01Weather
Seoul weather in May
Afternoons in May average 23.9 °C (75 °F) and nights cool to 13.7 °C (57 °F). Compared with April it is 4.4 °C warmer; June is 4.4 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical May | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 28 °C / 83 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 18 °C / 65 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 10 °C / 50 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 1.3 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Hottest / coldest May day 2016–2025 | 32.6 °C / 6.9 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | 05:36 | 19:21 | 13.8 h |
| 15 May | 05:22 | 19:34 | 14.2 h |
| 31 May | 05:12 | 19:46 | 14.6 h |
Daylight grows by about 48 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Seoul).
03Crowds
How busy Seoul is in May
busy The main sights are busy in May. What drives it:
- Children's Day on 5 May
- Buddha's Birthday lantern festival
- ideal weather
04Public holidays
Public holidays in May 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 3 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| 5 May 2027 | Children's Day |
| 13 May 2027 | Buddha's Birthday |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Seoul in May
Every year in May
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) | weekend before Buddha's Birthday, Jongno | festival |
| Children's Day | 5 May | national |
07Packing
What to pack for Seoul in May
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- a compact umbrella for occasional showers
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
May is warm, bright and comfortable, with afternoons around 24 °C, Children's Day on 5 May and the Lotus Lantern parade for Buddha's Birthday lighting up Jongno on the weekend before the holiday, which falls in May in most years. Hiking on Bukhansan and Inwangsan is at its best. It is a popular month, so book the palaces' night openings and hanbok rentals ahead. Rain falls on about eight days.
The Seoul Jazz Festival at Olympic Park and the Han River picnic season fill the weekends. Hotel rates sit just below the April peak until the holidays pass, then ease. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the Leeum museum are the standard indoor afternoons. For the dry first half of June before the monsoon, see June.
09Compare
Seoul month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 °C | -5 °C | – | – | quiet | Good |
| February | 6 °C | -3 °C | – | – | quiet | Good |
| March | 13 °C | 3 °C | – | – | moderate | Good |
| April | 20 °C | 9 °C | – | – | very busy | Good |
| May | 24 °C | 14 °C | – | – | busy | Excellent |
| June | 28 °C | 20 °C | 17 | – | moderate | Good |
| July | 31 °C | 24 °C | 20 | – | quiet | Mixed |
| August | 31 °C | 25 °C | 19 | – | moderate | Mixed |
| September | 27 °C | 19 °C | – | – | busy | Excellent |
| October | 20 °C | 11 °C | – | – | very busy | Good |
| November | 13 °C | 4 °C | – | – | moderate | Good |
| December | 4 °C | -4 °C | 11 | – | moderate | Mixed |
Not sure about May? See the best time to visit Seoul.
10Elsewhere
May in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto in May | 25 °C | 8 |
| Shanghai in May | 26 °C | 10 |
| Beijing in May | 29 °C | 6 |
| Tokyo in May | 24 °C | 9 |
| Bangkok in May | 36 °C | 22 |
| Singapore in May | 32 °C | 12 |
11FAQ
Seoul in May: your questions
Is May a good time to visit Seoul?
May is one of the best months to visit Seoul. Daytime highs average 24 °C (75 °F), and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.
What is the weather like in Seoul in May?
Expect mild days around 24 °C (75 °F) and nights near 14 °C (57 °F). One May in ten brings afternoons above 28 °C, and one in ten stays below 18 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Seoul in May?
May in Seoul, by the 1991–2020 station normals.
What should I wear in Seoul in May?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella for occasional showers.
Is Seoul crowded in May?
The main sights are busy in May. Main drivers: Children's Day on 5 May; Buddha's Birthday lantern festival; ideal weather.
What time does it get dark in Seoul in May?
Around the middle of May the sun sets at about 19:34 and rises at 05:22, giving 14.2 hours of daylight.