Korea First Snow 2026: When It Snows and Best Winter Places to Visit

In a normal year, Seoul sees its first snow around November 20. Last winter it was late and didn't arrive until December 4, 2025. As of November 3, 2026, the national weather agency has not given a date for the Korea first snow 2026, and its newest outlook calls for a warmer-than-normal November and December. The capital could get another late start. If you're planning a winter trip, the dates that matter more are the ski resort openings, which usually come in the second half of November, and the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, listed for January 9–31, 2027.

This guide covers what is confirmed for this winter, what has not been announced yet (with last year's dates clearly marked as last year's), and where to go once the cold sets in.

When is the Korea first snow 2026 expected?

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA, 기상청) does not predict a first-snow date ahead of time. It confirms the first snow on the day it is observed. What it does publish are long-range outlooks, and the newest one leans warm.

Here is the KMA's three-month outlook, issued at 11:00 on October 23, 2026:

El Niño is behind most of this. According to the KMA, sea surface temperatures in the El Niño monitoring zone set records in September, both for the monthly average and for the three-month average. The agency thinks a strong El Niño will probably last from November through January and peak in December. January comes with a caveat: because there is little sea ice in the Barents–Kara Sea, cold air may push in for short periods. So even if the winter is mild on average, expect a few sudden, sharp drops in temperature.

For the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi region, the KMA puts the normal December average at −1.1°C to 0.3°C and the normal January average at −3.2°C to −1.8°C. This outlook leans toward or above the warm end of those ranges.

Next update: The KMA will release its next three-month outlook at 11:00 on November 23, 2026. It also publishes a one-month outlook every Thursday. For the first snow itself, keep an eye on the short-range forecasts. Snow usually shows up in the forecast only a few days ahead.

When does it usually snow in Seoul?

The KMA's "normal" for Seoul's first snow is the average for 1991–2020, which falls around November 20. The actual date changes a lot from one year to the next:

• Winter 2025–26 (last year): The country's first snow of the season was observed on November 18, 2025, on Hallasan in Jeju and at the Hongseong weather station in South Chungcheong. Seoul didn't get its first snow until December 4, 2025, 14 days later than normal. That evening, heavy snow advisories were in effect for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon, and the snow slowed the rush-hour commute home.
• Winter 2024–25: Seoul's first snow arrived in late November 2024, about eight days earlier in the season than the 2025 date.

Seoul's first snow becomes official only when staff at the Seoul Weather Station in Songwol-dong, Jongno-gu see it falling. Flurries in Gangnam or Nowon don't count if the station doesn't record any snow. That's why a friend across town may say it has already snowed before the KMA announces anything.

Snow usually reaches the mountains of Gangwon Province and the upper slopes of Hallasan well before it reaches Seoul. If you arrive in mid-November and want to see snow, head east or into the mountains. Staying downtown won't help.

When do Korean ski resorts open for 2026–27?

As of November 3, 2026, we found no major resort with a confirmed opening day for 2026–27. Resorts usually pick an opening day once nights get cold enough to make snow, and often announce it only a week or two ahead. With a warm November forecast, openings could come later than last year's.

For reference, here is what resorts announced before last season (2025–26):

Mona Yongpyong has 28 slopes. On opening day it started with just one, its beginner-to-intermediate Pink slope, and planned to open the others gradually through year's end depending on temperature and snow. Most resorts have a similarly thin base and only a few runs in the first weeks. If you want plenty of open terrain, plan for late December through February.

Check each resort's official website or social media for the opening date and lift prices. Prices vary by season and between weekdays and weekends, so we haven't listed last year's.

What are the best winter places to visit in Korea?

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (January 9–31, 2027)

This is the biggest dated event of the winter. VISITKOREA lists the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival for January 9–31, 2027 in Hwacheon-eup, Gangwon Province, with the address Sancheoneo-gil 137. The listing gives opening hours of 9:00 to 18:00, with night fishing from 18:00 to 21:00. Activities include ice fishing for mountain trout (sancheoneo), catching trout by hand and lure fishing. For questions, call 1688-3005 or visit the official site, narafestival.com. The same page notes that its program details are still from the 2026 festival and that 2027 information is being updated, so check the hours and program again closer to the date.

Price note (as of November 3, 2026): The trout program used to cost 15,000 KRW. In October 2026, local media reported that Hwacheon County is considering raising the adult fee to about 25,000 KRW for 2027. It is also considering raising the amount returned to visitors from about 5,000 KRW to about 15,000 KRW, paid as Hwacheon gift certificates and vouchers for local farm products. The county says the goal is to keep the real cost to visitors about the same. This was still under review, so check the final price on the festival site before you go. Keep in mind that the festival also depends on the river ice getting thick enough. Warm spells have forced Korean ice festivals to delay or change plans before, and this is an El Niño winter.

Pyeongchang and Daegwallyeong

Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics. It is one of the most dependable places for snow that you can easily reach from Seoul. Mona Yongpyong and Phoenix are both here, and the high pastures around Daegwallyeong often turn white early. The area also has a winter trout fishing festival. Check the official festival announcement for 2027 dates before you book.

Taebaek

Taebaek, a high-altitude former coal-mining city in southern Gangwon, holds the Taebaeksan Snow Festival each winter, with large snow sculptures around town. The 2027 dates had not been announced as of November 3, 2026, so check the city's tourism pages before you plan around it.

Seoul's palaces in the snow

If you're staying in the city, Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung after a fresh snowfall is the classic Seoul winter scene. Go early in the morning, before staff clear the paths and the crowds show up, because snow in central Seoul often melts by the afternoon. For holiday lights during the same weeks, see our Christmas in Seoul 2026 guide.

Jeju's Hallasan

Hallasan is South Korea's highest mountain and often gets some of the country's earliest snow, as it did on November 18 last year. Its snowy upper trails are beautiful but demanding. Bring crampons, check for trail closures on heavy-snow days and start early.

Good to know

• Don't plan a trip around a snow date. Nobody can predict the first snow weeks ahead. For ski trips, book refundable rooms until resorts announce when they open.
• Check the Thursday outlooks. The KMA updates its one-month outlook every Thursday, and the November 23 three-month outlook will give a better picture of December and January.
• Cold snaps come quickly. The KMA is already warning of sudden cold spells in January, even in a mild winter. Bring thermal layers, gloves and a hat whatever the seasonal outlook says.
• Getting to Gangwon: KTX trains from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni stop at Pyeongchang and Jinbu stations, and many resorts run winter shuttle buses. A loaded T-money card works on buses and subways at both ends.
• Arriving in winter? Snow can slow the roads on late-night arrivals. Our Incheon Airport to Seoul guide compares the train and bus options.
• Weather apps: Korean services update first. The KMA's Korean-language website and the weather sections of Naver and Kakao show official snow alerts. 대설주의보 means a heavy snow advisory.

FAQ

When will it first snow in Seoul in 2026?

Nobody knows yet. The KMA announces Seoul's first snow only on the day staff observe it at the Seoul Weather Station in Songwol-dong. The normal date is around November 20. Last year it came on December 4, and this year's warm outlook means another late start is possible.

Will winter 2026–27 in Korea be mild?

The KMA's October 23, 2026 outlook calls for above-normal temperatures in November and December and mostly above-normal temperatures in January, mainly because of a strong El Niño. It also warns that cold air could briefly push in during January, so a winter that is mild on average can still have some very cold days.

When do ski resorts in Korea open?

As of November 3, 2026, no major resort had announced its 2026–27 opening day. Last season, Phoenix and Mona Yongpyong opened on November 21, 2025. High1 aimed for November 28, and Vivaldi Park and Gonjiam planned to open in early December.

When is the Hwacheon ice festival in 2027?

VISITKOREA lists the 2027 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival for January 9–31, 2027 in Hwacheon-eup, Gangwon Province, open 9:00–18:00 with night fishing 18:00–21:00. Hwacheon County is considering raising the fee from 15,000 KRW to about 25,000 KRW and giving more of it back as local vouchers. Check the official site for the final price.

Where can I see snow in Korea in November?

Your best bets are the high mountains of Gangwon Province and the upper slopes of Hallasan on Jeju. Last year Hallasan had snow on November 18, more than two weeks before Seoul. Resorts that make their own snow can also have white slopes from late November.