Seasonal
Korea in winter 2026–27
Cold and dry rather than snowy — and Seollal lands on 7 February 2027, which moves the palace closing days. Ice festivals, ski timing, and the week to plan around.
Korea in January 2027
15 festivals with confirmed dates · 4 concerts · exhibitions and performances · updated daily from official data
January is Korea at its coldest — and its clearest. This is the season of ice fishing, snow festivals in the Gangwon mountains, and sunrise gatherings on the east coast, with the Lunar New Year (Seollal) bringing palace reenactments and folk games in most years. Pack for real cold; the payoff is crisp skies and festivals you will never see in summer.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
| Weather | Seoul around 2°C by day and −6°C at night; dry and clear, with occasional snow that rarely settles in the city. |
|---|---|
| The season | Ice-fishing festivals in Gangwon, ski season at its best, and sunrise gatherings on the east coast on the 1st. |
| Public holidays | New Year’s Day (1 January). Seollal, the lunar new year, falls in late January or February depending on the year. |
Guides for January
Seasonal
Skiing in Korea 2026–27: which resort, and how to get there
Yongpyong and High1 for a proper trip; Vivaldi, Elysian Gangchon and Gonjiam for a day from Seoul. Shuttles, the KTX, day tours with gear, what lifts and rental cost, and the week to avoid.
Seasonal
Christmas & New Year in Seoul 2026–27
Both holidays fall on a Friday this year. The Bosingak bell at midnight, a month of lantern and light festivals, the 1,000-won ice rink, and the east-coast sunrise trains that sell out in minutes.
Seasonal
Seollal 2027: 6–9 February
The lunar new year is a day later than China’s this year. What closes, what opens free, why the palace closing days flip, and why it is secretly a good week to be in Seoul.
Before you goEntry requirements 2026eSIM and appsAirport to SeoulGetting around SeoulWhere to stay in Seoul7 days in KoreaKorea on a budget
Concerts in January
- Jan 9, 2027Aosaka: kurayamisaka & parannoul
- Jan 9, 2027Fujii Kaze: Prema World Tour
- Jan 22, 2027 – Jan 24, 2027Epik High Concert
- Jan 27, 2027Maroon 5 Live in Korea
Exhibitions and performances in January
- Aug 11, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027Sprout: The Independent Newspaper (Dongnip Sinmun)
- Aug 27, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027Do Ho Suh
- Aug 27, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027Oh Yoon
- Sep 3, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027ACC Future Prize 2026: Kim Young-eun — To Future Listeners, Sound in Motion
- Sep 10, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027Three Countries, Three Beauties: Make-up Culture in Korea, China and Japan
- Sep 14, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027Wood That Crossed the Sea: Red Sandalwood, 50 Years of Korean Underwater Excavation
15 festivals in January 2027
D-55Dec 31, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival
D-55Dec 31, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Homigot Sunrise Festival
D-55Dec 31, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival
D-86Jan 31, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
D-23Nov 29, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027
Haeundae Light Festival
D-35Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Gwanghwamun Market
D-35Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun
D-35Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Seoul Lantern Festival
D-47Dec 23, 2026 – Feb 13, 2027
Korea Grand Sale
D-56Jan 1, 2027 – Jan 31, 2027
Pyeongchang Trout Festival
D-64Jan 9, 2027 – Jan 31, 2027
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
D-71Jan 16, 2027 – Feb 14, 2027
Cheorwon Hantangang River Ice Trekking Festival
D-14Nov 20, 2026 – Mar 28, 2027
20th Century Photography Masters: Light, Stopping Time
D-15Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
E-World Illumination
D-28Dec 4, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027