Rain during the 2026 Chuseok holiday needs to be read by both time and region. The KMA short-range forecast issued at 11:00 KST on September 23 starts rain on the northern Gangwon east coast and mountains late on September 24, expands it to central regions on September 25 evening, and shifts it toward southern Korea and Jeju on September 26.
Forecast basis: the September 23 11:00 short-range forecast plus the same-day Chuseok land outlook. Forecasts can change. Use the latest short-range forecast, radar and warnings for actual travel decisions.
Date-by-date view
| Date | Current forecast signal | Travel action |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | Rain late at night on northern Gangwon east coast and mountains | Check the expected arrival time on east-coast routes |
| Sep 25 | East-coast rain early; central regions, North Jeolla and central/northern North Gyeongsang from evening | Allow for congestion and wet roads on evening travel |
| Sep 26 | Central rain until early morning; southern regions and Jeju through night | Check local ending times |
| Sep 27–30 | Major-city rows are mostly cloudy | Do not treat this as a no-rain guarantee |
September 24: the Gangwon east coast first
The country is generally cloudy, with rain possible late at night on the northern Gangwon east coast and mountains. This should not be rewritten as rain beginning near Seoul.
September 25: east coast in the morning, central regions in the evening
Rain is forecast for the Gangwon east coast and mountains and the northern North Gyeongsang east coast from early morning through late morning. From evening, rain may reach central Korea, North Jeolla and central/northern North Gyeongsang.
The KMA lists generally below 5 mm for the Seoul area, Gangwon inland, Chungcheong, North Jeolla and central/northern North Gyeongsang on September 25, and 5–10 mm for the Gangwon east coast and mountains beginning September 24.
September 26: from central to southern Korea and Jeju
Rain may continue in central regions until early morning and in southern regions and Jeju through the night. Departure, route and destination therefore need separate checks.
September 27–30: currently mostly cloudy
The same-day land-outlook table shows mostly cloudy conditions for many representative locations—including Seoul, Chuncheon, Gangneung, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan and Jeju—through September 27–30. Medium-range details can change, so recheck before locking an outdoor plan.
Practical checks before departure
Save departure, route and destination separately
A national one-line summary is less useful than time-specific forecasts along the actual route. Save all three points and check again 6–12 hours before departure.
Check radar and warnings
Use radar to review the position and movement of rain clouds, then check weather warnings and road, airport or ferry operating information.
Prepare for wet roads
Check wipers, tyres and lights and increase following distance. Roads can remain wet after rain stops.
Give gravesite visits a fallback
September 27–30 currently lean mostly cloudy, but the forecast can change. Prepare an alternate time or indoor plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does rain begin near Seoul on September 24 night?
No. The September 23 11:00 short-range forecast places the late-night start on the northern Gangwon east coast and mountains. Rain is indicated near Seoul from the evening of September 25.
When could rain fall on Chuseok Day, September 25?
East-coast areas may see rain in the morning; central regions, North Jeolla and central/northern North Gyeongsang may see it from evening. Check the local forecast.
Is September 27–30 guaranteed dry?
No. The current major-city table is mostly cloudy, not a guarantee. Recheck the latest medium- and short-range forecasts.
One-line takeaway
Track Gangwon east coast late Sep 24 → central regions, North Jeolla and central/northern North Gyeongsang on Sep 25 evening → southern Korea and Jeju on Sep 26, then recheck Sep 27–30 immediately before travel.
Also on Naver Blog
The Korean Naver edition presents the same forecast as a travel sequence: Life Mokcha Naver post
About the Author
Life Mokcha's editor, “Mokcha Keeper,” separates issue time, region and rainfall window into travel checks. The latest KMA forecast takes priority before departure.
References
- KMA Chuseok special-service forecast summary (11:00 KST, September 23, 2026)
- KMA Chuseok special-service land outlook (checked September 23, 2026)
