As you've probably read somewhere before, Korea has four distinct seasons. Some parts of the country get a more extreme taste of each, depending on it's geographical location.

Spring is an ideal time for most foreigners and Koreans alike, as the days aren't excrutiatingly hot and the humidity is fairy high, but tolerable. At night it cools down a little making it comfortable to sleep without air conditioning. The average temperature is between 20-28 degrees Celcius.

During the end of March, through the beginning of April, the "yellow dust" phenomenon encroaches on Korea. A light haze of yellow dust, blown in from the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts and the Huanghe River basin in China, coats the city and lingers in the air. The northern parts of Korea, around Seoul and Incheon usually get a thicker haze than the southern parts. This yellow dust can sometimes cause skin and respiratory problems with some people and the sale of "anti-yellow dust" items increases significantly (face masks, door seals, baby carriage covers, etc). The dust has even been reported to have reached the coast of California, USA.

For the most part, spring in Korea is very beautiful, with flowers and cherry blossoms in full celebration. People are out in the masses to enjoy the moderate weather and sunshine.

Summer in Korea can be extremely hot and humid. The temperature can sometimes soar to almost 40 degrees Celcius! The rainy season begins in the summer and usually carries through until late August. Typhoons are a normality during the summer as well, but they typically only last a few days, with a day in the middle being the worst. Broken, flipped inside-out umbrellas litter the streets in the day following a typhoon.

The rainy, hot summer isn't all about rain. There is definitely a decent amount of hot sunshine to be had as well. And when it's this hot you'll see another phenomenon...the spaceladies! Most Koreans (especially women) avoid the sun at all costs...even fashion! A lot of women will cover up as much of their skin as possible so as not to get a tan. Umbrellas or parasols, HUGE face visors, and even the occasional "arm socks" will seemingly become a sunny day fashion trend.

If you're in a coastal city, head to the beach to cool off! Most inland cities in Korea will have indoor/outdoor pools scattered around for those who aren't anywhere coastal. For those in Seoul...well, good luck! Seoul definitely has it's share of swimming pools, but you have to remember...if you've found it, so has everyone else in the city!

Autumn in Korea is practically perfect! Plenty of long, warm, sunny days and cooler nights.

From September through October, the temperature settles back down to the mid-high twenties. The trees transform the landscape into a blend of dark red, orange and yellow. Life slows down (just a little) as students are back in school, and people are back to work. Yup, it's nice in Autumn...

From November to December, the chill begins to set in. Nothing overwhelming, but it's definitely noticeable. Snow is still virtually non-existent during these months but a warmer jacket is recommended. Warmish days will still come through, though cooling off significantly at night.

January and February might actually make some people (especially North Americans) think of home. It's quite brisk during this time and can occasionally become very cold for periods. The temperature is usually between -5 and -15 throughout the coldest parts of the winter with the occasional (like twice) cold snap of -20 or -25 (and windy)! The cold snaps don't often last longer than a few days and more often than not, they don't come with any snow. The winters in Korea are actually quite dry, with little or no rain or snow. The northern parts of the country see significanly more snow than the southern parts. Most of which is during February or the beginning of March. Some southern parts of Korea rarely ever see snow. This can be very amusing to watch, as some people are quite unsure of what to do it when it happens. When there IS snow, there isn't much and it doesn't last long, often not even making it to the ground before melting. This might be part of the reason you see two-balled (no, not them...snowballs), as opposed to three balled snowmen showing themselves when the snow does stick around.

So goes the cycle of the four seasons.