Things to Do in Korea in June

If you’re traveling in June, you’re gonna need help. This is the best month to experience summer in Korea before the start of monsoon season which means crazy unpredictible weather and literal days of rain. But, with a bit of luck, you might have the best summer of your life with some amazing events and festivals in Korea.

TEMPERATURE

June is the start of summer in Korea. That means the temperature can spike as high as 31^oC (89^oF) with the weather being a bit cooler once the rainy season hits at the end of the month.. The low is around 17^oC (52^oF) at the beginning of the month, but it’ll be 21^oC (70^oF) or higher near late-June.

Expect a lot of heat in the sun during the day, so make sure to pack sunscreen for your daily outings. A major concern as we get into summer is heat-stroke, which happens a lot actually. Make sure to take breaks, stay hydrated, and don’t be afraid to use covered bus-shelters or take advantage of air-conditioned subway stations.

Late-June is a whole other deal with several storm systems predicted to hit Korea for monsoon season. That means thunderstorms, strong winds, and enough rain to flood Gangnam. The last week of June is predicted to have rain every day while the first weeks of July will have thunderstorms. Rain boots and a sturdy umbrella are highly recommended.

What to Wear

Dress light. That means short sleeves, shorts and airy breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. The open button up with an undershirt underneath is always a classic look.

But you’ll also need some lightweight long sleeves. Indoor malls and shops all having air-conditioning which means you’ll be walking from cool to hot all day long. This constant fluctuation makes you susceptible to falling ill, so we always have a longsleeve on-hand when we’re going in and out of buildings.

We should be getting rain in the last week or two of June. Just for reference, monsoon season in 2023 started on June 25th and lasted until the end of July. If your travel plans overlap with those dates, bring waterproof windbreakers and flip flops for those super windy and rainy days.

EVENTS

TofuArtist Cooking Class

One of the best things we did this summer was attend a vegan Korean cooking class here in Seoul. The entire experience gave us a better understanding of Korean cuisine along with tips to make cooking Korean food easier when we went. You can check out TofuArtist to see class times and availability.

Gwanghwamun Knock Knock K-Food Festival

• When: Every Wednesday – Sunday until the end of 2024
• Where: Sejong-ro Garden (Naver Map, Google Maps)

Thanks to its massive popularity with locals and tourists, the Seoul City Government will be hosting a year-long K-food festival in the Sejong-ro Park until the end of 2024. There are food trucks serving everything from Korean pancakes to Korean hotdogs from 4 PM to 9 PM every day except Mondays and Tuesdays. Check out review for even more information and photos of the ongoing festival.

Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour

• When: Until June 2, 2024
• Where: Changdeokgung Palace (Google Maps, Naver Map)

Of the many late night tours of the Seoul palaces, this one might be our favorite. The tour features a late night walkthrough of the secret garden behind Changdeokgung. Even during the day, visitors are only allowed in via guided tour groups. This moonlight tour features a late-night tour, tea, and traditional Korean music. We visited a few years ago (blog) and it was an amazing experience. Tickets can be difficult to come by, but the experience is worth it.

Tickets are 30,000 KRW per person and can be purchased here.

Seocho Music and Art Festival

• When: June 8 – 9, 2024
• Where: Express Bus Terminal Station, Exit 1 (Naver Map, Google Maps)

If you’re looking to take in some culture, the Seocho Music and Art Festival is your best chance to soak it in. There are performances scheduled on the 8th and the 9th from 7 PM on. There are also art programs and activities for everyone. Check out their page for more details.

BTS Festa 2024

• When: June 13, 2024 (11 AM 9 PM)
• Where: Futsal Field and Sports Park, Seoul Sports Complex (Naver Map, Google Maps)

For their 11th anniversary, BTS will be hosting BTS Festa 2024 at the Seoul Sports Complex. The event is split into two sessions. The first takes place at 3 PM and will be the Meet-and-Greet with Jin. The second session is a one hour showcase by Jin that’ll also be streamed online. The event is open to anyone who happens to be in Seoul, but the Meet-and-Greet is a raffle for ARMY only… but you already knew that.

Seoul International Book Fair

• When: June 26 – 30, 2024
• Where: COEX Hall C and D1 (Naver Map, Google Maps)
• Cost: 10,000 KRW

It’s that time of year again, time for the Seoul International Book Fair which will be returning to COEX with some amazing guests. A key standout is Michelle Zauner, the author of Crying in H-Mart who’ll be giving a book talk at the event. Check out the website for more details.

Doo Doo Han River Festival

• When: Every Sunday until June 23rd, 2024
• Where: Jamsu Bridge (Naver Map, Google Maps)

Jamsu Bridge and the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain are hallmarks of Seoul tourism and on countless travel bucketlists. And, for a limited time, you can enjoy all of that on Jamsu Bridge without the noise and chaos of cars or buses. The festival will take place every Sunday until June 23rd. For more details, check out their page.

2024 Seoul Outdoor Library

• When: Until November 10, 2024
• Where:
  • Gwanghwamun Plaza (Google Maps, Naver Map)
  • Cheonggyecheon Stream (Google Maps, Naver Map)
  • Seoul Plaza (Google Maps, Naver Map)

Seoul will be hosting public outdoor library spaces throughout the city, giving folks a chance to sit down and disconnect from the internet. Depending on the location, there are bean bag chairs, play areas, and flea markets. If you’re looking for a spot to relax, the outdoor library spaces are worth checking out.

We are big fans of the Gwanghwamun location which has the most English-language books as well as the best layout. But the Cheonggyecheon location offers shade and the unbeatable ambience of the stream to dip your feet into.

The times and dates of the outdoor libraries vary by location, so we’ve outlined them below:

Location	Dates and Times
Gwanghwamun Plaza	Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 11 AM – 6 PM
Cheonggyecheon Stream	Friday, Saturday 11 AM – 6 PM
Seoul Plaza	Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 AM – 6 PM

Korea House Kohoje

• When: Until June 30, 2024
• Address: Toegye-ro 36gil 10 Korea House (Google Maps, Naver Map)

Korea House in Seoul is hosting their seasonal Kohojae, a traditional Korean tea set featuring desserts that were served in the palace during the Joseon dynasty. This includes rice cake, a pot of fruit tea, and sweet rice puffs for 25,000 KRW per person. Check out our experience for more information.