November is cool and dry in Korea, with the last autumn colour in the south and free entry to the Seoul palaces until 15 November 2026. Seoul averages 7.5°C in the month, so pack a coat. We use the weather figures from our best-time page, the two official 2026 colour forecasts we found, and the Seoul palaces notice, all read on 12 October 2026.
The weather
Note: Korea Meteorological Administration 1991 to 2020 normals for November: Seoul 7.5°C on average (3.5 to 11.9°C) and about 51 mm of rain. Busan 11.9°C (8.3 to 16.6°C) and about 50 mm. Jeju 13.3°C (10.4 to 16.4°C). These are the figures on our best-time page, from data.kma.go.kr, read 11 Oct 2026
| November normals | Average | Low to high | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 7.5°C | 3.5 to 11.9°C | about 51 mm |
| Busan | 11.9°C | 8.3 to 16.6°C | about 50 mm |
| Jeju | 13.3°C | 10.4 to 16.4°C | not checked |
What to pack: a warm coat, layers, a hat and gloves for Seoul in the last week of the month. In Busan and Jeju a light coat is enough most days. These are averages over 30 years, so a single day can be colder or warmer.
The colour in November
Colour moves from the north to the south. Early November is the end of it in Seoul and the best of it in the south. Two 2026 forecasts disagree by a week on some mountains.
Hours: Korea Forest Service peak forecast map, released 22 Sep 2026. Seoraksan 20 Oct, Songnisan 28 Oct, Naejangsan 4 Nov, Hallasan 6 Nov. By tree: ginkgo 30 Oct, maple and oak 31 Oct. The Forest Service said this is about 0.8 days later than the five year average (SBS Biz report of 22 Sep 2026, read 12 Oct 2026)
Hours: VisitKorea 2026 Fall Foliage Forecast, posted 8 Sep 2026, credited to Weatheri. Peak: Seoraksan 25 Oct, Bukhansan 4 Nov, Jirisan 5 Nov, Naejangsan 11 Nov, Hallasan 13 Nov. First colour: Bukhansan 23 Oct, Jirisan 28 Oct, Hallasan 31 Oct. It says the dates may change with the weather (VisitKorea, read 12 Oct 2026)
The Forest Service forecast is the later one (22 September, against 8 September) and comes from the government's forest agency, but we read it through a newspaper. VisitKorea's comes from the tourism board and a private forecaster. The two disagree, so plan a window and not a day. The first half of November is the safe choice for the south. Our autumn page has the spots, with how to get to each.
Free Seoul palaces until 15 November
Hours: 29 Oct to 15 Nov 2026: free entry to the four Seoul palaces, Jongmyo and the Joseon royal tombs during the Korea Grand Festival. Excluded: the Changdeokgung Secret Garden special tour and closing days (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center notice, 30 Sep 2026, as read on our palaces page on 12 Oct 2026)
Hours: November hours: Gyeongbokgung 09:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:00. Changdeokgung 09:00 to 17:30 from November to January (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, as read 11 Oct 2026)
Note: Closures: Gyeongbokgung's Geunjeongjeon terrace is closed to visitors from 2 Sep to 31 Oct 2026. Changgyeonggung's evening opening pauses from 10 to 15 Nov 2026 (palace notices, titles read 11 Oct 2026)
If you are in Seoul between 29 October and 15 November, do the palaces then. After 15 November Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung cost ₩3,000 for an adult, and hanbok gets you in free for now, per our palaces page.
Who November suits
It suits people who want colour without the mid-October crowds, and who accept cold evenings in Seoul. It does not suit people who want warm weather. If you want snow and winter events, go later.
What is checked here and what is not
Checked on 12 October 2026: the KMA normals as printed on our best-time page, the Korea Forest Service forecast as reported by SBS Biz on 22 September 2026, VisitKorea's 2026 Fall Foliage Forecast page, and the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center's free-entry notice and fees as read on our palaces page.
Not checked: the Forest Service's own page, which we did not open, KMA's data site itself, Jeju's November rainfall, any November price level, events and festivals in the month, and the palace notices behind the two closures, which we read by title. The Korea Grand Festival's other events are not covered.
