November is a very good month for Korea if you like cool, clear days and fewer crowds than October. Seoul averages 11.9°C by day and 3.5°C at night, the last autumn colour hangs on into the first week, and the calendar is packed: Busan’s fireworks on Sat 7 Nov, the Melon Music Awards on 14 and 15 Nov, and the first Christmas lights. Pack layers, not a snowsuit.
Sunbae Says: Do your leaf peeping in the first week of November, then switch to food, spas and lights. By the last week the trees are bare and the wind has teeth.
November Weather In Korea: The Real Numbers
You step out of Incheon on 3 Nov and a light jacket is plenty. On the 25th, that same jacket feels like paper once the sun drops. That is November.
These are the Korea Meteorological Administration’s 1991 to 2020 averages, the honest baseline. Any single year can swing warmer or colder.
| City | Avg High | Avg Low | Rain | Snow Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 11.9°C | 3.5°C | 51 mm | 2.3 |
| Busan | 16.6°C | 8.3°C | 50 mm | 0.1 |
| Jeju City | 16.4°C | 10.4°C | 70 mm | n/a |
Late November is a different animal: nights drop close to freezing, and the Han River wind bites harder than the thermometer suggests. Seoul gets only about 6 rainy days in the month.
Want the mild version? Go south. Busan and Jeju run roughly 5°C warmer than Seoul by day, and my Jeju In November guide covers the island properly.
Early Or Late November? Pick Your Week
| Option | Best For | Cost | Time | My Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 8 Nov | Last foliage, fireworks, mild days | Highest (Busan hotels spike for 7 Nov) | 7 to 10 days | My pick. Colour, events and comfort in one week. |
| 9 to 18 Nov | K-pop fans, city breaks, quieter palaces | Mid | 5 to 7 days | Great if the MMA is your reason to fly. |
| 19 Nov (Suneung) | Nobody, if you are flying | Same | 1 day | Avoid flying this day. Fine for sightseeing after lunch. |
| 20 to 30 Nov | Budget, spas, early Christmas lights | Lowest | Any | Cold, bare trees, but cheaper and calmer. Pack properly. |
I’d book 1 to 8 Nov without hesitation. Stuck with late dates? Lean into hot water, street food and lights.
Autumn Foliage: Catch The Tail End
The Korea Forest Service released its 2026 forecast on 22 Sep, and the Kyunghyang Shinmun report on the forecast map (in Korean) puts the national ginkgo peak around 30 Oct and maple around 31 Oct. Seoul’s palaces and boulevards should still be golden in the first days of November. These are forecasts, not promises.
The season is running on time. Seoraksan showed its first colour on 28 Sep, exactly the long term average and four days earlier than 2025, according to the KMA as reported by Newsis (in Korean).
| Option | Best For | Cost | Time | My Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul palaces and ginkgo streets | First timers, families | Low | Half a day | Easiest win in week one. |
| Naejangsan (forecast peak about 4 Nov) | Maple lovers, photographers | KTX plus local bus | Long day trip | The best red in Korea, on a weekday only. |
| Hallasan, Jeju (about 6 Nov) | Hikers, Olle walkers | Flight to Jeju | 2 days or more | Pair it with the Olle festival. |
Worth It: a weekday at Naejangsan in the first week of November; the 4th is a Wednesday. Skip It: Seoraksan in November, whose peak is forecast for 20 Oct. If you land in October instead, my Seoraksan day trip guide has you covered. Every Seoul spot I trust is in Seoul Fall Foliage 2026.
[AFFILIATE: Klook Naejangsan day tour from Seoul]
Big November 2026 Events
These are the ones worth planning around. Everything else lives on the Seoul Sunbae events calendar.
JTBC Seoul Marathon, Sun 1 Nov. The full course starts at Sangam World Cup Park at 7:30am and finishes at Olympic Park. Entries are closed, but roads close along the route that morning, so take the subway, not a taxi.
Busan Fireworks Festival, Sat 7 Nov. Korea’s biggest fireworks show over Gwangan Bridge, the 21st edition, with viewing zones at Gwangalli Beach, Igidae and Dongbaekseom. The beach is free. Paid seats are 100,000 won (R, table and chairs) or 70,000 won (S, chair only), on sale through NOL Ticket until 5pm on 6 Nov, per the official ticket page (in Korean). In 2024 the main show ran from 7pm for about an hour; the 2026 timetable is not posted yet. My full survival plan is in Busan Fireworks Festival 2026.
Heads Up: the early bird seats sold out within a minute on 26 Aug, and resale tickets on social media are a known scam route. Buy only through NOL Ticket or Busan Bank, and if you are going free, be on the sand by mid afternoon.
[AFFILIATE: Agoda hotels near Gwangalli Beach for the fireworks]
Jeju Olle Walking Festival, 5 to 7 Nov. Three days of group walks on Olle Routes 19 and 20 with haenyeo dance and village food markets. The Visit Jeju festival page lists 30,000 won entry and advance registration closing 9 Oct, so if you read this on launch day, you have one day.
Melon Music Awards, Sat 14 and Sun 15 Nov. The first two day edition, at Gocheok Sky Dome. As of 2 Oct, ticket dates and prices had still not been announced, and acts announced so far include ATEEZ, ILLIT, RIIZE and PLAVE. Watch Melon Ticket, and see K-pop In Seoul This Winter for the rest of the season.
Halloween runs long. Lotte World’s autumn horror festival runs to 15 Nov with a nightly 8:20pm parade, reports New Daily (in Korean), and Everland’s zombie zone Blood City Zero runs to 22 Nov, 4pm to 9pm daily, per Aju News (in Korean). My Halloween In Seoul guide compares both.
Seoul Autumn Festa links performances and festivals across the city until 29 Nov, says the Seoul city government.
Christmas lights start. The Shinsegae facade in Myeongdong was unveiled on 9 Nov in 2023 and around 7 Nov in 2025. The 2026 date is not announced yet, so treat “early to mid November” as the working guess.
The Exam Day Nobody Warns You About
Thursday 19 Nov is Suneung, the national university entrance exam, confirmed in the government’s official exam notice (in Korean). It matters to you.
During the English listening section, every takeoff and landing in the country stops. In 2025 that window was 1:05pm to 1:40pm and about 140 flights were rescheduled, reported the Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Banks and many offices also open an hour late so students get clear roads.
Heads Up: the 2026 flight freeze times are usually confirmed about a week before the exam. If you fly on 19 Nov, expect a retimed departure, and leave early for the airport because morning roads near schools are restricted.
What Locals Know
“Peak” means two different things. The Forest Service calls a mountain at peak when 50% of leaves have turned. The KMA waits for about 80%. That is why Korean sites disagree by days. For a first timer, the Forest Service date is your “go now” date; the KMA date is the last good weekend.
Locals book Busan the minute sales open. Busan residents get 10% off paid seats this year, and the hotel packages close on 25 Oct. If you have not booked a Gwangalli hotel by now, stay in Seomyeon or Haeundae and ride in.
Your tourist pass starts the day you charge it. The Seoul short term passes cannot be loaded in advance; the clock starts on the charging day. So charge it on the morning you start riding, not the night you land.
The stadium knows the crush. Gocheok’s operator, the Seoul Facilities Corporation, suggests Guro or Gaebong stations to dodge the Guil Station jam. After the MMA, that 15 to 20 minute walk will beat a 40 minute platform queue.
Getting There
- Busan for the fireworks: KTX from Seoul Station or Suseo Station, about 2.5 hours, standard fare 54,400 won, booked in the Korail+ app. Then Busan Metro Line 2 to Gwangan Station and walk about 10 minutes to the beach. Check Naver Map for the exit on the night, since police manage exits during the show.
- Naejangsan: KTX from Yongsan to Jeongeup, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, then local bus 171 to the park entrance in about 30 minutes. Confirm the bus on Naver Map; autumn weekends add queues.
- Gocheok Sky Dome: Line 1 to Guil Station, Exit 2, a 3 minute walk.
- Shinsegae facade: Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station, Exit 7, which leads straight to the store.
- Lotte World: Line 2 (green) or 8 to Jamsil Station, Exit 4.
[SUNBAE FIELD TEST: time the walk from Guil Station Exit 2 and from Guro Station to the Gocheok gates on an event night]
Pick Your Version
If It’s Your First Time: I’d book 1 to 8 Nov. Three days of golden trees in Seoul, then KTX to Busan for the fireworks.
If You’re Bringing Kids: I’d do Seoul first while the Lotte World and Everland Halloween seasons are still on, then base yourself in Busan where afternoons stay near 17°C.
If You’re Travelling Solo: Weekdays everywhere: Naejangsan on Wednesday 4 Nov, palaces on a Thursday morning, and the fireworks only if you can stand in a crowd for hours.
If You’re Here For A Reset: Seoul Wellness Travel Week starts 29 Oct, so I’d arrive at the very end of October, then finish with a jjimjilbang on a cold night. My Seoul Wellness Travel Week guide has the programme.
Sunbae’s Picks
My pick for the best week: 1 to 8 Nov. After 24 autumns here, I’d take it over the shoulder to shoulder peak of mid October every time.
If I only had one November evening in Seoul, I’d walk a ginkgo street at dusk, then warm up with fish cake broth from a street cart. Cheap, warm, very local.
My pick for late November: stop chasing leaves. Markets, lights and spas, and you will enjoy the cold instead of fighting it.
[SUNBAE STORY: a late November night in Seoul when the first cold snap hit, and what warmed you up]
Offers Worth Knowing
The Busan fireworks are free from the beach, and many Seoul Autumn Festa events cost nothing. In Seoul the short tourist transit passes survive: the city lists 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 day passes (in Korean) at 5,000 to 20,000 won, plus 3,000 won for the physical card, sold from machines at Line 1 to 8 stations. See Which Transit Card You Need. And the KTX to Busan just got cheaper (below).
What’s Changing In 2026
Busan got cheaper by train. After KTX and SRT merged on 1 Sep 2026, the standard Seoul to Busan fare fell from 59,800 to 54,400 won (in Korean), and you now book both Seoul Station and Suseo Station departures in one app. My read: fireworks weekend trains will go fast, so book the moment your dates are fixed.
The rest of Korea is catching up with Seoul. Foreign arrivals through regional airports rose 42.5% in the first half of 2026, against 18.2% at Incheon and Gimpo, reports Korea JoongAng Daily. Fly straight into Busan or Jeju and skip the Seoul transfer.
What To Pack For November
Think three layers you can peel off in a warm café and put back on at a bus stop.
- A light down jacket or padded coat (essential after mid November)
- A hoodie or knit sweater for the middle layer
- A thermal base layer for late November
- Walking shoes for 20,000 steps
- A scarf and light gloves
Indoor heating is strong, so one thick layer means you cook on the subway. Hand warmers and gloves are at every convenience store. My full list is in What To Wear In Korea From October To December.
Before You Fly
Two admin jobs. If you are a visa exempt visitor without a K-ETA, file the free e-Arrival Card within 3 days before you land; my e-Arrival Card guide walks you through it. If you hold a passport from one of the 22 K-ETA exempt countries, that exemption runs to 31 Dec 2026, and as of 4 Oct nothing has been announced for 2027. Load Naver Map and a translation app before you go; my Korea travel apps guide lists the ones I actually use.
Heads Up: lookalike sites charge fees for the free e-Arrival Card and for K-ETA. Only use k-eta.go.kr and e-arrivalcard.go.kr.
Word Of The Stop
단풍 (danpung): autumn foliage. Say “danpung gugyeong” (단풍 구경) and you are talking about leaf peeping, the national autumn hobby. Every hiker in full gear on the subway in early November is doing it.
Map And Directions
- 1Gwangalli Beach 광안리해수욕장Gwangan Station
Busan Fireworks Festival, Sat 7 Nov 2026; beach free, paid seats 70,000 to 100,000 won on NOL Ticket; check Naver Map for the open exit on the night
- 2Gocheok Sky Dome 고척스카이돔1Guil StationEXIT2
Melon Music Awards, 14 and 15 Nov; 3 min walk from Guil Exit 2; Guro or Gaebong stations avoid the crush
- 3Shinsegae Main Store Christmas Facade 신세계백화점 본점4Hoehyeon StationEXIT7
Christmas facade usually switches on early to mid November; 2026 date not yet announced
- 4Lotte World Adventure 롯데월드 어드벤처2Jamsil StationEXIT4
Autumn horror festival to 15 Nov; nightly parade 8:20pm
- 5Everland 에버랜드Jeondae-Everland Station
Blood City Zero zombie zone to 22 Nov, 4pm to 9pm; check Naver Map for the shuttle from the station
- 6Naejangsan National Park 내장산국립공원Area pinJeongeup Station
Maple peak forecast about 4 Nov; local bus 171 from Jeongeup Station, about 30 min; go on a weekday
- 7Jeju Olle Walking Festival Start (Jocheon) 제주올레걷기축제Area pin
5 to 7 Nov on Olle Routes 19 and 20; 30,000 won; advance registration closes 9 Oct
Your Tickets
Seoul area bus colours: Blue bus · 간선 Green bus · 지선 Red bus · 광역 Yellow bus · 순환
Last Mile
- Busan Station → Gwangan Station about 35 min
- Gwangan Station → Gwangalli Beach about 10 min
- Guil Station EXIT2 → Gocheok Sky Dome about 3 min
Tap a button to open directions on your phone. In Korea, Naver Map and KakaoMap give full walking directions; Google Maps covers subway and bus but, as of September 2026, still has no turn by turn walking or driving here. Pins marked “Area pin” show a neighbourhood, not a door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is November A Good Time To Visit Korea?
Yes. Early November has foliage, days around 12°C, the Busan fireworks and the Melon Music Awards. Late month is shorter and colder.
Does It Snow In Seoul In November?
Rarely. Seoul averages 2.3 snowy days in November, mostly flurries that do not settle.
Where Is Warmest In Korea In November?
Busan and Jeju. Both average highs above 16°C, about 5°C warmer than Seoul.
When Is The Autumn Foliage Peak In November 2026?
The Korea Forest Service forecasts Naejangsan around 4 Nov and Hallasan around 6 Nov. Seoul’s ginkgo and maple are forecast for around 30 and 31 Oct, so early November is your last good window in the capital.
Are Melon Music Awards 2026 Tickets On Sale?
Not as of 2 Oct 2026. The dates (14 and 15 Nov) and venue (Gocheok Sky Dome) are confirmed; ticketing is expected through Melon Ticket once announced.
Next Stop
- Korea In December 2026: what changes when the lights and the real cold arrive.
- What To Wear In Korea From October To December: the full layering list for your suitcase.
- Busan Fireworks Festival 2026: where to stand, when to arrive and how to get out.
Resources
- Korea Travel Hotline 1330: call 1330 (+82-2-1330 from abroad) for English help 24 hours a day.
- Busan Fireworks Festival official site: timetable, traffic closures and paid seats.
- Seoul Autumn Festa: the city’s performance and festival listings to 29 Nov.
- Gocheok Sky Dome directions: official station and exit guide.
- Korail+ app: KTX tickets from Seoul Station and Suseo Station.
- Naver Map or KakaoMap: live exits, buses and walking routes in Korean and English.
- K-ETA official site: check if you need one, and watch for the 2027 decision.
How I Checked This
On 4 Oct 2026 I rechecked every date, price and station against the official, tourism board and Korean news sources linked above, plus local blogs and expat coverage. Still unconfirmed: Melon Music Awards ticketing, the Shinsegae facade start date, the 2026 Suneung flight freeze times, the fireworks timetable and any 2027 K-ETA decision. Foliage dates are forecasts and can shift.
Sources
- Seoul climate table, KMA 1991 to 2020 normals via Wikipedia
- Busan climate table, KMA normals via Wikipedia
- Jeju City climate table, KMA normals via Wikipedia
- Kyunghyang Shinmun: Forest Service 2026 foliage forecast (in Korean)
- Dailian: 2026 foliage peak dates (in Korean)
- Newsis: Seoraksan first foliage 28 Sep and KMA definitions (in Korean)
- Financial News: Seoraksan first foliage (in Korean)
- Busan Fireworks Festival: ticket page (in Korean)
- Seoul Shinmun: Busan Fireworks paid seat prices (in Korean)
- Stars and Stripes Korea: 2024 Busan Fireworks show times
- Visit Jeju: 2026 Jeju Olle Walking Festival
- Soompi: Melon Music Awards 2026 dates
- Make2t: MMA 2026 ticketing status and lineup (in Korean)
- Make2t: JTBC Seoul Marathon 2026 guide (in Korean)
- New Daily: Lotte World autumn festival 2026 (in Korean)
- Aju News: Everland Blood City Zero 2026 (in Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Seoul Autumn Festa (in Korean)
- Gukje News: 2023 department store facade dates (in Korean)
- Newspim: 2025 Shinsegae facade unveiled (in Korean)
- Korea Policy Briefing: 2027 Suneung on 19 Nov 2026 (in Korean)
- Kyunghyang Shinmun: 2025 Suneung flight suspension (in Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: short term pass prices (in Korean)
- Seoul Facilities Corporation: Gocheok Sky Dome directions (in Korean)
- Hankyung: KTX and SRT merger and new fares (in Korean)
- Korea JoongAng Daily: first half 2026 arrivals and regional airports
- K-ETA official site
- Tripprof: no 2027 K-ETA decision announced
Written by your sunbae. 24 years living in Seoul, former Korean TV and radio presenter, university professor, and two decades behind the decks in the city’s clubs. Every fact here is checked against official sources and, wherever possible, on the ground.
Beep Check: verified 4 Oct 2026. Rules, prices and dates change; confirm with the official source before you travel.