At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season The first days of the year are busy on the hilltops at dawn and in the centre; after that, January is one of the quietest months for visitors.
Seoul in January — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Seoul in January offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for winter sales, spa & street food. Expect temperatures of -6–2°C, around 3 days of rain, and low crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around ₩75,000–120,000 for mid-range travellers. Rooms are easy to find last-minute and hotel prices stay noticeably softer through the season.
Contents15 sections
#Weather in Seoul in January
Seoul in January averages -6–2°C (21–36°F) with around 3 days of rain, and crowds are low.
| Measure | January in Seoul |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 2°C / 36°F |
| Overnight low | About -6°C / 21°F, with cold snaps far lower |
| Wet days | About 3, with about 17mm, the driest month of the year |
| Sunset | 5:24pm on the 1st, 5:54pm by the 31st |
| Big dates | New Year's Day, Friday 1 January 2027; Seollal follows on 6 to 9 February |
| Crowds and prices | Busy over New Year, then among the quietest and cheapest weeks of the year |
Figures are Korea Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals for Seoul.
What that actually means for your trip:
- This is the coldest month. Daytime highs hover just above freezing, and Siberian cold snaps push nights towards -15°C, freezing the edges of the Han.
- It is dry and bright. Most days are clear and blue, and snow usually comes as a light fall that melts from the main streets by lunchtime.
- The cold comes in cycles. Koreans speak of samhan saon, three cold days and four warmer ones, and the pattern often holds.
- The days lengthen slowly. Sunset moves from about 5:25pm to nearly 6pm over the month.
Is January a good time to visit Seoul? Yes, if you dress properly and like quiet, clear winter days. After the New Year holiday, hotels are among the cheapest of the year, the palaces are calm and photogenic in the crisp light, and the food, the bathhouses and the underground city make the cold easy to handle. If you hate cold, come in October or May instead.
#January in the city
New Year's Day, Friday 1 January 2027, is a public holiday, and the night before, the great bell at Bosingak rings in the year at midnight. Many Koreans climb a hill or a mountain before dawn for haedoji, the first sunrise of the year; Namsan, Achasan and Inwangsan are the popular spots in Seoul, and they are crowded in the dark from about 6am.
After the first week, January is the quietest month of the year in Seoul. The city's winter festival often keeps its lights in the centre into the first weeks of January, and the Seoul Plaza ice rink usually runs through the month.
Outside the city, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Gangwon Province, about two hours away, usually runs from around the second week of January into February, with ice fishing for mountain trout through holes in the frozen river.
Seollal, the Lunar New Year, falls in February in 2027, from 6 to 9 February.
#What to Do in Seoul in January
Solo Travellers
Walk Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung at opening time, when the courtyards are empty and the light is low and clear, then spend the afternoon at the National Museum of Korea.
A jjimjilbang, a Korean bathhouse, makes a warm evening.
Couples
Skate at the Seoul Plaza rink after dark, take the cable car up Namsan for the city lights, and warm up in a tea house in Insadong.
Families
Lotte World's indoor theme park, the COEX Aquarium and the Seoul Museum of History keep children warm. The sledding slopes that the city often opens in the Han River parks in winter are a highlight on a fine day.
Groups
Take a day trip to an ice-fishing festival or a ski resort near Seoul, then spend the evening over Korean barbecue and soju, the warmest night out in the city.
#Getting Around
Trains on the AREX line link Incheon Airport with Seoul Station, express or all-stop.
Around the city, ride the heated subway, paying with a T-money card that also works on buses and in taxis.
In January, walk underground. Central Seoul has long underground passages: the Euljiro underground shopping street runs from City Hall east towards Dongdaemun beneath a busy road, and the COEX mall connects a whole district in Gangnam. Pavements can be icy in the shade after snow.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₩65,000–105,000 | Guesthouse, soup houses and street food, subway |
| Mid-range | ₩170,000–290,000 | Hotel in Jung-gu or Mapo, restaurants, palaces and museums |
| Luxury | ₩500,000+ | Five-star hotel, fine dining, a strawberry buffet |
January is one of the cheapest months for Seoul hotels after the New Year holiday, with prices low until the run-up to Seollal.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Seoul Plaza ice rink | A small fee per session |
| Jjimjilbang entry | A modest fee, with overnight stays possible |
| National Museum of Korea | Free permanent galleries |
| Subway with T-money | Under ₩2,000 |
| A bowl of seolleongtang | About ₩10,000–15,000 |
- Book New Year dates early, and enjoy the low prices after.
- Carry heat packs from any convenience store.
- Check the K-ETA rules before booking flights.
#Food & Dining
January is the season for hot, warming food: sundubu-jjigae, soft tofu stew, seolleongtang, milky beef-bone soup, and gamjatang, pork-bone and potato stew, often served through the night.
From the street carts come hotteok, bungeoppang and eomuk in hot broth.
It is also strawberry season, and the hotel strawberry buffets are busy at weekends.
#Nightlife
Seoul's nightlife moves indoors in January: barbecue restaurants, pojangmacha tents with heaters and plastic sheeting, noraebang karaoke rooms and the bars of Hongdae, Itaewon and Euljiro. The cold keeps the crowds smaller after New Year.
#Shopping
The winter sales run in the department stores in January, and the underground shopping streets are warm places to browse.
Myeongdong's cosmetics shops and Dongdaemun's late-night fashion malls run as usual; Seollal gift sets start to appear late in the month.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Wish people a happy new year in the first weeks of January, and again at Seollal.
- Shoes come off where you see them lined up at the entrance.
- In a jjimjilbang, shower before entering the baths, and follow the separate men's and women's areas.
- Use both hands when giving or receiving from an elder.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Korean | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) | Happy New Year | In early January |
| 해돋이 (haedoji) | The first sunrise | 1 January |
| 추워요 (chuwoyo) | It's cold | All month |
| 찜질방 (jjimjilbang) | Korean bathhouse | On a freezing evening |
| 핫팩 (hat paek) | Heat pack | At the convenience store |
| 지하상가 (jiha sangga) | Underground shopping street | Asking the warm way through |
#Packing List
- The warmest coat you own, windproof if possible
- Thermal leggings and vests
- A hat that covers the ears, gloves and a scarf
- Boots with grippy soles for icy pavements
- A rich moisturiser and lip balm
- Hand-warmer heat packs, sold in every convenience store
- Presentable socks, as you will often take your shoes off
#Backup Plans
When the temperature plunges: stay below street level in the Euljiro passages or the COEX mall, or give the day to museums.
If the dust index is high: choose the National Palace Museum inside Gyeongbokgung and the Seoul Museum of History, and wear a KF94 mask outdoors.
If you need warmth: spend an evening in a jjimjilbang, with its hot rooms, baths and sleeping halls.
#Safety & Health
Cold and ice are the main risks. Dress in layers, cover your extremities, and take care on icy pavements and steps, especially in the shade. Indoor heating and cold air dry the skin and throat, so drink plenty and use moisturiser. On still, grey days, look at the fine-dust index.
In an emergency, dial 119 for fire and ambulance or 112 for the police; 1330 is the English-language travel line.
#What's New for January 2027
- New Year's Day falls on Friday 1 January 2027
- Seollal follows in February, from 6 to 9 February 2027
- Travellers who were K-ETA exempt should check whether the exemption, which ended on 31 December 2026, has been renewed
- Labour Day and Constitution Day became public holidays in 2026
- The Seoul Plaza ice rink usually runs through January
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for January 2027. Climate figures are Korea Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals for Seoul. Dates and prices verified against:
- Korea AeroSpace Administration for the 2027 holidays
- K-ETA for travel authorisation
- Royal Palaces of Korea for palace hours
- Korea Tourism Organization for winter festivals and the 1330 hotline
- Korea Meteorological Administration for the January averages
Next comes Seoul in February; all three winter months are covered in Seoul in winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is January a good time to visit Seoul?
Yes, if you dress for real cold. Days average about 2°C and nights -6°C, but January is dry and mostly clear, and after New Year it is one of the quietest and cheapest months, with calm palaces and warming food.
Does the Han River freeze in January?
Its edges often do in a hard cold snap, and in the coldest winters large stretches freeze, though walking on the ice is not allowed. The city often opens sledding slopes and ice rinks in the river parks in winter.
What is haedoji?
Haedoji is the first sunrise of the year. On 1 January, many Koreans climb a hill or mountain in the dark to watch it; Namsan, Achasan and Inwangsan are popular in Seoul. Arrive early and dress for standing in the cold.
How much does a January trip to Seoul cost?
After the New Year holiday, January is one of the cheapest months for Seoul hotels. Allow about ₩65,000–105,000 a day on a budget and ₩170,000–290,000 mid-range; soups and street food keep meals cheap.
What’s the weather like in Seoul in January?
Seoul in January typically sees temperatures of -6–2°C with around 3 days of rain across the period. Pack warm layers, a waterproof coat, and sturdy shoes — days stay chilly.