The Hottest Days of Summer In Korea: What To Know
When it is summer in Korea, it can be surprising just how fierce and fast that heat wave strikes. The added bonus of a monsoon season makes it all the better with humidity up the wazoo. Yes, I said bonus. Is it really? My hair would disagree but I’m from a valley in Ohio so humid summers are nothing new to me.
Still, I forget every year just how humid it really is here. Just when you think you know what to expect out of summer in Korea, then Sambok or Boknal arrive and it’s a whole new beast.
Are you ready for a hot summer in Korea?
- The hottest days of the summer in Korea
- What To Eat To Cool Off
- What To Do In The Heat
- Where To Go To Cool Off
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The hottest days of the summer in Korea
In Korea the three hottest days of summer are referred to as sambok (삼복) or boknal (복날). The temperatures will rise and the sweat will begin to pour.. well on some of us, somehow I sweat and my husband just… doesn’t…? Covering the span of a month, the three hottest days of the summer were traditionally a holiday for the farmers.
Getting away to a nearby mountain valley or the coast to cool off before the rice harvest was the plan. Though the hottest days of summer may not be celebrated exactly the same anymore, you can bet that everyone is dreamily looking out of the windows at work wishing they were someplace cooler.
This year (2024), the dates to watch out for are:
- The first HOT day of summer is Chobok (초복) on July 15, 2024.
- The second HOT day of summer is Jungbok (중복) on July 25, 2024.
- The third and final HOT day of summer is Malbok (말복) on August 14, 2024.
What To Eat To Cool Off
Even if you can’t get out of the city on the hottest days of the summer, you should definitely find the restaurants that serve nice refreshing summer dishes. People do still head to restaurants to partake in the custom of eating rejuvenating and stamina restorative dishes on the hottest of days, which means you’ll find that some restaurants have lines out the doors on the dates mentioned above.
According to Eastern medicine, blood concentrates near the skin in hot weather to cool the body down but this can lead to bad circulation in the stomach and muscles leading to the loss of appetite or lethargy common during the summer. To offset this, Koreans believe in iyeol chiyeol (이열치열) or the idea that we need to warm the body from the stomach on out. But that doesn’t mean your only option is hot soups. There are also some great cold Korean soups to eat in the summer too.
Samgyetang (삼계탕)
Ginseng chicken stew is probably the most popular dish on the hottest days of the summer. Served in a hot bowl about to boil over, one small tender chicken stuffed with rice sits in the broth with ginseng, garlic and jujube dates. Now you may think that eating something hot on the hottest of days just seems like an oxymoron, but I can tell you, there’s something to it. While there are days I just want something a bit cooler, I can attest to the cooling powers of the hottest of stews during the heat waves. Samgyetang restaurants can be very popular in the summer so go out for dinner just a bit earlier on sambok if you want this dish for dinner.
Join a Korean Chicken Soup Cooking Experience
When my husband was sick the first time, I made him chicken noodle soup and it did not have the reaction I expected. While he ate it, he was confused about why there were extra vegetables and noodles. I realized he was comparing my soup to samgyetang. Now, when I make chicken soup, I do a more collaborative recipe so it’s to his samgyetang tastes and to my chicken soup tastes. This is a great recipe to know.
- Book this experience on Viator
Jangeo (장어)
Eel, is rich in vitamin A and E and said to stimulate blood circulation and prevent aging and wrinkles. This dish is really quite popular all year round. It’s also rather popular with men in Korea who believe it to be an aphrodisiac and good for their stamina. But eel is also popular with women because of its anti-aging uses. Grab some eel, put it in a leaf and top it with some soy sauce and ginger and you’ll eat the whole thing before you even realize it. It has seriously become one of my favorite meals since moving to Korea more than 10 years ago.
Kongguksu (콩국수)
This is my personal favorite cold Korean soup and not only is it delectable but it’s filling in just the right way in the summer. Made with a soy bean broth, though thicker than what you’re used to if you’ve enjoyed soy milk. The soy milk sold to drink has no solids and is often artificially thickened with xantham gum or carrageenan and is missing the natural fiber that comes from soybeans. Kongguk soy milk though still has the fiber AND has some delectable little bits that make the flavor nuttier. I also prefer this soy milk because it’s not as sweet as many of the soy milk drinks you can purchase in the store. The soup has handmade noodles, some carrots, cucumbers, sesame and an egg to complete it.
Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면)
Pyeongyang naengmyeon is served with buckwheat noodles and a mild cold broth and my husband will tell you that it is one of those love it or hate it dishes. The soup has a mild broth. It’s a refreshing delectable soup that might take some time to grow on you, but it is oh so good when enjoyed at the right spot. Head to Eulmildae near Gongdeok for some Pyeongyang style naengmyeon.
Mul Naengmyeon (물 냉면)
You really won’t want to miss out on some of that cold broth action when the temperatures really start to boil. While traditional Pyeongyang naengmyeon is refreshingly simple and mild, the mul naengmyeon can be spiced up a bit. Not all Koreans like the mild taste of Pyeongyang naengmyeon so there is a spicier, tangier version. Combining julienned cucumbers, sliced Korean pear, radish, and a boiled egg or cold boiled beef, spicy mustard and vinegar make the broth quite tangy. Try mul naegmyeon in the popular Gwangjang Traditional Market downtown.
Patbingsu (팥빙수)
Patbingsu consists of shaved ice, red bean paste, tteok or rice cake and ground nut powder. The most common variety is pat-bingsu, the red bean shaved ice. This is the traditional mix, but these days you can get the shaved ice topped with strawberries, blueberries, or even have coffee mixed in. It’s definitely a cool sweet treat for summer. This what most tourists probably picture when they think of something to cool off in the summer and there is plenty of it to go around.
What To Do In The Heat
Find a swimming pool
There are few options for what to do to cool off if you have to stay in the city. In Seoul, there are Han River swimming pools open to the public. Some of them can get pretty busy on the weekends, but my go-to is the Nanji River Park infinity pool.
The Nanji Water Playground (난지한강물놀이장) is perfect if you’re not really interested in swimming, but just want to wade in, cool off and have some fun near the cool water. If this pool is a bit too far from you though, there is also the Mangwon Pool, Yeouido Pool, Jamwon Pool, Ttukseom Pool, Jamsil Pool and the Gwangnaru Pool.
Visit an aquarium
Sometimes it’s better to just stay inside to keep cool and a cool cool place to do that is in an aquarium. There are some awesome aquariums around Korea.
Aqua Planet Ilsan is my favorite aquarium near Seoul, but there are plenty more to check out. I like heading into the dark hallways, watching the fish swim, and cooling off in their midst. If you don’t want to dive into the water at a pool, dive into the fishy surroundings of an aquarium in Korea.
Dip your toes in a stream
If you want to be really Korean and find a place to go out but not pay, just head to your nearest stream. From Gyeongui Line Forest Park to the Cheonggyecheon, there is bound to be a stream within a short distance to dip your toes in. You will often find children splashing around while parents look on while they get their toes wet and it is just fine to do. Many of the streams play host to local musicians and events as they know the streams are where the summer fun can be had for most locals. The streams flow down from the mountains so the water is always cool and refreshing.
Go camping
Koreans love to head to the mountains in the summer. Pop up a tent and enjoy the breezes wafting off of the cooler peaks. Just pick a mountain. Find the camping grounds and you’ll be good to go. It’s a great way to get away, get some nature vibes AND cool off. Win Win Win! If you head just outside of the city to the west, you can go glamping right next to a giant water park if you head to Club Lespia. It’s the perfect location to have an awesome sunny day followed by a lovely night with friends or family.
If actually camping isn’t your thing though, you can always pitch a tent and just enjoy a day on the Han River. Families and friends near and far meet up on the banks of the Han each summer. From renting bikes to fountains, there’s a ton to do and the best part is that you can get food delivered straight to your tent anywhere along the river. Pick the perfect Han River Park for you. My favorite park is the Nanji Han River Park, one of the parks in the World Cup Park system.
Visit some cool cafes
Another option if you’d rather stay indoors is to hit up some cool cafes. From the cool cafes with good eats in Yeonnam-dong to the awesome vibes of the Brooklyn of Seoul in Seongsu-dong there are plenty of cafes to find and lots of sweet drinks and eats to sink your teeth into. What I will say though, is that you don’t want to be walking too far or do anything that requires a trek. Find parks that are near subway exits and streams, cafes and restaurants near bus stops. Trust me, you do NOT want to be walking too far when it’s really bad. If you do have to walk a lot though, just wear clothes that you can sweat in and not be embarrassed about.
Enjoy Watersports in Korea
Sometimes the heat is too much to bear and you’ve just got to cooooool off with some fun. For those times, visit:
- Vivaldi Park Ocean World: Vivaldi Park is a ski resort during the winter but an awesome water park come summer. Take a ride on a huge water slide and then plunge in the pool.
- Boryeong Mud Festival: This is one of the most popular summer festivals in Korea. Head to the beach, play in some enriched mud and have a good summer fun weekend out.. that’s a bit messy but all in good fun.
Go To The Beach
Now for the good stuff, getting out of the city. The best part of summer has to be the summer vacation and there are plenty of places to go around Korea to cool off if you can’t leave the country.
Here’s a quick guide to some beaches that are easy to get to from Seoul. There aren’t any spots down south and that’s because I usually choose beach locations based on how much time I can spend there. I like to maximize the beach to transportation time. So, with that in mind, here are some to check out!
- Hamdeok Beach is one of the best places to stay on Jeju Island. Easy to get to from the airport and beautiful.
- Jeongdongjin Beach: Head to the east coast of Korea to find this beautiful beach. You may or may not want to ride the rail bike, but definitely look into staying in the ship-shaped hotel.
- Sungeut Beach: Another beach on the east coast. It’s small and oft overlooked but that makes it a great spot to stay if you want to get away from the crowds.
- Naksan Beach: One of my favorite spots because there’s more than just a beach to enjoy. Check out the seaside Buddhist temple that sits on a cliff on the northern end.
- Kkotji Beach: One of the most popular beaches on the western coast on Anmyeondoo Island.
- Mongsanpo Beach: While Kkotji is more popular, Mongsanpo is spacious and has some beautiful mudflat views.
- Gyeongpo Beach: One of the most popular beach trips made from Seoul each summer and now it’s even easier to get to with the new train line.
If you want even more beach ideas though, here is a list of some of the best hidden gem beaches to check out this summer in Korea.
The summer is upon us and there is loads to see and do and eat! Get out and about and enjoy the sweat and waves.
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