December is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea, with average highs near 25.8°C and lows around 10.6°C (mean 18.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 10 mm of rainfall and 54% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Korea was 1988 — when the month averaged 20.1°C — while the coldest was 2025 at 14.8°C. Typical December days reach 25.8°C with nights near 10.6°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Korea, averaging 10 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1997 with 72 mm, while the driest were 2016, 2017 and 2025, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Korea during December averages 54%. The most humid December was 1997 at 85%, and the least humid was 2000 at 23%.
December receives about 4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Korea. The sunniest Decembers were 1994, 1998 and 2000 at 4.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1997 at 3.
Average wind speed in Korea during December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1984 and 2000 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest were 1999, 2011 and 2023, among others at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.7°C | 17.8°C | 18.9°C | 17.9°C | 17.5°C | -1.2°C |
| Avg High | 26.6°C | 25.3°C | 26.8°C | 25.4°C | 24.6°C | -2°C |
| Avg Low | 10.8°C | 10.2°C | 11.0°C | 10.3°C | 10.4°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 10 mm | 11 mm | 3 mm | 11 mm | 16 mm | +6 mm |
December temperatures in Korea have fallen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 0.9°C (2019) to a record high of 31.6°C (1984).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 10 mm, with a wettest year of 72 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.4°C per decade while lows fell 0.1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
One of the best times to visit Korea
December is one of the best times to visit Korea. Expect days averaging 25.8°C and nights around 10.6°C (mean 18.2°C) — cooler than Korea's yearly average — with low rainfall (10 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 ❄️ | 22.5°C | 14.8°C | 7.2°C | 25.1°C | 4.9°C | 0 mm | 73% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 25.6°C | 18.6°C | 11.5°C | 28.9°C | 5.5°C | 15 mm | 64% | 1.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 23.4°C | 17.4°C | 11.4°C | 28.0°C | 6.2°C | 37 mm | 67% | 1.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2022 | 25.3°C | 18.1°C | 10.8°C | 27.4°C | 7.2°C | 1 mm | 62% | 1.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2021 | 25.2°C | 17.9°C | 10.6°C | 27.6°C | 4.0°C | 38 mm | 61% | 1.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2020 | 25.9°C | 18.4°C | 11.0°C | 28.4°C | 6.2°C | 7 mm | 56% | 1.2 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2019 | 22.3°C | 15.9°C | 9.5°C | 24.7°C | 0.9°C | 15 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2018 | 25.3°C | 17.9°C | 10.4°C | 27.7°C | 4.3°C | 29 mm | 51% | 1.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2017 | 27.2°C | 19.3°C | 11.4°C | 29.0°C | 7.3°C | 0 mm | 48% | 1.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2016 | 25.6°C | 17.3°C | 8.9°C | 27.1°C | 6.2°C | 0 mm | 60% | 1.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 27.2°C | 19.6°C | 12.1°C | 30.9°C | 6.7°C | 2 mm | 51% | 1.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 24.7°C | 17.0°C | 9.3°C | 28.2°C | 4.2°C | 23 mm | 51% | 1.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2013 | 22.9°C | 16.4°C | 9.8°C | 24.3°C | 7.1°C | 0 mm | 73% | 1.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2012 | 26.4°C | 18.5°C | 10.5°C | 29.5°C | 5.4°C | 2 mm | 54% | 1.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2011 | 26.6°C | 18.5°C | 10.3°C | 28.8°C | 7.0°C | 10 mm | 54% | 1.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2010 | 25.5°C | 18.1°C | 10.6°C | 27.6°C | 6.1°C | 27 mm | 55% | 1.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2009 | 26.4°C | 19.4°C | 12.4°C | 28.4°C | 8.6°C | 6 mm | 55% | 1.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2008 | 28.0°C | 20.0°C | 12.0°C | 30.1°C | 8.3°C | 0 mm | 52% | 1.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2007 | 25.9°C | 18.3°C | 10.8°C | 28.6°C | 6.6°C | 2 mm | 54% | 1.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2006 | 27.4°C | 19.6°C | 11.7°C | 30.3°C | 8.1°C | 1 mm | 48% | 1.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2005 | 25.9°C | 17.9°C | 9.8°C | 27.8°C | 6.9°C | 4 mm | 50% | 1.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2004 | 26.5°C | 18.6°C | 10.7°C | 28.2°C | 6.5°C | 5 mm | 52% | 1.3 m/s | 4 |
| 2003 | 22.9°C | 16.3°C | 9.8°C | 25.2°C | 5.4°C | 12 mm | 71% | 1.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2002 | 28.2°C | 20.0°C | 11.8°C | 30.6°C | 8.3°C | 2 mm | 44% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2001 | 27.2°C | 19.1°C | 10.9°C | 29.7°C | 7.4°C | 0 mm | 45% | 1.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2000 | 29.1°C | 19.6°C | 10.1°C | 30.5°C | 7.7°C | 0 mm | 23% | 1.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 25.3°C | 17.9°C | 10.5°C | 26.3°C | 7.7°C | 1 mm | 55% | 1.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1998 | 24.5°C | 16.8°C | 9.2°C | 25.9°C | 7.2°C | 0 mm | 56% | 1.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1997 🌧️ | 21.3°C | 16.2°C | 11.0°C | 25.2°C | 6.2°C | 72 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 26.6°C | 17.5°C | 8.4°C | 29.2°C | 5.1°C | 0 mm | 37% | 1.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1995 | 27.1°C | 19.5°C | 11.8°C | 29.3°C | 8.4°C | 22 mm | 54% | 1.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1994 | 26.0°C | 18.2°C | 10.3°C | 29.1°C | 6.5°C | 0 mm | 44% | 1.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1993 | 24.7°C | 17.0°C | 9.2°C | 27.0°C | 6.3°C | 0 mm | 48% | 1.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1992 | 26.9°C | 18.5°C | 10.2°C | 27.9°C | 7.8°C | 0 mm | 44% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1991 | 25.8°C | 18.1°C | 10.4°C | 28.2°C | 7.1°C | 11 mm | 54% | 1.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 24.7°C | 18.0°C | 11.4°C | 26.4°C | 8.1°C | 0 mm | 62% | 1.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1989 | 26.4°C | 18.6°C | 10.7°C | 28.5°C | 6.9°C | 30 mm | 42% | 1.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1988 🔥 | 28.3°C | 20.1°C | 12.0°C | 30.4°C | 8.7°C | 0 mm | 38% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1987 | 26.5°C | 18.2°C | 9.9°C | 30.1°C | 7.0°C | 3 mm | 51% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 25.7°C | 18.6°C | 11.4°C | 28.7°C | 6.8°C | 37 mm | 56% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1985 | 26.3°C | 18.6°C | 10.9°C | 28.8°C | 5.8°C | 0 mm | 55% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1984 | 28.6°C | 19.4°C | 10.1°C | 31.6°C | 7.3°C | 0 mm | 35% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1983 | 24.6°C | 17.4°C | 10.2°C | 27.9°C | 4.9°C | 11 mm | 53% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 27.4°C | 19.6°C | 11.8°C | 29.3°C | 7.4°C | 0 mm | 50% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 25.7°C | 18.0°C | 10.4°C | 28.0°C | 7.8°C | 12 mm | 55% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 25.8°C with lows near 10.6°C (mean 18.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 10 mm of rainfall in Korea, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 72 mm in 1997.
The hottest December reached 31.6°C in 1984. The coldest dipped to 0.9°C in 2019.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have fallen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 26.5°C to 24.4°C and overnight lows from 10.7°C to 10.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea and one of the drier months, so plan for around 25.8°C daytime highs and 10.6°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Korea, averaging 18.2°C.
For December in Korea, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 25.8°C and lows of 10.6°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 54% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.7 m/s (1984).
The wettest December on record was 1997 with 72 mm. On average, December sees 10 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Korea behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
