At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season Moderate for most of the month; the last week brings the start of the Korean summer holidays and busier transport out of the city.
Seoul in July — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Seoul in July offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for food lovers, museums & rainy-day culture. Expect temperatures of 22–29°C, around 13 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around ₩80,000–140,000 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents12 sections
#Weather in Seoul in July
Seoul in July averages 22–29°C (72–84°F) with around 13 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | July |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | 29°C / 84°F |
| Overnight low | 22°C / 72°F |
| Rain | 13 wet days and about 414 mm, the wettest month of the year |
| Daylight | About 14 hours 40 minutes on the 1st, easing to just over 14 hours by the 31st |
July is the monsoon month. Over 1991–2020 the jangma front sat over Seoul from about 25 June to 26 July, and July alone brings around 414 mm of rain, more than the whole of winter and spring put together. Humidity averages 76%, the highest of the year.
What this means day to day is uncertainty. A jangma day can be a steady downpour from morning to night, a grey, close day with a single violent shower, or a surprise afternoon of hard sunshine between two fronts. Forecasts change by the hour, and Koreans plan the monsoon loosely.
When the front lifts at the end of the month, the heat builds sharply and the true summer begins.
#What to Do in Seoul in July
Boknal: eating to beat the heat
The three hottest days of the old calendar, the boknal, fall between mid-July and mid-August. On each one, restaurants serving samgyetang, ginseng chicken soup, have queues out of the door, because Koreans eat something hot and nourishing to fight the heat. Eel, jangeo, grilled over charcoal, is the other boknal meal, and the spicy beef soup yukgaejang is a third.
A monsoon day, well spent
A rainy July day in Seoul is a good day for the city's bookshops, cinemas and cafés. Kyobo Book Centre under Gwanghwamun is enormous and has a large English section. The multiplex cinemas show Korean films with English subtitles at some screenings, and the board game and escape room cafés of Hongdae and Gangnam are made for a wet afternoon.
Between the fronts
On a dry day, get out. Nami Island, the tree-lined island in the river north-east of Seoul, is around an hour and a half away and is lush in the monsoon season. Closer in, Seoul Forest and the gardens of the palaces are at their greenest.
The end of the rains
When the jangma ends, usually in the last week of July, the Hangang parks fill again and the riverside pools, which usually open for the school holidays, become the busiest places in the city on hot afternoons.
#Getting Around
Heavy rain is the thing to plan around. Buses slow to a crawl on flooded roads, taxis vanish in a downpour, and the subway, which runs underground and on time, becomes the only reliable way to move. Allow extra time for anything with a fixed start.
During the heaviest rain, the city closes stretches of the riverside expressways, such as Olympic-daero, and parts of the Hangang parks, and sends emergency text alerts to phones in the affected districts. Take them seriously.
#Budget & Costs
July is mid-priced until the last week, when Korea's summer holidays begin and domestic travel peaks. Hotels in Seoul itself are often cheaper than in the seaside resorts where Koreans go.
A samgyetang on boknal costs a little more than a normal lunch, while a pajeon and makgeolli on a wet evening costs very little and is what the next table will be ordering.
#Food & Dining
Beyond the boknal dishes, July is the month for mul-naengmyeon, the cold buckwheat noodles in icy broth, and for bibim-naengmyeon, the spicy version. Watermelon and peaches are in season and cheap in the markets.
On rainy days, Koreans eat pajeon, savoury pancakes, with makgeolli, rice wine. The sound of rain is said to resemble the sizzle of the pancake in the pan, and it is the classic monsoon meal.
#Nightlife
July nights are warm and humid, and the city's nightlife moves to air-conditioned bars and to the riverbanks when it is dry. The pavement tents in Euljiro and Jongno 3-ga put up their plastic sides against the rain and stay open.
Summer festivals and concerts in the parks start in July, and the schedule depends on the weather.
#Shopping
Korean department stores hold summer sales in July. Rain gear is sold everywhere: ponchos, rain boots and compact umbrellas at every convenience store.
Air-conditioned underground malls at Gangnam, COEX and Yeongdeungpo are where much of July's shopping happens.
#Culture & Etiquette
Wet umbrellas go into the plastic sleeves or racks at the door of every shop and restaurant. Carrying a dripping umbrella inside is noticed.
In the humidity, Koreans carry small towels or handkerchiefs and fans, and many wear light long sleeves against the sun rather than shorts.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Korean | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 비가 와요 (biga wayo) | It's raining | Small talk all month |
| 복날 (boknal) | The hottest days | On restaurant banners |
| 삼계탕 (samgyetang) | Ginseng chicken soup | The boknal meal |
| 파전 (pajeon) | Savoury pancake | The rainy-day order |
| 에어컨 (eeokeon) | Air conditioning | Asking for it to be turned down |
| 방학 (banghak) | School holidays | Why the trains fill up at the end of the month |
#Packing List
- A compact umbrella and a light rain jacket
- Sandals or shoes that can get wet and dry quickly
- Light, fast-drying clothes
- A small towel for the humidity
- A light layer for air-conditioned interiors
- Insect repellent
- A waterproof bag for your phone and passport
- Sunscreen for the days between fronts
#Safety & Health
Water is July's hazard. In heavy rain, keep away from underpasses, riverside paths and low-lying roads, and follow the emergency alerts that arrive by text message. Landslides are possible on mountain trails after prolonged rain; do not hike in heavy weather.
Heat and humidity are the other risk once the monsoon ends. Drink water steadily and rest in the shade.
#Backup Plans
July needs a rain plan every day. The National Museum of Korea, the Leeum, the War Memorial and the underground malls at COEX are the big indoor options, and a jjimjilbang, a bookshop or a cinema will fill any wet afternoon.
You might also like
Destinations picked for travellers with similar taste or climate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is July a bad time to visit Seoul?
It is the wettest month, with around 414 mm of rain and humidity averaging 76%, so expect some wet days and plan indoor alternatives. It is not continuous rain: jangma weeks mix downpours, grey spells and bright afternoons. The city is built for it, and the museums, malls and restaurants carry on as normal.
What is boknal?
The three hottest days of the traditional calendar, falling between mid-July and mid-August. Koreans eat hot, nourishing food on them, above all samgyetang, a whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng. Expect queues at the famous samgyetang restaurants.
When does the monsoon end in Seoul?
Over 1991–2020 the jangma front left Seoul around 26 July on average, although the end date varies from year to year. After it lifts, the heat builds and August brings shorter, heavier storms.
How much does a July trip to Seoul cost?
Prices hold steady until the last week of July, when the Korean summer holidays begin and transport out of the city fills. Day to day, ₩80,000–140,000 beyond the room is enough.
What’s the weather like in Seoul in July?
Seoul in July typically sees temperatures of 22–29°C with around 13 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.