Korea in November 2026 — Weather, Last Autumn Leaves, Duty-Free Sale, Kimjang and First Snow

November is one of the best months to visit Korea: early November still has golden ginkgo and red maple leaves, mid-November brings big shopping sales and the first Christmas lights, and late November is kimchi-making (kimjang) season with the first ski slopes opening. It gets cold quickly — daytime highs fall from about 15°C at the start of the month to around 5°C by the end, and late-November nights can drop below zero — so pack layers and a warm jacket.

When	What's happening	Where to go
Nov 1–10	Last of the golden ginkgo and maple leaves	Palaces, Namsan, Asan Gokgyocheon ginkgo road
Oct 29 – Nov 15	Korea Duty Free Festa: up to 25% off at airport, downtown and online duty-free shops	Duty-free stores, department stores
From mid-November	Christmas decorations and light shows at department stores	Myeongdong, The Hyundai Seoul (Yeouido)
Late November	Kimjang (kimchi-making) season, hot food weather	Markets, cooking classes, hot springs
Late November	First ski resorts usually open	Gangwon-do (Pyeongchang)

Weather and what to pack

• Early November: crisp and sunny, about 15°C in the day. A light jacket or sweater is enough.
• Late November: around 5°C in the day, colder at night and windy. Bring a warm coat, scarf and gloves.
• Tip: convenience stores sell disposable heat packs (핫팩, hat-paek) for about 1,000–2,000 won — Koreans carry them all winter.
• Indoor heating is strong, so dress in layers you can take off in shops, cafés and the subway.

1. Catch the last autumn leaves (early November)

Ginkgo trees in Seoul and the central region usually peak from late October into early November, and the south a little later. If you arrive in the first week or so, palaces, Namsan and ginkgo-lined streets are still golden. See when ginkgo leaves turn yellow in Korea for the best spots, including the Asan ginkgo road outside Seoul.

2. Shop the November sales

The Korea Duty Free Festa 2026 runs from October 29 to November 15, timed for the autumn travel season: airport, downtown and online duty-free shops offer discounts of up to 25% (not on every item). The wider K-Sale Festa runs over the same dates. Bring your passport for tax-free shopping.

• K-beauty: compare Olive Young and beauty outlets in Myeongdong.
• Department store + food hall + bakery in one stop: The Hyundai Seoul guide — you can also send shopping bags straight to the airport or hotel the same day.

3. Christmas starts in mid-November

Korean department stores switch on their Christmas façades and indoor Christmas villages from around mid-November, and they become some of Seoul's busiest photo spots on weekend evenings. Go on a weekday evening to avoid the crowds. The Seoul Lantern Festival on Cheonggyecheon Stream usually follows in mid-December — check the official schedule before you plan around it.

4. Eat warm: kimjang season and winter food

Late November to early December is kimjang, when Korean families make a whole winter's kimchi at once. Markets fill with napa cabbage and red pepper, and some cooking classes run kimchi-making sessions. It's also the season for hot stews, so try kimchi jjigae, sundubu and other Korean stews, hotteok and roasted sweet potatoes from street stalls, and fish-shaped bungeoppang.

5. First snow and ski season (late November)

Korea's ski season usually opens around the third week of November in Gangwon-do. Last season, Mona Yongpyong and Phoenix Snow Park in Pyeongchang opened first, on November 21, 2025. Opening days depend on the cold, so check each resort's announcement. First snow in Seoul often falls in late November or December.

A simple November week plan

1. Day 1–2: Palaces and Bukchon in the morning, autumn leaves on Namsan or a ginkgo street, cafés in Anguk in the afternoon.
2. Day 3: Shopping day — duty-free, Olive Young and The Hyundai Seoul, then sunset at Yeouido Hangang Park.
3. Day 4: Market food and a stew dinner; try a kimchi-making class if you're here late in the month.
4. Day 5: Day trip outside Seoul — the Asan ginkgo road and hanok stay in early November, or a hot spring as it gets colder.

Want to spend part of the trip with a local? We're gathering interest for Kcation Local Friend — language exchange, food crawls and K-beauty shopping with friendly Koreans.

Sources: Korea Customs Service via Korean Center — Korea Duty Free Festa 2026 · Asia Economy — 2025/26 ski openings