If you’ve never experienced a Korean summer before, prepare yourself. It’s hot, humid, and full of surprises. Whether you’re visiting Korea for the first time or living here long-term, learning about the local culture during this season can make a big difference. With its intense weather, seasonal insects, and delicious cooling foods, Korean summer is something you won’t forget. In this post, I’ll share five unique aspects of this time of year in Korea, from the weather to the food and how locals get through it all.
Summer Heat: Hot and Humid Like You Wouldn’t Believe
Korean summer is known for being brutally hot and sticky. Temperatures often rise above 30°C (86°F), and combined with high humidity, it can feel even hotter. The air is dense, almost suffocating, especially during July and August. Most locals avoid going outside in the early afternoon, preferring to stay in shaded areas or indoors. If you do need to be out, wear lightweight clothing, carry a portable fan, and hydrate constantly. UV rays are also strong, so sunscreen and hats are essential for daily outings.
Rainy Season: Welcome to Jangma
From late June through mid-July, the Korean summer brings Jangma, the rainy season. This period is marked by consistent, often heavy rain showers and high humidity. Streets become slippery, umbrellas fill the sidewalks, and the sound of thunder becomes a familiar part of the day. While the rain cools the air temporarily, the moisture lingers, making the air even more humid.
If you’re planning a trip to Korea, it’s best to avoid this particular time. The rainy season usually lasts around two weeks, not long enough to define the whole season, but long enough to disrupt a vacation. With limited outdoor activity options and unpredictable weather, it may not be the most enjoyable time to visit. There’s no real benefit in timing your stay during Jangma, so consider coming either before or after for a clearer and more comfortable experience.
Thankfully, the start and end of the rainy season can usually be predicted a few weeks in advance through weather forecasts. Korean weather services provide fairly accurate updates, so it’s a good idea to check the forecast before you book your tickets. With a little planning, you can easily avoid the wettest part of the season and enjoy Korea in its sunny, vibrant time instead.
Bugs in Korean Summer: Mayflies and Mosquitoes
As the sun sets during Korean summer, something strange happens. Tiny flying insects start to appear in massive numbers. Mayflies, harmless but annoying, gather near lights in the evening, especially close to rivers or lakes. They are most active at dusk, so if you enjoy evening walks or bike rides near the water, it’s best to schedule them either earlier in the day or after full darkness. The concentration is especially bad near streetlamps and bridges, where swarms gather, creating an almost surreal scene.
Personally, I always avoid going out around sunset. That’s when the mayflies are at their worst. Instead, I wait until it’s fully dark outside before heading out for a walk. During the day, it’s usually too hot for any kind of outdoor activity. Once the sun is down and the temperature drops slightly, the mayflies tend to cluster around streetlights and shop windows, meaning the actual walking paths become much more tolerable. It’s a small adjustment that makes a big difference in enjoying the evenings.
But mayflies aren’t the only insects making a seasonal appearance. This is also the peak of mosquito activity in Korea. Mosquitoes thrive in the hot, humid weather, and they’re particularly active at night. Parks, hiking trails, and even your own apartment can become mosquito territory if you’re not careful. Most locals use electric mosquito traps, sprays, and coils to avoid itchy bites.
If you plan to open windows at your accommodation to let in fresh air, always make sure a screen is firmly in place. Without a proper mesh screen, you might find your walls covered with mayflies or worse, buzzing with hungry mosquitoes.
Bingsu: Korea’s Iconic Summer Dessert
One of the most beloved parts of the season is bingsu, a traditional shaved ice dessert. The original version is known as 팥빙수[pat-bing-su], made with finely shaved ice, sweetened red beans (pat), condensed milk, rice cakes “떡[tteok]”, and often bits of jelly or cereal flakes. In the past, people used to make bingsu at home using simple tools to shave ice by hand. Families would gather in the kitchen to prepare it, layering crushed ice with toppings like red beans, jelly, fruit syrup, and chewy tteok. It was a homemade treat that brought people together, especially on hot, sticky afternoons.
Originally, bingsu was very much a homemade dessert, something enjoyed at home rather than purchased outside. But as Korea’s cafe culture began to flourish in the early 2000s, this tradition started to shift. With the rise of trendy dessert cafes and coffee shops, more and more people began enjoying bingsu outside the home. Cafes began competing to create the most eye-catching, Instagram-worthy versions of the dessert, and over time, bingsu became one of the highlights of seasonal menus.
Today, modern bingsu comes in countless variations-mango bingsu, green tea bingsu, chocolate brownie bingsu, cheesecake bingsu, and more. These upgraded versions are often large enough to share and beautifully presented in glass bowls or on wooden trays. In the middle of a hot day, nothing beats sitting in an air-conditioned cafe, enjoying a bowl of fruity or creamy bingsu while watching the world melt outside.
Even though cafes are now the go-to places for bingsu, it’s still possible to enjoy the experience at home, just like the old days. During warmer months, many supermarkets in Korea set up special seasonal corners where you can find ready-to-use bingsu ingredients. Packaged red beans, condensed milk, chewy tteok, fruit toppings, and even bingsu machines are often available. With just a few ingredients and some crushed ice, you can easily recreate traditional patbingsu in your own kitchen. It’s a fun and nostalgic way to cool down, especially if you want to avoid the crowds.
Chill Indoors: Delivery Food and Air Conditioning
If you’re not a fan of sweating it out in the heat, you’re not alone. Many Koreans choose to spend the hottest parts of the day indoors, relaxing in air-conditioned spaces. Thanks to Korea’s fast and efficient delivery system, staying in doesn’t mean missing out. You can order nearly anything to your doorstep-ice-cold noodles, Korean fried chicken, sushi, or even iced coffee. Delivery drivers are quick and reliable, even during peak hours or rainy weather.
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