Visiting South Korea in January

January is South Korea's coldest month, with Seoul temperatures regularly dipping below freezing and the occasional dusting of snow across the capital's palaces and hanok villages. It's a quiet, atmospheric time to visit, with far fewer tourists and some of the year's lowest flight and hotel prices. Head to Seoraksan National Park and you'll find ski season in full swing nearby, plus the beloved Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, where visitors drill through a frozen river to catch mountain trout by hand. For something calmer, January is a lovely time for a Gyeongju temple stay at Golgulsa, with crisp air and near-empty hillsides making meditation sessions all the more peaceful. If your trip lands around late January, you may also catch the very start of Seollal preparations.