South Korea in May

May is one of South Korea’s most appealing months for travel. The cherry blossom crowds have thinned, temperatures across the country sit in a comfortable range, and the landscape is at its greenest before summer’s humidity and monsoon rains arrive. Buddha’s Birthday, a national public holiday, brings colourful lantern festivals and temple events that add cultural depth to a May visit.

Weather

Seoul in May averages 16–24°C, with warm sunny days common and light rain occasional. The air is generally clear and pleasant. Busan and the south coast are 3–5°C warmer; Jeju can reach 25°C on warmer days. Evenings in Seoul are pleasantly cool at the start of the month but warm up as the month progresses.

Late May can feel humid, signalling the approach of the monsoon season in June and July. That said, significant rain in May is less common than in the summer months. May is also one of the lower Yellow Dust months — air quality is generally better than in March and April.

Buddha’s Birthday and the Lotus Lantern Festival

The Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeon Deung Hoe) is one of Seoul’s most spectacular annual events. In the week before Buddha’s Birthday, streets in central Seoul — particularly around Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno — are hung with colourful paper lanterns. A large lantern parade winds through the city centre in the evenings, with elaborately decorated floats and thousands of participants carrying individual lanterns.

The Yeon Deung Hoe procession is UNESCO-listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Attending requires no tickets — streets are open — but the main parade route gets very crowded. Arriving early to secure a good vantage point is advisable. The parade typically starts at Dongdaemun and proceeds to Jogyesa Temple.

Temples nationwide hold their own celebrations — lantern-making workshops, dharma talks, and ceremonial tea services are common in the weeks around Buddha’s Birthday. Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul is the headquarters of Korean Buddhism and the most accessible for visitors.

What to Do in May

Hiking — May is ideal for hiking at all elevations. Wildflowers (azaleas in mid-to-late April, followed by royal azaleas and other species) are in bloom on mountain trails. Jirisan, Seoraksan, Hallasan, and the national parks in Gyeonggi Province are all accessible and at their most colourful. The Baekdu-daegan ridge trail sections are passable and rewarding in May.

Coastal walking — the Jeju Olle Trail sections are excellent in May. The east coast between Sokcho and Gangneung is green and quiet. Weather is reliable enough for multi-day coastal walks. The Haeparang Trail along the east coast is particularly good in the section around Uljin and Yeongdeok.

Seoul Jazz Festival — a popular outdoor music festival typically held in late May in Seoul’s Olympic Park or Ttukseom Resort. One of the larger outdoor festivals on the Korean music calendar, drawing international and Korean artists across multiple stages.

Tea ceremony season — the Boseong Green Tea fields in South Jeolla Province are harvest-ready from late April through May. The green hillside plantations are among the most visited agricultural landscapes in Korea. The Boseong Green Tea Festival typically takes place in May and includes tea-picking experiences, traditional tea ceremony demonstrations, and local food markets.

Children’s Day (5 May) — a national public holiday when families visit amusement parks, zoos, and cultural attractions. Lotte World, Everland, and major museums run special children’s programmes. For travellers, the practical effect is increased crowds at family-oriented attractions on and around 5 May.

Crowds and Prices

May is peak season — prices are higher than in winter or summer. However, the post-blossom weeks in early May are often less crowded than late March and April. The Buddha’s Birthday holiday weekend and Children’s Day (5 May) see increased domestic movement; booking accommodation around those periods ahead of time is advisable. Midweek travel in May offers the best combination of good weather and manageable crowds.

What to Pack

Light layers — a t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings covers most of May. Sunscreen and sunglasses for daytime outdoor activities. Comfortable walking shoes. A small umbrella or rain layer for the occasional shower.