Korea in May 2027: Weather, Holidays and Lotus Lanterns

Source: KMA climate normals 1991–2020, stations 108, 159 and 184 (KMA). Seoul's May average is 18.2°C.

These are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Rain rises from April in Seoul (72.9 mm to 103.6 mm), and Busan is the wettest of the three cities. Check the KMA forecast in the week before you fly. See weather by month for the full year.

The Korea Tourism Organization advises bringing some outerwear and short-sleeved clothing in May (VisitKorea).

• Short sleeves plus a light layer. Seoul's average high is 23.6°C, but the average low is 13.5°C.
• Comfortable shoes. Palaces, parks and lantern routes mean long walks.
• A compact umbrella. May is wetter than April.
• Sun protection. Hats and sunscreen help on long afternoon walks.

May 2027 has four public holiday days. Source: KASI calendar data 2027. Labor Day became an official public holiday in 2026, and Buddha's Birthday follows the lunar calendar (24 May in 2026) (VisitKorea).

Banks and government offices close on public holidays. Palaces, museums, department stores and amusement facilities generally stay open (VisitKorea). Saturday 1 May to Monday 3 May is a three-day weekend. If you travel between cities on these days, read KTX and trains and book early.

No organizer had published 2027 dates when this page was written. These are the 2026 dates, to show the usual timing.

Sources: VisitKorea and Seoul Metropolitan Government. VisitKorea names the organizers only in its photo credits, so confirm them with the festival.

The Lotus Lantern Festival is tied to Buddha's Birthday. In 2026 the holiday fell on 24 May and the Seoul parade was eight days earlier. In 2027 Buddha's Birthday is 13 May, 11 days earlier, so expect the festival earlier in May. That is an inference from the calendar, not an announcement. The Seoul city page also lists a separate "coming soon" spring event on 16–18 May 2026 that conflicts with its 2–10 May dates, so check the organizer's own schedule for any year. Find other events in the Korea Tourism Organization's festival listings.

The Korea Tourism Organization names July to August and December to January as peak seasons (VisitKorea). May is not on that list. The holiday weekends above are the busiest days, so book trains and rooms for 1–3 May and around 13 May early, and visit parks and palaces on weekday mornings.

• Seoul: palaces, river parks and the lantern routes around Jogyesa. See the Seoul guide and the 3-day Seoul itinerary.
• Busan and Gyeongju: each holds its own lantern festival. See the Busan guide and the Gyeongju guide.
• Jeju: the driest of the three cities in May, at 95.6 mm. See the Jeju guide.