Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Korea has a temperate climate characterized by sweltering humid summers and chilly win-
ters—but the all-too-brief spring and autumn are just about perfect. Despite its limited size,
there's a fair amount of climactic variation from one end of the country to the other, with
the southeastern port of Busan five degrees warmer in winter on average than Seoul in the
north.
Spring comes to the peninsula in mid-March to early April in a shower of blossoms and
foliage, with temperatures rising rapidly until June, the onset of summer, when they average
over 20°C (68°F). While the country isn't as vulnerable to flooding or typhoons as some
of its southern neighbors, late June and early July are often ruled by the
jangma,
the loc-
al name for a seasonal monsoon that dumps most of the national annual rainfall in a few
short weeks and pushes humidity up to 80 or 90 percent. August and most of September
are also hot and fairly sticky, with temperatures peaking at around 30°C (86°F). By October
the peninsula has dried out somewhat, and autumn is well under way; it is a glorious time
of year when the air is crisp, the skies clear, and the mountains are swathed in vivid shades
of gold and red. This usually lasts just a few weeks until mid-November, when temperat-
ures drop and winter begins to take over. January and February are the coldest months, with
strong winds, temperatures regularly dipping below 0°C (32°F), and snow not uncommon
in northern areas or at higher elevations.
South Korea's complex topography has made it home to a wide variety of plant life, with
more than 4,000 plant species and around 1,000 varieties of trees. Most of the peninsula's
mountains were thickly forested, but war, rapid population growth, and development took
a severe toll on these resources, with virtually all natural tree cover stripped away by the
1960s. Since then the tide has turned somewhat. Four decades of ambitious planting pro-
grams and the designation of about 20 national parks restoring many of the country's hills
to their previously green state—although very few old-growth forests remain.
Needle-leaved trees such as pine and fir are common, as are oak, ash, and sumac. Fruit
trees, including apple, pear, and persimmon, are cultivated nationwide, and the warm shores
of Jeju-do are home to more than 70 species of broad-leaved evergreens. Groves of bam-
boo, much loved in Asian cultures for its strength and resilience, are also found throughout
the country. Among the more common varieties of flowers are roses, orchids, and chrys-
anthemums, and the brilliant pink cherry blossoms that herald the coming of spring. South
Korea's national flower is the
mugunghwa
(“eternal flower”) or rose of Sharon, a pink or
lavender hibiscus renowned for both its beauty and ability to withstand harsh conditions.
