South Korea: where to swim in December?
South Korea, in December: the sea is at 14.9 °C on average along the coast, from 10.8 °C to 18.6 °C depending on the spot. Where the water is warmest (18.6 °C), it is cool. Swimming is fine if you like cool water: you get used to it after a few minutes, especially in mild weather.
Sea temperature, month by month
| Month | Average temperature | Depending on the spot | Where it is warmest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.3 °C | 7.3 °C – 16.4 °C | cool |
| February | 10.9 °C | 5.3 °C – 15.1 °C | cool |
| March | 10.9 °C | 6.2 °C – 14.7 °C | cold |
| April | 12.8 °C | 8.7 °C – 15.7 °C | cool |
| May | 15.6 °C | 13.4 °C – 17.5 °C | cool |
| June | 19.8 °C | 18.9 °C – 20.9 °C | pleasant |
| July | 23.2 °C | 22.0 °C – 25.1 °C | warm |
| August | 26.2 °C | 25.3 °C – 27.6 °C | very warm |
| September | 24.1 °C | 22.7 °C – 25.6 °C | warm |
| October | 21.0 °C | 19.0 °C – 23.0 °C | warm |
| November | 17.7 °C | 14.8 °C – 20.6 °C | pleasant |
| December | 14.9 °C | 10.8 °C – 18.6 °C | cool |
Compared with November, the water cools down by 2.8 °C in December. The warmest month: August (26.2 °C). The coldest: February (10.9 °C).
Nearby, in December
- Taiwan 23.9 °C · warm
- People's Republic of China 15.3 °C · warm
- Palau 29.4 °C · very warm
- Federated States of Micronesia 29.2 °C · very warm
- India 27.2 °C · very warm
- Marshall Islands 29.0 °C · very warm
- Australia 23.7 °C · very warm
- Finland 3.8 °C · very cold
- Sweden 4.8 °C · very cold
- Latvia 5.9 °C · very cold
And right now?
For the temperature measured right now, station by station and to the hour: South Korea: water temperature
Frequently asked questions
What is the sea temperature in December?
South Korea, in December: 14.9 °C on average along the coast, from 10.8 °C in the coolest waters to 18.6 °C in the warmest (average of the years 2011 to 2025).
Can you swim in December?
Where the water is warmest (18.6 °C), it is cool. Swimming is fine if you like cool water: you get used to it after a few minutes, especially in mild weather.
What is the best month for swimming?
The water is warmest in August (26.2 °C on average) and coldest in February (10.9 °C). Where the water is warmest, it goes above 20 °C in these months: June, July, August, September, October, November.
Where is the water warmest in December?
The warmest in December: Taiwan (23.9 °C), People's Republic of China (15.3 °C), Palau (29.4 °C). The coolest: Latvia (5.9 °C).
Where do these temperatures come from?
These are averages of the sea surface temperature from 2011 to 2025, computed from NOAA satellite images (OISST, one value about every 50 km), in a 100 km strip along the coasts of the main country: distant territories (overseas, remote islands) are not counted. It is an estimate, not a measurement taken at the beach: lakes and rivers are not included.