January is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea, with average highs near 26.3°C and lows around 10.1°C (mean 18.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 21 mm of rainfall and 47% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Korea was 2009 — when the month averaged 20.4°C — while the coldest was 2020 at 15.4°C. Typical January days reach 26.3°C with nights near 10.1°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Korea, averaging 21 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1982 with 103 mm, while the driest were 2007, 2018 and 2023, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Korea during January averages 47%. The most humid January was 1998 at 72%, and the least humid was 1989 at 24%.
January receives about 4.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Korea. The sunniest Januarys were 1990 and 1999 at 4.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2014, 2015 and 2024, among others at 3.6.
Average wind speed in Korea during January is 1.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1990 at 2.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2024 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.4°C | 18.2°C | 18.9°C | 17.8°C | 17.5°C | -0.9°C |
| Avg High | 26.4°C | 26.3°C | 27.3°C | 25.8°C | 25.1°C | -1.3°C |
| Avg Low | 10.5°C | 10.0°C | 10.5°C | 9.7°C | 9.8°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 29 mm | 23 mm | 17 mm | 20 mm | 17 mm | -12 mm |
January temperatures in Korea have fallen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of 2.6°C (2020) to a record high of 34.1°C (2001).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 21 mm, with a wettest year of 103 mm.
A good time to visit Korea
January is a good time to visit Korea, with days averaging 26.3°C and nights around 10.1°C (mean 18.2°C, cooler than Korea's yearly average) and low rainfall. February and November are marginally more temperate, but January still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26.9°C | 18.3°C | 9.6°C | 31.8°C | 5.3°C | 0 mm | 51% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2024 | 24.8°C | 17.4°C | 10.0°C | 27.4°C | 5.4°C | 7 mm | 58% | 1.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 26.3°C | 18.2°C | 10.2°C | 29.5°C | 2.9°C | 0 mm | 54% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2022 | 23.4°C | 16.2°C | 9.0°C | 27.0°C | 4.0°C | 31 mm | 64% | 1.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2021 | 27.2°C | 19.2°C | 11.2°C | 29.7°C | 6.4°C | 7 mm | 49% | 1.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2020 ❄️ | 22.1°C | 15.4°C | 8.6°C | 25.6°C | 2.6°C | 57 mm | 70% | 1.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2019 | 25.7°C | 17.5°C | 9.4°C | 30.2°C | 4.8°C | 30 mm | 41% | 1.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2018 | 27.1°C | 18.2°C | 9.4°C | 30.7°C | 6.4°C | 0 mm | 30% | 1.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2017 | 26.5°C | 18.6°C | 10.7°C | 30.3°C | 4.7°C | 5 mm | 52% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2016 | 27.1°C | 18.9°C | 10.8°C | 31.4°C | 4.7°C | 19 mm | 41% | 1.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 24.6°C | 16.9°C | 9.2°C | 27.4°C | 4.8°C | 30 mm | 57% | 1.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2014 | 24.4°C | 17.5°C | 10.5°C | 26.3°C | 6.8°C | 18 mm | 68% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 26.3°C | 17.9°C | 9.5°C | 29.5°C | 3.6°C | 2 mm | 46% | 1.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2012 | 24.0°C | 17.0°C | 10.0°C | 26.6°C | 3.3°C | 93 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2011 | 26.0°C | 17.2°C | 8.4°C | 29.2°C | 3.4°C | 1 mm | 42% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 26.5°C | 17.8°C | 9.1°C | 28.3°C | 6.3°C | 3 mm | 40% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2009 🔥 | 28.6°C | 20.4°C | 12.3°C | 33.4°C | 8.3°C | 20 mm | 51% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2008 | 26.5°C | 18.5°C | 10.4°C | 29.2°C | 5.8°C | 6 mm | 46% | 1.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2007 | 28.6°C | 19.8°C | 11.0°C | 32.8°C | 8.0°C | 0 mm | 29% | 1.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2006 | 28.5°C | 19.5°C | 10.4°C | 33.1°C | 5.8°C | 0 mm | 35% | 1.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2005 | 25.8°C | 18.4°C | 10.9°C | 29.2°C | 6.2°C | 77 mm | 47% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2004 | 24.4°C | 16.9°C | 9.5°C | 28.5°C | 6.5°C | 33 mm | 62% | 1.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2003 | 27.9°C | 18.8°C | 9.8°C | 31.7°C | 5.5°C | 3 mm | 32% | 1.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2002 | 27.0°C | 18.7°C | 10.5°C | 31.5°C | 6.1°C | 21 mm | 44% | 1.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 28.3°C | 19.1°C | 9.9°C | 34.1°C | 5.8°C | 2 mm | 24% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 27.5°C | 18.8°C | 10.1°C | 30.4°C | 6.0°C | 5 mm | 39% | 1.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 25.6°C | 17.1°C | 8.6°C | 29.8°C | 5.3°C | 0 mm | 46% | 1.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1998 | 22.6°C | 16.1°C | 9.6°C | 25.5°C | 3.4°C | 101 mm | 72% | 1.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 26.0°C | 17.5°C | 9.1°C | 30.3°C | 4.2°C | 18 mm | 37% | 1.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1996 | 25.3°C | 18.4°C | 11.4°C | 27.7°C | 8.0°C | 54 mm | 61% | 1.7 m/s | 4 |
| 1995 | 24.4°C | 16.6°C | 8.7°C | 27.2°C | 5.2°C | 41 mm | 50% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 27.4°C | 19.6°C | 11.9°C | 32.2°C | 6.0°C | 17 mm | 48% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1993 | 28.7°C | 19.8°C | 10.9°C | 31.1°C | 7.6°C | 0 mm | 31% | 2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1992 | 27.5°C | 18.5°C | 9.5°C | 32.0°C | 4.6°C | 0 mm | 36% | 1.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 26.2°C | 17.9°C | 9.7°C | 31.5°C | 3.5°C | 0 mm | 47% | 1.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 29.5°C | 20.2°C | 10.9°C | 33.3°C | 7.9°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 27.8°C | 18.0°C | 8.2°C | 31.8°C | 4.1°C | 0 mm | 24% | 2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 28.0°C | 19.5°C | 11.0°C | 30.8°C | 8.6°C | 7 mm | 39% | 1.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1987 | 26.1°C | 18.0°C | 9.9°C | 29.2°C | 4.8°C | 17 mm | 47% | 1.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1986 | 26.4°C | 18.3°C | 10.2°C | 29.6°C | 4.6°C | 16 mm | 46% | 1.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1985 | 25.7°C | 18.6°C | 11.6°C | 30.1°C | 8.2°C | 47 mm | 56% | 1.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 25.1°C | 18.1°C | 11.1°C | 28.8°C | 7.0°C | 30 mm | 58% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 | 27.2°C | 18.6°C | 10.0°C | 30.2°C | 6.2°C | 3 mm | 37% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 🌧️ | 26.3°C | 19.7°C | 13.1°C | 29.2°C | 10.7°C | 103 mm | 63% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.6°C | 17.1°C | 9.6°C | 29.9°C | 4.4°C | 40 mm | 58% | 1.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 26.3°C with lows near 10.1°C (mean 18.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 21 mm of rainfall in Korea, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 103 mm in 1982.
The hottest January reached 34.1°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to 2.6°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have fallen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 25.8°C to 25.7°C and overnight lows from 11.1°C to 10°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Korea and one of the drier months, so plan for around 26.3°C daytime highs and 10.1°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Korea, averaging 18.2°C.
For January in Korea, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 26.3°C and lows of 10.1°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 47% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in January is 1.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2.1 m/s (1990).
The wettest January on record was 1982 with 103 mm. On average, January sees 21 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 January, 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 January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
