7 Reasons Why: You Should Come to Korea This Summer
June to August is the perfect season for your watersports, concerts, and ice food adventures in Korea.
You haven’t experienced all of Korea if you haven’t spent months listening to the soundtrack of maemi - cicadas. They are big and loud and bring with them the heat and humidity of the Korean summer. Expect temperatures between 25°C (77°F) and 35°C (91°F) in June-August, with the monsoon happening mostly in July.
Ready to enjoy? We listed 7 special activities for your summer stay in Korea.
1. Water Concert Festivals
The most famous one is Waterbomb! In July-August, this festival lines up 5-star K-Pop guests and keeps the crowd hydrated with giant water guns. In 2025, it’s happening in Seoul, Busan, and Sokcho with headliners like 2NE1, Jay Park, Karina, Kai, Epik High, J.Y. Park, Crush...
Any Rock fans reading this article? Pentaport is your concert of the year. It’s happening in Songdo (Incheon), at the beginning of August.
And, of course, there’s the SUMMERSWAG of Psy, an yearly experience crafted by the Gangnam Style sensation. Careful, though. That one will require being on time to snag tickets! You can book them on the Interpark Global website.
2. Surfing at the beach
You’ll find great spots in Busan by Haeundae, Gwangalli and Dadaepo beach - Of course, we’re going to all three during our Hoppin Busan 2025 Workations!
Beginners should head to Songjong, where they’ll find tame waves and the greatest surf schools.
Yangyang, by the east coast, and Jeju Island in the south are other big spots for the Korean surfing community.
If you like more variety in your watersports, Jeju is your paradise in Korea. There are all the activities you can think of: kayaking, kitesurfing, SUP boarding, diving, jet skiing, windsurfing… Busan’s also a pretty good contender with lots of options available!
3. Eat iced food
Summer’s the perfect excuse to drown in naengmyeon and kongguksu, two delicious pasta dishes immersed in a chilled broth - with literal ice cubes!
Naengmyeon is made with buckwheat and potato starch noodles, often served with an egg, cucumber, radish, and some char-grilled beef or pork on the side.
Kongguksu is a soybean broth with wheat noodles and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and pine nuts. It’s vegan if you ask to remove the egg! (You can check our ultimate guide to being vegetarian and vegan in Korea for more info on that topic.)
Other delicacies include bingsu, a dessert of shaved ice drenched in sweet milk and covered with a tower of delicious toppings. They range from the classic red bean paste and injeolmi (rice cake coated in crushed soybean) to tiramisu, strawberries, mangoes, fudge and brownie… Cafes often come up with the craziest new ideas to make them more decadent and pretty. Best enjoyed when shared with friends.
4. Wild Camping in the South
Korea is big on camping. It’s even bigger on glamping, with campsites fully equipped with ready-made barbecues, comfy mattresses, and chairs. But that part of the experience might be a bit hard to plan for you, if you don’t possess a visa (most places require a Korean bank card to book in advance).
But who needs glamourous camping when you can camp for free all over the country? Pack a tent, and head south to Tongyeong, Geoje, and the surrounding tiny islands. You can camp there all year long, but summer is special. It’s the only time of year you’ll find extra restaurants open, showers available, and other amenities.
If you head even more south, nearly all Jeju beaches have camping sites to pitch a tent at. You might have to pay a little fee in summer, but it’s very cheap (around 10-15.000 won).
5. Swimming in the mountains
It’s a whole thing. Search for gyegok (계곡) to find the best mountain streams, valley pools, or swimming holes in the mountains. The water is clear, cool, and of course, there’s often a spot to get some grilled fish, jeon (Korean savory pancake), and cold noodles nearby.
Some spots have big signs saying it’s forbidden to swim. They’re there for safety, because open water swimming is not widely practised in Korea, but locals often ignore them in quieter areas. As always, our advice is to follow the locals. Avoid swimming if there’s a sign and no one in the water.
6. Enjoying the AC in Museums
In the middle of the day, the heat can be hard to escape… Our advice? Head to museums.
Start with history in the National Museum of Korea and Seodaemun Prison. Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Hangangjin, spans a collection of Korean pottery, jewellery, calligraphy, and other local art throughout the centuries.
For modern art, MMCA’s halls are located next to the main palace in Seoul. And you have to drop by one of the digital exhibitions of ARTE Museum in Busan or Jeju!
7. Hoping from cafe to cafe
It’s a classic all season… But don’t we all love a good classic?
Korea’s baristas are pros when it comes to iced drinks. It’s an all-year-long fixture, but ice Americanos are especially refreshing in summer. Try yellow watermelon ades, peach matcha lattes, iced omija tea (five berry tea), and other special creations.
Don’t forget to carry a little scarf or a thin sweater in case you get cold easily. Sometimes, the AC is so strong you’ll forget it’s summer!
Conclusion
Korea’s an amazing destination for digital nomads all year round, and summer is no exception despite the high humidity. Thankfully, there’s AC everywhere!
7 Reasons Why: You Should Come to Korea This Summer
June to August is the perfect season for your watersports, concerts, and ice food adventures in Korea.
You haven’t experienced all of Korea if you haven’t spent months listening to the soundtrack of maemi - cicadas. They are big and loud and bring with them the heat and humidity of the Korean summer. Expect temperatures between 25°C (77°F) and 35°C (91°F) in June-August, with the monsoon happening mostly in July.
Ready to enjoy? We listed 7 special activities for your summer stay in Korea.
1. Water Concert Festivals
The most famous one is Waterbomb! In July-August, this festival lines up 5-star K-Pop guests and keeps the crowd hydrated with giant water guns. In 2025, it’s happening in Seoul, Busan, and Sokcho with headliners like 2NE1, Jay Park, Karina, Kai, Epik High, J.Y. Park, Crush...
Any Rock fans reading this article? Pentaport is your concert of the year. It’s happening in Songdo (Incheon), at the beginning of August.
And, of course, there’s the SUMMERSWAG of Psy, an yearly experience crafted by the Gangnam Style sensation. Careful, though. That one will require being on time to snag tickets! You can book them on the Interpark Global website.
2. Surfing at the beach
You’ll find great spots in Busan by Haeundae, Gwangalli and Dadaepo beach - Of course, we’re going to all three during our Hoppin Busan 2025 Workations!
Beginners should head to Songjong, where they’ll find tame waves and the greatest surf schools.
Yangyang, by the east coast, and Jeju Island in the south are other big spots for the Korean surfing community.
If you like more variety in your watersports, Jeju is your paradise in Korea. There are all the activities you can think of: kayaking, kitesurfing, SUP boarding, diving, jet skiing, windsurfing… Busan’s also a pretty good contender with lots of options available!
3. Eat iced food
Summer’s the perfect excuse to drown in naengmyeon and kongguksu, two delicious pasta dishes immersed in a chilled broth - with literal ice cubes!
Naengmyeon is made with buckwheat and potato starch noodles, often served with an egg, cucumber, radish, and some char-grilled beef or pork on the side.
Kongguksu is a soybean broth with wheat noodles and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and pine nuts. It’s vegan if you ask to remove the egg! (You can check our ultimate guide to being vegetarian and vegan in Korea for more info on that topic.)
Other delicacies include bingsu, a dessert of shaved ice drenched in sweet milk and covered with a tower of delicious toppings. They range from the classic red bean paste and injeolmi (rice cake coated in crushed soybean) to tiramisu, strawberries, mangoes, fudge and brownie… Cafes often come up with the craziest new ideas to make them more decadent and pretty. Best enjoyed when shared with friends.
4. Wild Camping in the South
Korea is big on camping. It’s even bigger on glamping, with campsites fully equipped with ready-made barbecues, comfy mattresses, and chairs. But that part of the experience might be a bit hard to plan for you, if you don’t possess a visa (most places require a Korean bank card to book in advance).
But who needs glamourous camping when you can camp for free all over the country? Pack a tent, and head south to Tongyeong, Geoje, and the surrounding tiny islands. You can camp there all year long, but summer is special. It’s the only time of year you’ll find extra restaurants open, showers available, and other amenities.
If you head even more south, nearly all Jeju beaches have camping sites to pitch a tent at. You might have to pay a little fee in summer, but it’s very cheap (around 10-15.000 won).
5. Swimming in the mountains
It’s a whole thing. Search for gyegok (계곡) to find the best mountain streams, valley pools, or swimming holes in the mountains. The water is clear, cool, and of course, there’s often a spot to get some grilled fish, jeon (Korean savory pancake), and cold noodles nearby.
Some spots have big signs saying it’s forbidden to swim. They’re there for safety, because open water swimming is not widely practised in Korea, but locals often ignore them in quieter areas. As always, our advice is to follow the locals. Avoid swimming if there’s a sign and no one in the water.
6. Enjoying the AC in Museums
In the middle of the day, the heat can be hard to escape… Our advice? Head to museums.
Start with history in the National Museum of Korea and Seodaemun Prison. Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Hangangjin, spans a collection of Korean pottery, jewellery, calligraphy, and other local art throughout the centuries.
For modern art, MMCA’s halls are located next to the main palace in Seoul. And you have to drop by one of the digital exhibitions of ARTE Museum in Busan or Jeju!
7. Hoping from cafe to cafe
It’s a classic all season… But don’t we all love a good classic?
Korea’s baristas are pros when it comes to iced drinks. It’s an all-year-long fixture, but ice Americanos are especially refreshing in summer. Try yellow watermelon ades, peach matcha lattes, iced omija tea (five berry tea), and other special creations.
Don’t forget to carry a little scarf or a thin sweater in case you get cold easily. Sometimes, the AC is so strong you’ll forget it’s summer!
Conclusion
Korea’s an amazing destination for digital nomads all year round, and summer is no exception despite the high humidity. Thankfully, there’s AC everywhere!
7 Reasons Why: You Should Come to Korea This Summer
June to August is the perfect season for your watersports, concerts, and ice food adventures in Korea.
You haven’t experienced all of Korea if you haven’t spent months listening to the soundtrack of maemi - cicadas. They are big and loud and bring with them the heat and humidity of the Korean summer. Expect temperatures between 25°C (77°F) and 35°C (91°F) in June-August, with the monsoon happening mostly in July.
Ready to enjoy? We listed 7 special activities for your summer stay in Korea.
1. Water Concert Festivals
The most famous one is Waterbomb! In July-August, this festival lines up 5-star K-Pop guests and keeps the crowd hydrated with giant water guns. In 2025, it’s happening in Seoul, Busan, and Sokcho with headliners like 2NE1, Jay Park, Karina, Kai, Epik High, J.Y. Park, Crush...
Any Rock fans reading this article? Pentaport is your concert of the year. It’s happening in Songdo (Incheon), at the beginning of August.
And, of course, there’s the SUMMERSWAG of Psy, an yearly experience crafted by the Gangnam Style sensation. Careful, though. That one will require being on time to snag tickets! You can book them on the Interpark Global website.
2. Surfing at the beach
You’ll find great spots in Busan by Haeundae, Gwangalli and Dadaepo beach - Of course, we’re going to all three during our Hoppin Busan 2025 Workations!
Beginners should head to Songjong, where they’ll find tame waves and the greatest surf schools.
Yangyang, by the east coast, and Jeju Island in the south are other big spots for the Korean surfing community.
If you like more variety in your watersports, Jeju is your paradise in Korea. There are all the activities you can think of: kayaking, kitesurfing, SUP boarding, diving, jet skiing, windsurfing… Busan’s also a pretty good contender with lots of options available!
3. Eat iced food
Summer’s the perfect excuse to drown in naengmyeon and kongguksu, two delicious pasta dishes immersed in a chilled broth - with literal ice cubes!
Naengmyeon is made with buckwheat and potato starch noodles, often served with an egg, cucumber, radish, and some char-grilled beef or pork on the side.
Kongguksu is a soybean broth with wheat noodles and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and pine nuts. It’s vegan if you ask to remove the egg! (You can check our ultimate guide to being vegetarian and vegan in Korea for more info on that topic.)
Other delicacies include bingsu, a dessert of shaved ice drenched in sweet milk and covered with a tower of delicious toppings. They range from the classic red bean paste and injeolmi (rice cake coated in crushed soybean) to tiramisu, strawberries, mangoes, fudge and brownie… Cafes often come up with the craziest new ideas to make them more decadent and pretty. Best enjoyed when shared with friends.
4. Wild Camping in the South
Korea is big on camping. It’s even bigger on glamping, with campsites fully equipped with ready-made barbecues, comfy mattresses, and chairs. But that part of the experience might be a bit hard to plan for you, if you don’t possess a visa (most places require a Korean bank card to book in advance).
But who needs glamourous camping when you can camp for free all over the country? Pack a tent, and head south to Tongyeong, Geoje, and the surrounding tiny islands. You can camp there all year long, but summer is special. It’s the only time of year you’ll find extra restaurants open, showers available, and other amenities.
If you head even more south, nearly all Jeju beaches have camping sites to pitch a tent at. You might have to pay a little fee in summer, but it’s very cheap (around 10-15.000 won).
5. Swimming in the mountains
It’s a whole thing. Search for gyegok (계곡) to find the best mountain streams, valley pools, or swimming holes in the mountains. The water is clear, cool, and of course, there’s often a spot to get some grilled fish, jeon (Korean savory pancake), and cold noodles nearby.
Some spots have big signs saying it’s forbidden to swim. They’re there for safety, because open water swimming is not widely practised in Korea, but locals often ignore them in quieter areas. As always, our advice is to follow the locals. Avoid swimming if there’s a sign and no one in the water.
6. Enjoying the AC in Museums
In the middle of the day, the heat can be hard to escape… Our advice? Head to museums.
Start with history in the National Museum of Korea and Seodaemun Prison. Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Hangangjin, spans a collection of Korean pottery, jewellery, calligraphy, and other local art throughout the centuries.
For modern art, MMCA’s halls are located next to the main palace in Seoul. And you have to drop by one of the digital exhibitions of ARTE Museum in Busan or Jeju!
7. Hoping from cafe to cafe
It’s a classic all season… But don’t we all love a good classic?
Korea’s baristas are pros when it comes to iced drinks. It’s an all-year-long fixture, but ice Americanos are especially refreshing in summer. Try yellow watermelon ades, peach matcha lattes, iced omija tea (five berry tea), and other special creations.
Don’t forget to carry a little scarf or a thin sweater in case you get cold easily. Sometimes, the AC is so strong you’ll forget it’s summer!
Conclusion
Korea’s an amazing destination for digital nomads all year round, and summer is no exception despite the high humidity. Thankfully, there’s AC everywhere!
