Understand the summer rainy season
Jangma (장마) is Korea's main summer rainy season. It is associated with a weather front whose position and strength vary, so rainfall can differ greatly between regions and years.
Historical averages place its start during June and its end during July, but those dates are not a forecast for your trip. Rain may be intermittent, prolonged or locally intense. Heavy rain can also occur after the main rainy season ends.
Use Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts and warnings for daily decisions. Do not treat a calendar date or the announcement that the rainy season has ended as assurance of dry weather.
Take typhoon warnings seriously
A typhoon is a tropical cyclone. Depending on its track and strength, it can bring destructive winds, heavy rain, flooding, landslides and dangerous coastal waves.
The impact is not limited to islands or the coast, and being in Seoul does not make a storm harmless. Follow official warnings, local restrictions and evacuation instructions for your location.
Stay away from exposed coastal paths, breakwaters, rivers and closed mountain areas during dangerous conditions. Remain in a safe building when advised and avoid windows or outdoor objects that could be damaged by wind.
Avoid floodwater
Basements, underground spaces and road underpasses can flood rapidly, but streets, riverside paths and mountain valleys can also be dangerous. Do not enter floodwater on foot or in a vehicle; its depth, current and hidden hazards may be impossible to judge.
Do not go into an underground car park to retrieve a vehicle during flooding. Leave a threatened area promptly when officials instruct you to evacuate, using the route they identify.
For an emergency, call 119 and give your location as clearly as possible.
Keep transport and outdoor plans flexible
Flights, ferries, trains, buses and cable cars can be delayed or cancelled. Check the transport operator's current notice and your booking status before setting out. Allow extra time around an international departure and avoid an island connection with no margin for disruption.
Move a hike, beach visit or boat trip when warnings or closures make it unsuitable. Indoor plans can also be affected by flooding or transport restrictions, so confirm access rather than assuming a museum or shopping centre is unaffected.
Prepare to receive alerts
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Emergency Ready App provides disaster information for visitors in supported languages. Install it, check its language and notification settings, and become familiar with it before you need it.
Phone emergency alerts may not provide a complete English explanation. Read the full local advice through an official source or ask accommodation staff for help understanding it. Keep your phone charged and important contact details available offline.
