KOREA FOUR SESON

Four Seasons of Korea, pleasant and beautiful

Korea is geographically situated in a temperate climate zone at medium latitude. As a result, it has four distinct seasons. In general, spring is from March to May, summer from June to August, autumn from September to November, and winter from December to February. The weather in spring and autumn is clear and dry due to the influence of anticyclones, the location of Korea on the North Pacific Edge makes summer hot and humid, and in winter, continental high pressure brings cold and dry weather.

>>  Spring, Season of Budding Flowers

The spring season is usually between March and May. The warm weather causes trees and grass to bud, butthe temperature can also vary greatly causing phenomenon like spring colds*(see below). The daily temperature range* varies greatly in the spring and the weather is dry*. The Asian dust phenomenon* and northeasterly winds* are most prominent during this time. Various flowers bloom in the mild and warm spring weather. Azaleas, forsythias, and royal azaleas are forerunners of spring in Korea. In April and May, the flowers are in full bloom, attracting people to mountains and parks. In rural areas, spring is the time to start planting rice, potatoes, sow vegetable seeds, and pruning branches of fruit trees.

* Spring colds

Spring colds usually occur in early spring. This phenomenon is caused by the Siberian air mass rising in the winter, which lasts until early spring. Spring colds accompany strong winds and a significant drop in temperature, so it feels like the winter season is back. The phenomenon usually occurs two or three times in early spring.

* Daily temperature range

The daily temperature range measures the difference between the lowest temperature in the morning and the highest temperature in the daytime. The range is usually high in the spring. The temperature range is even wider in the mountainous regions of Gangwon-do Province where the morning temperature goes down to around -2 degrees Celsius and the daytime temperature rises to as high as 17 to 18 degrees Celsius.

*Dryness

Spring is a dry season in Korea. The weather is particularly dry in early April and there are many mountain fires during this period. The weather is mostly affected by the air mass from the Yangzi River, which is separated from the Siberian air mass. This phenomenon is known as a migratory anticyclone, which brings clear and dry weather.

* Asian dust phenomenon

In the spring, sandy dusts are carried by wind from the Gobi Desert and fly as far as Korea. When the National Weather Service predicts severe Asian dust, people are advised to wear masks as to protect from possible eye or respiratory irritation.

*Northeasterly wind

Also called Foehn, the Northeasterly wind is a hot and dry local wind rising from valleys between late spring and early summer. When the humid and cold wind from the East Sea ascends the Taebaeksanmaek Mountain Range, the temperature falls. After pouring rain on the mountains, the wind loses its moisture and as the wind descends the other side of the mountain, it turns hot and dry. Due to the heat and dryness of the wind, the regions west of the Taebaeksanmaek Mountain Range sometimes face damages to their agricultural crops.

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>>  Autumn, season of bountiful harvests

The autumn season in Korea is between September and November. The weather is cool and crisp, and the sky is blue with few clouds. Koreans refer to autumn as the season of cheongomabi*. The heat of summer still seems to linger in September with the daytime being hot, but the weather is cool in the morning and evening. In October, there is less precipitation and the humidity in the air decreases, resulting in crisp and enjoyable weather. In late summer to early autumn, typhoons rising from the South Pacific may occur. Autumn is also a season of beautiful falling leaves. Gingko trees and maple trees change their hues to yellow and crimson throughout Korea. During this time, Koreans love to go hiking in the mountains to enjoy the picturesque landscape created by autumn leaves. Mountains and famous autumn leaves spots around the nation are bustling with people during this time of the year. Autumn is also the season of bountiful harvest, with rice, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, and jujube ripening.

*Cheongomabi

Literally meaning "the sky is high and horses get fat," cheongomabi is often used to describe the autumn season. In this season, the sky is particularly blue and clear, so it is great for outings, and the harvest season makes for plenty of food to eat.

>>  Summer, season of heat

The summer is usually between June and August, with the hottest month being August when the mean temperature is between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius. The dryness characterizing winter and spring disappears in summer, which is a time of high temperature and humidity. The weather is generally sultry, resulting in a high discomfort index. The use of air conditioners and electric fans shoots up during this time of the year. The weather is particularly hot between the end of July and end of August. Due to the high humidity, people feel that it is hotter than it actually is. Generally, the period between the end of June and mid July is the rainy season in Korea. During this time there is no scorching heat. However, there can be clouds and frequent rainfalls for as short as a week to as long as three weeks.

The frequency of rainy spells called jangma* and typhoons can directly cause damage to crops as. In the summer, there are lots of fruits like watermelons, melons, and peaches, as well as vegetables, and the fields and mountains are covered with greens. To escape the scorching heat, people go to the mountains, sea, or valleys to spend their summer holidays.

*Jangma

Jangma refers to the rainy spell in summer. This phenomenon is caused by a seasonal rain front that lingers across East Asia from east to west. The precipitation during the jangma accounts for a significant percentage of the annual rainfall in Korea. This season also occurs shortly after rice crops are planted, so the rainfall can considerably affect the rice harvest.

>>  Winter, season of snow

Winter in Korea is usually between December and February, with the average temperature in January, the coldest month, ranging between minus six degrees and three degrees Celsius. The days with the lowest temperatures in the winter are usually between the middle and end of January. In winter, the days are shorter with the sunrise occurring later and the sunset occurring earlier. Usually, a cycle of three days of cold weather followed by four days of warmer days (samhansaon*) is repeated. The mountainous regions in Gangwon-do Province receive snowfall starting in early winter, with the weather being very cold and dry due to the wind blowing in from Siberia. Major holidays between the months of December and February are Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year, and the months of February and early March are the time for graduation ceremonies and the start of school. In rural areas, arable land is left to rest until farming resumes in the spring and some vegetables are grown in vinyl greenhouses. A unique practice in the winter between November and December is gimjang*, which is the preparation of large quantities of kimchi to eat throughout winter.

* Samhansaon phenomenon

Samhansaon refers to the phenomenon where three days of cold weather are followed by four warmer days. This climatic occurrence often takes place in the Northeastern part of China and Korea during wintertime. The phenomenon follows a seven-day cycle in which the continental high pressure becomes strong and then weakens. The ratio of the high pressure’s rising cycle and falling cycle is about 3 to 4, thus the name samhansaon (three cold days, four warmer days). Though the climatic change traditionally occurred in a 7-day cycle, it has become less predictable due to climate change.

*Gimjang

Gimjang refers to the preparation of large quantities of kimchi to eat throughout winter. It is a special event in Korean households that takes place somewhere between late autumn and early winter. Kimchi made during this time is called gimjang kimchi. Korean cabbage is the main ingredient, and the seasoning is made with radishes, water parsley, garlic, spring onions, ginger, salt, salted fish, and red pepper powder. The gimjang kimchi is carefully stored to last throughout the wintertime.

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 COPY FROM KOREA TOURISM BOARD