A Seoul winter sits right around freezing. The official averages for December to February are all within two degrees of zero, which means cold mornings and evenings even when the middle of the day feels manageable.[1] Getting the clothing right matters as much as getting the itinerary right.
Below, we give the official averages for December to February, what that means for your suitcase, and the two things that change for visitors in winter: how the city’s transit pass works now and which winter events are on the calendar. We read the Korea Meteorological Administration’s climate tables and Seoul’s own transit and festival pages between October 9 and 13, 2026 (how we research).
How cold Seoul gets: the official averages
Korea’s weather agency publishes 30-year “climate normals” for each station. For Seoul’s main station (number 108), the 1991-2020 monthly averages put January as the coldest month, at -1.9°C. December averages 0.2°C and February 0.7°C.[1][7]
| Month | Average temperature (Seoul, 1991-2020) |
|---|---|
| December | 0.2°C |
| January | -1.9°C |
| February | 0.7°C |
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991-2020 climate normals, Seoul.[1][7]
These are averages of day and night together, over 30 years. Expect hours that are colder than the table, usually early in the morning and after dark, and milder ones in the middle of the day. The numbers describe a typical winter, not the one you’ll get, so check the forecast in the week before you fly.
For the same 1991-2020 period, the agency puts Seoul’s average daily low at -3.4°C in December, -5.5°C in January and -3.2°C in February, and its average daily high at 4.2°C, 2.1°C and 5.1°C in those months.[7]
What to pack, and why layers win
The reason to pack in layers is the gap between outside and inside. Outdoors you’ll be at or near freezing; indoors, rooms heated from the floor can feel warm, so a single heavy sweater under a coat leaves you too hot on the subway and in cafés. We explain why Korean rooms run warm in our guide to ondol, Korea’s heated floors.
A packing list built around that gap:
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| A warm outer coat, ideally windproof | It does most of the work outdoors and comes off as soon as you’re inside |
| Two or three thin layers instead of one thick one | Easy to remove in heated rooms and on transit |
| Gloves that let you use a phone, or thin ones under thicker ones | You’ll tap cards and check maps outdoors |
| A hat and a scarf or neck warmer | Small, light, and easy to stuff in a pocket once you’re inside |
| Warm socks, plus a spare pair | If you visit a home, you’ll take your shoes off and your socks are on show |
| Warm shoes that slip on and off easily | You may take them off at the door indoors |
| Lip balm and moisturizer | Easy to forget, and handy when you go back and forth between cold air and heated rooms |
Forgot something? Many small items can be picked up locally. What a Korean convenience store can and can’t do for a traveler is in our separate guide.
What changes in winter: transit passes
One change for visitors this season is the transit pass. Seoul’s Climate Card gives unlimited rides on the city’s buses and subways for a set period.[2] VISITKOREA says that from October 1, 2026, only the short-term passes remain, and the 30-day and postpaid versions have been discontinued.[3] The city’s own page says the 30-day prepaid card could be recharged until August 31, 2026, and that existing cards can still be recharged with short-term passes.[2]
The prices on the city’s page:[2]
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | KRW 5,000 (about US$3.70) |
| 2 days | KRW 8,000 (about US$5.90) |
| 3 days | KRW 10,000 (about US$7.40) |
| 5 days | KRW 15,000 (about US$11) |
| 7 days | KRW 20,000 (about US$15) |
The physical card itself costs KRW 3,000 (about US$2.20).[2] A pass starts on the day you charge it, and a 1-day pass runs until the last bus or subway that day. You can’t charge one in advance.[2] The short-term passes don’t include the Ttareungi public bikes or the Hangang Bus, and the Sinbundang Line is outside the card’s range.[2]
Paying is easier than it used to be. Since March 17, 2026, new ticket machines at 273 stations on subway Lines 1 to 8 accept foreign credit and debit cards for buying a Climate Card and charging short-term passes, with an average service fee of about 3.7%.[4]
Prices were checked on Seoul’s English page and VISITKOREA’s transport card page on October 9, 2026, and the two agree. Whether a short-term pass beats a pay-as-you-go card depends on how much you’ll ride. That comparison is in our Seoul transit card guide.
What changes in winter: lights and festivals
Winter also brings city-run festivals to central Seoul. The city government has announced that the Seoul Winter Festival is planned for December 4, 2026 to January 31, 2027, across sites including the Han River, Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, Bosingak and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The plan lists the Gwanghwamun market, media art and light displays among the events.[5] Plans can change, so check the city’s festival pages closer to your dates.
The Seoul Lantern Festival along Cheonggyecheon stream is a separate event with its own schedule. As of October 9, 2026, the city’s festival listing shows the 2026 edition as planned for December along Cheonggyecheon, without fixed dates.[6] Dates are announced each year, so look it up on the Fun Seoul festival listing before you build a night around it.
Good to know
- Pack for temperatures around freezing, with layers you can take off indoors.[1]
- Bring gloves you can use a phone with, and a spare pair of warm socks.
- If you plan to ride a lot, decide on a Climate Card short-term pass before you top up any other card, and charge it on the day you start.[2]
- Paying by foreign card at a station machine? Use the newer machines on Lines 1 to 8, and expect a service fee of about 3.7%.[4]
- Planning around the Seoul Winter Festival? Re-check the dates on the city’s pages the week before you travel.[5]
Transit prices and festival plans were checked on October 9, 2026.
Arriving at Incheon in winter? Our AREX guide covers the train into the city. More everyday guides are in Seoul, every day.