Pyeongchang weather in May

May in Pyeongchang: nice, rainy — not the best time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Pyeongchang🇰🇷 South Korea · Korea · Ski22
  1. 74Jan
  2. 71Feb
  3. 50Mar
  4. 25Apr
  5. 22May
  6. 20Jun
  7. 10Jul
  8. 13Aug
  9. 15Sep
  10. 17Oct
  11. 38Nov
  12. 65Dec

#7 of 12 months in Pyeongchang · #1402 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 22/100 (tier F)

Days
23°C
Nights
10°C
Wet days
9
Sun
10 h
Humidity
69%
Daylight
14 h
Pyeongchang, South Korea
Photo: 정규송 Nui MALAMA · Pexels

Traveller notes on Pyeongchang in May

Notes from nearby Seoul (126 km away)

Pyeongchang doesn't have its own notes for May yet — these are about Seoul, close enough to share the season.

May in Seoul is the month that changes under you: regulars say the first week still wants a light jacket or a cardigan, and by the last week you rarely need more than a t-shirt. Their figures - highs of 20 to 25C, lows of 13 to 16C - bracket our row's 24.2C and 13.7C. The standing advice is layers, because the drop in the early morning and again in the evening is the part visitors get wrong, and the jacket they recommend is one that will also shed rain. That last point is the one our row sharpens: 105.2mm falls in May across 8.1 days, more than the spring reputation suggests, and it arrives well before the proper summer monsoon. The record: humidity 71 percent, 10 hours of sun and AQI 86.
JacketInWeekOneTShirtInFour · May · 1 month ago · about Seoul · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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.
PyeongchangAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
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.
PyeongchangJuneRegular · June · 1 month ago · Read more on tripadvisor.co.nz ↗
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.
PyeongchangMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on tripadvisor.com.sg ↗
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.
PyeongchangOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Pyeongchang's card on the map.

Pyeongchang climate normals — May

Daytime high23°C / 73°F😎 nice
Nighttime low10°C / 50°F
Feels like (high)22°C / 72°F
Rainfall88 mm / 3.5 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days9 days
Humidity69%💧 humid
Dew point9°C / 48°F
Sunshine10 h/day
Daylight14.2 h
Wind16 km/h / 10 mph
Snowfall0.1 cm / 0 in
Air quality (US AQI)71🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Pyeongchang in May

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.

Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

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).

Fair weatherPyeongchang's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Pyeongchang in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Between the seasons

    10 Apr – 15 Jun · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

    The lifts stop, the Olympic valley goes quiet and a lot of the resort restaurants shut until the summer trade. Cheap, empty, and not much reason to be up here.

What's on around the world in May →

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?

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Pyeongchang in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Pyeongchang?
May in Pyeongchang: nice, rainy — not the best time to visit. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Pyeongchang on SeasonMap's comfort score (22/100).
What is the weather like in Pyeongchang in May?
In May, Pyeongchang averages a daily high of 22.7°C and a low of 10°C, with about 88.3 mm of rain over roughly 8.8 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Pyeongchang in May?
Pyeongchang has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 71 in May.

Within 300 km: Seoul's Lotus Lantern Festival around 25 Apr – 25 May, and Busan's Busan Lotus Lantern Festival around 1–17 May.