September is a great time to visit Korea. We are slowly coming out of the sweltering heat of August and moving towards our personal favorite time of year… autumn! There’s a lot of fun things to see and do this time of year. Here are a few tips to help plan your trip!
TEMPERATURE
As we crawl out of the unforgiving temperatures of August, you can expect to experience temperatures between 28°C (82.4°F) ~ 25°C (77°F) during the day. While the days can still be a bit hot the humidity levels are much lower, allowing for more outdoor activities. The nights, however, will range between 18°C (64°F) ~ 15°C (59°F) making it ideal for late night strolls by the river and outdoor dining. There’s usually a bit of left over rain from the summer, so keeping a small umbrella on hand in never a bad idea.
WHAT TO WEAR
September is literally the transition period between summer and autumn, but for the most part it is actually still quite warm. Summer clothing is still appropriate during the day time: jeans, shorts, t-shirts, etc. It’s usually in the mornings and nights, where you may want to add a light sweater, jacket or cardigan into the mix. This year we really aren’t expecting to have actual “sweater weather” until October.
GYEONGBOKGUNG NIGHT TOUR
Twice a year, Gyeongbokgung opens its doors at night for a rare chance to wonder the palace beneath the moonlight. The Gyeongbokgung Night Tour will be taking place from September 1 – October 29, 2023 for the autumn season. Tickets go on sale at the palace ticket booth at 6:30pm, with tickets set aside every night specifically for foreigners. Of course, if you choose to dress in hanbok (which we always recommend) admission is completely free! So put on your best hanbok, grab your camera and be prepared to be in awe.
CHUSEOK
This year Chuseok (추석) with be a glorious 6-day holiday from September 28 – October 3, 2023. For most of the country, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) is a time to visit your hometown and enjoy meals, play games and catch up with family. Many businesses close for a few days or have adjusted hours. If you happen to be in Korea during this time, never fear, there will still be plenty to see and do. Be sure to head over to the palaces or other historic sites to enjoy special programs and free admission.
POCHA NIGHTS
Pocha (포차) is the shortened form of the word pojangmacha (포장마차), they’re typically a type of outdoor tent or vendor that serves cheap drinks and street food. In Seoul, there are literally entire streets dedicated to this type of late night dining and it’s awesome! We recommend checking out Jongro 3-ga Pocha Street (종로 3가 포차거리) to enjoy traditional foods, drinks and the urban ambience.
JUNGKOOK & RM’S BIRTHDAY
As one might expect, ARMY goes all out for the birthdays of their favorite member. You can find all sorts of birthday projects throughout the city like posters and banners in the subway stations and at bus stops, buses will drive around with special birthday messages on them and even special photozones and displays will be set up in public spaces. Several cafes will also hold special cupsleeve events to mark the occasion, so don’t miss out!
CHUSEOK
The biggest holiday of the year (if we’re judging by days off) is in September. Chuseok is
PINK MUHLY SEASON
Pink muhly grass is in season from September to November, but I find it to be most vibrant from late September to October. Pink muhly is actually not native to Korea, but was first planted on Jeju island back in 2014. Since then, it has become so popular that the government has actually had it planted in various parts of Korea. Personally, we really enjoy it most on Jeju Island, but if you can’t get there Haneul Park (하늘공원) at World Cup Park is another excellent choice.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-
PIN ME, CHOOSE ME, LOVE ME
Wow, the sky and the lighting were perfect for that first Gyeongbokgung picture. And I’d never heard of that pink grass! Thanks for sharing ~