Pyeongchang weather in January
January in Pyeongchang: freezing, dry, with reliable snow — one of the best months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#1 of 12 months in Pyeongchang · #622 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 74/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 3°C
- Nights
- -8°C
- Wet days
- 4
- Sun
- 7.8 h
- Humidity
- 59%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Pyeongchang in January
Forum posters describe January here as bitterly cold but reliably dry, with clear blue skies common and wind - rather than precipitation - named as the main day-to-day discomfort on the slopes. Posters note that when natural snowfall runs short, resorts lean heavily on snowmaking to keep runs open, since sub-zero temperatures make artificial snow production reliable through the month. Posters planning a trip around the Korean New Year (late January, on the lunar calendar) flag possible service disruptions to buses and some resort operations during the holiday itself, worth building slack into an itinerary around. Overall, posters treat January as prime, dependable ski season here, with cold rather than crowds or unreliable snow being the main thing to pack for.
Other months in Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang-forum threads on an April visit describe the ski season as genuinely over by this point, posters naming Yongpyong and other Gangwon-do resorts as typically closing by mid-March. Regulars call the final week of skiing genuinely thin, one reply describing Yongpyong's last stretch as basically just a few slushy runs before shutting down entirely. Posters call real April skiing in Korea genuinely impossible, several regulars naming this the consistent consensus across multiple threads asking the same question. Regulars call cherry blossom season in the south a real alternative, several threads naming Busan, Gyeongju and Yeosu as where posters redirect April travelers instead. Posters recommend planning an April Korea trip around blossoms rather than snow, several regulars calling this the honest advice for anyone hoping to still ski this late. The record: 18.3C days, 5.1C nights, 74.7mm across nearly 8 days and 65 percent humidity.
Pyeongchang-forum threads on a June visit describe this as genuinely low season for hotel rates, posters naming June through August as the window when prices here run lowest. Regulars call the former Olympic venues still genuinely worth visiting outside winter, several posters asking specifically about a May or June trip to see the facilities in the off-season. Posters call most mountain resorts genuinely year-round operations, several regulars naming hiking, golf and water parks as standard summer activities once winter lifts stop running. Regulars call June weather genuinely comfortable for exploring, several threads naming this a real advantage over the crowded winter Olympic-season peak. Posters recommend checking which summer activities are actually running before a June trip, several regulars calling this standard given how much varies resort to resort. The record: 26.9C days, 16C nights, 109.6mm across nearly 10 days and 75 percent humidity.
Pyeongchang-forum threads on a March visit describe most ski resorts as genuinely closing by mid-month, posters naming Jisan's March eleventh closure the prior season as a real example of how early things can wrap up. Regulars call closing dates genuinely weather-dependent, several posters warning a warm spell can push closures earlier than posted schedules suggest. Posters call early to mid-March the real safer window for anyone still hoping to ski, several regulars naming late March as too risky to plan a trip around. Regulars call snow quality genuinely softer and more variable by March, several threads describing slushy afternoon conditions even on days lifts are still running. Posters recommend calling ahead to confirm operating status before a March trip, several regulars calling this standard given how quickly the season can end here. The record: 12C days, -0.3C nights, 58.3mm across nearly 8 days and 66 percent humidity.
Pyeongchang-forum threads on an October visit describe Odaesan National Park as genuinely the real highlight this time of year, posters calling autumn and spring the best windows and October specifically for golden-brown foliage through the forest. Regulars call the park genuinely crowded during peak season, several posters naming April-May and September-November when Odaesan draws the heaviest visitor numbers. Posters recommend Woljeongsa and Sangwon-sa temples as real standard stops alongside the hiking, several regulars calling both a genuine complement to the scenery. Regulars call a taxi from Alpensia to Woljeongsa a real standard option, several threads citing roughly thirty to forty thousand won for the ride. Posters recommend the hourly local bus as a real budget alternative, several regulars naming it around two thousand won each way for anyone without a car. The record: 18.8C days, 8.3C nights, an extraordinarily high 79.7mm across nearly 7 days and 76 percent humidity.
Add your own note from Pyeongchang's card on the map.
Pyeongchang climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Pyeongchang in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsPyeongchang Trout Festival, Winter break (gyeoul banghak) in South Korea, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Pyeongchang's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherPyeongchang's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
January includes Pyeongchang Trout Festival.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Pyeongchang in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Pyeongchang Trout Festival
9 Jan – 9 FebIce seasonCrowdedA month of holes cut in the Odaecheon for ice fishing, plus the bare-handed catching pool that is the reason most people come. It runs on river ice, so a warm spell shortens it. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
25 Nov – 5 Apr · usuallyYongpyong and Alpensia open on manufactured snow from late November and run night skiing most of the winter. It is cold and dry rather than deep — expect groomed pistes, not powder.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Pyeongchang — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Pyeongchang?
Pyeongchang in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Pyeongchang?
- January in Pyeongchang: freezing, dry, with reliable snow — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Pyeongchang on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
- What is the weather like in Pyeongchang in January?
- In January, Pyeongchang averages a daily high of 2.5°C and a low of -7.9°C, with about 22.9 mm of rain over roughly 4.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Pyeongchang in January?
- Pyeongchang has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 62 in January.
- Does it snow in Pyeongchang in January?
- Pyeongchang sees roughly 10.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Within 300 km: Busan's Haeundae Light Festival around 29 Nov – 18 Jan, and Seoul's Ski season an hour out around 10 Dec – 5 Mar.