festivals, and coastal sightseeing. To help you sort out your itinerary, I’ve rounded up the best day trips that are fully running and worth your time this month.

Korea in November | What to Wear

The Korea weather in November changes quite dramatically, with the end a lot colder than the start. For the first week, you could get away with jeans, hoodies, and sweaters during the daylight hours if you tolerate cooler temperatures well. However, a jacket is definitely needed by late afternoon and at night.

By the end of the month, I don’t know many people who aren’t struggling with the deep freeze of Korea’s impending winter. HEATTECH inner layers, fleece-lined pants, warm boots, and a winter jacket are your best friend by the end of November in Korea. A lot of locals wear lighter-weight puffer coats with multiple layers underneath this month.

It’s helpful to have good running shoes or boots, for warmth, comfort, and convenience. I mostly wander around Seoul wearing sneakers and thick socks, and it’s enough, since I’m in and out of heated spaces.

On cooler days though, or if I’m planning to spend a full day outdoors, I wear waterproof Uggs to keep my toes toasty warm. There’s nothing worse than cold feet!

Tips for What to Wear in Korea in November

▼  It feels a lot colder at the end of November in Korea, so prepare accordingly. If you’re visiting in the last few weeks of November, you definitely need to be prepared with winter gear.

▼  Koreans generally dress quite well. You’ll stand out quite a bit if you’re wearing a “typical backpacker“ look.

▼  If you don’t want to draw unwelcome attention to yourself, it’s best to dress on the conservative side. For women, a low neckline will attract eyes, but a super short skirt won’t (go figure). Shorts with thick tights underneath are a common sight in Korea in November.

Korea in November FAQs

I originally researched, wrote & published this guide on December 9, 2022. I review & update my content for accuracy regularly. Watch out for copycats.This post was last updated on August 8, 2026. Copyright © 2022–2026 Travel-Stained. All rights reserved.