Climate and average weather in Suncheon
In Suncheon, the summers are muggy, hot, wet, and partly cloudy and the winters are cold, snowy, and partly cloudy.
Over the course of the year, the temperature in Suncheon typically varies from -4°C to 29°C, and is rarely below -8°C or above 33°C. August is the hottest month of the year, while January is the coldest.
Based on the travel score, the best times of year to visit Suncheon for warm-weather activities are from mid April to late June and mid September to early November.
- Hottest
- Aug
- 29°
- Coldest
- Jan
- -4°
- Wettest
- Jul
- 321 mm
- Driest
- Dec
- 28 mm
- Rain / yr
- 1512 mm
- 103 wet days
- Daylight
- 9.6–14.4 h
- shortest–longest
- Elevation
- 19 m
- 35.0°N
- Clearest
- Oct
- 43% cloud
Suncheon is city in South Korea.
- Density
- 305/km²
- people per km²
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Suncheon weather by month, at a glance
The whole year in one picture — sky, rain, humidity, temperature and travel score. Click any band to jump to its full chart.
Each stripe is one measure across the whole year, stacked so a single day reads top to bottom. The sky band runs overcast grey on top down to clear blue at the base — more blue means sunnier — followed by the rainfall curve, the humidity band, a temperature strip that tints each stretch of the year by how warm its average high is, and the travel-score line at the foot. Scan straight down any date to read that day across every measure at once; the score climbs highest around mid April to late June.
Temperature through the year
Daily average highs and lows in Suncheon, from 1991–2020 of climate data. The shaded bands show the range most days fall in — 10th to 90th percentile.
The hot season lasts 4.2 months, from May 24 to September 29, with daily high temperatures above 24°C. The hottest month of the year in Suncheon is August, with an average high of 29°C and low of 22°C.
The cool season lasts 3.0 months, from December 2 to March 1, with daily high temperatures below 10°C. The coldest month of the year in Suncheon is January, with an average low of -4°C and high of 6°C.
Days typically run about 9°C warmer than nights, with the widest day–night swing (around 11°C) in April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 6 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 8 |
| Avg low (°C) | -4 | -2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 4 | -2 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | -4 |
| Feb | 8 | -2 |
| Mar | 13 | 2 |
| Apr | 18 | 7 |
| May | 23 | 13 |
| Jun | 26 | 18 |
| Jul | 28 | 22 |
| Aug | 29 | 22 |
| Sep | 26 | 17 |
| Oct | 21 | 10 |
| Nov | 14 | 4 |
| Dec | 8 | -2 |
How hot and cold Suncheon really feels
The felt-temperature range through the year — heat index on the day's high (summer humidity), wind chill on the night's low (winter wind). The dashed lines are the plain thermometer; the gap is how much hotter or colder it really feels.
On the hottest afternoons, once humidity is folded in, Suncheon feels like about 34°C (around August 3). About 29 days a year carry some heat stress, peaking in August.
On the coldest nights, wind chill pulls the feels-like down to about -8°C (around January 20), with roughly 119 freezing days a year (feels-like at or below 0°C), worst in January.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels-like high (°C) | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 31 | 32 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 8 |
| Air high (°C) | 6 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 8 |
| Feels-like low (°C) | -8 | -6 | -1 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 2 | -5 |
| Air low (°C) | -4 | -2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 4 | -2 |
| Feels-like high (°C) | Air high (°C) | Feels-like low (°C) | Air low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | 6 | -8 | -4 |
| Feb | 8 | 8 | -6 | -2 |
| Mar | 13 | 13 | -1 | 2 |
| Apr | 18 | 18 | 6 | 7 |
| May | 23 | 23 | 13 | 13 |
| Jun | 25 | 26 | 18 | 18 |
| Jul | 31 | 28 | 22 | 22 |
| Aug | 32 | 29 | 22 | 22 |
| Sep | 26 | 26 | 17 | 17 |
| Oct | 21 | 21 | 10 | 10 |
| Nov | 14 | 14 | 2 | 4 |
| Dec | 8 | 8 | -5 | -2 |
Average hourly temperature in Suncheon
A compact picture of the whole year, hour by hour: each column is a day, each row an hour, and the color is the modeled average temperature. Darker overlays mark night, lighter ones the civil-twilight hours around sunrise and sunset.
Read left to right for the day of the year and top to bottom for the hour of the day; the color is the modeled temperature, cool blues through to hot reds on the same scale as the other charts. A vertical slice is a single day's swing — coolest just before dawn, warmest in the mid-afternoon — while a horizontal slice follows one hour across the seasons. The darker overlay marks night and the lighter one the twilight around sunrise and sunset. Colors run warmest on August afternoons, near 29°C, and coldest before dawn in January, near -4°C.
Suncheon weather by month
Every month at a glance. Click a month for its detailed page.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6° / -4° | 29 | 4.1 | 1 | 9.9 | 0.2 |
| Feb | 8° / -2° | 42 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 10.7 | 1.4 |
| Mar | 13° / 2° | 79 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 11.7 | 3.8 |
| Apr | 18° / 7° | 120 | 8.4 | 0 | 12.9 | 6.2 |
| May | 23° / 13° | 139 | 8.3 | 0 | 13.8 | 7.0 |
| Jun | 26° / 18° | 194 | 10.7 | 0 | 14.3 | 6.3 |
| Jul | 28° / 22° | 321 | 17.9 | 0 | 14.1 | 4.7 |
| Aug | 29° / 22° | 288 | 17.1 | 0 | 13.3 | 4.6 |
| Sep | 26° / 17° | 160 | 10.3 | 0 | 12.2 | 6.6 |
| Oct | 21° / 10° | 66 | 4.7 | 0 | 11.1 | 7.5 |
| Nov | 14° / 4° | 47 | 5.5 | 0.1 | 10.2 | 4.8 |
| Dec | 8° / -2° | 28 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 9.7 | 1.5 |
Chance of rain
How likely it is to rain on a typical day, and how that shifts across the wetter and drier seasons.
Suncheon gets about 1512 mm of precipitation a year. On a typical day the chance of rain is some rain, but that rises and falls sharply with the seasons.
The wetter season lasts 3.5 months, from around Jun 8 to Sep 23, peaking in July at about 59% chance on a given day. The drier stretch runs the rest of the year, bottoming out around Dec 28.
July is the wettest month by volume, with 321 mm over about 18 wet days; December is the driest, with 28 mm.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain on a day (%) | 13 | 18 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 36 | 57 | 54 | 35 | 16 | 18 | 12 |
| Rain days | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Rain on a day (%) | Rain days | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | 4 |
| Feb | 18 | 5 |
| Mar | 25 | 8 |
| Apr | 27 | 8 |
| May | 27 | 8 |
| Jun | 36 | 11 |
| Jul | 57 | 18 |
| Aug | 54 | 17 |
| Sep | 35 | 10 |
| Oct | 16 | 5 |
| Nov | 18 | 6 |
| Dec | 12 | 4 |
Monthly rainfall
Over a full year, Suncheon collects about 1512 mm of rain across 103 wet days — roughly 126 mm in an average month.
It doesn’t fall evenly. July is the wettest month with 321 mm, while December is the driest at just 28 mm. The three wettest months alone bring about 53% of the year’s total, and some of the cold-season precipitation falls as snow.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall (mm) | 29 | 42 | 79 | 120 | 139 | 194 | 321 | 288 | 160 | 66 | 47 | 28 |
| Rain days | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Snow days | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rainfall (mm) | Rain days | Snow days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 4 | 1 |
| Feb | 42 | 5 | 1 |
| Mar | 79 | 8 | 1 |
| Apr | 120 | 8 | 0 |
| May | 139 | 8 | 0 |
| Jun | 194 | 11 | 0 |
| Jul | 321 | 18 | 0 |
| Aug | 288 | 17 | 0 |
| Sep | 160 | 10 | 0 |
| Oct | 66 | 5 | 0 |
| Nov | 47 | 6 | 0 |
| Dec | 28 | 4 | 1 |
Clouds and sunshine
How often the daytime sky is clear, partly cloudy or overcast.
In Suncheon, the average share of the sky covered by clouds shows significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.
The clearer part of the year begins around September 25 and lasts for 7.2 months, ending around April 30. The clearest month is November, when the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 66% of the time on average.
The cloudier part of the year begins around May 1 and lasts for 4.8 months, ending around September 24. The cloudiest month is July, when it is overcast or mostly cloudy 74% of the time.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 56 | 55 | 52 | 52 | 46 | 31 | 26 | 39 | 46 | 65 | 66 | 65 |
| Cloudier (%) | 44 | 45 | 48 | 48 | 54 | 69 | 74 | 61 | 54 | 35 | 34 | 35 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 44 |
| Feb | 55 | 45 |
| Mar | 52 | 48 |
| Apr | 52 | 48 |
| May | 46 | 54 |
| Jun | 31 | 69 |
| Jul | 26 | 74 |
| Aug | 39 | 61 |
| Sep | 46 | 54 |
| Oct | 65 | 35 |
| Nov | 66 | 34 |
| Dec | 65 | 35 |
Daylight, sunrise and sunset
Hours of daylight through the year, with sunrise and sunset times.
The gold band is daylight — sunrise runs along its lower edge, sunset along the upper — so it widens toward summer and pinches toward winter, with night the dark area above and below. The longest day, around June 21, brings about 14 h 24 min of light; the shortest, around December 20, only 9 h 36 min — a swing of roughly 4 h 48 min.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.9 | 10.7 | 11.7 | 12.9 | 13.8 | 14.3 | 14.1 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 9.7 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:43 | 7:24 | 6:48 | 6:04 | 5:31 | 5:20 | 5:32 | 5:54 | 6:18 | 6:42 | 7:11 | 7:36 |
| Sunset (PM) | 5:36 | 6:05 | 6:32 | 6:57 | 7:21 | 7:40 | 7:40 | 7:14 | 6:31 | 5:48 | 5:19 | 5:16 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9.9 | 7:43 | 5:36 |
| Feb | 10.7 | 7:24 | 6:05 |
| Mar | 11.7 | 6:48 | 6:32 |
| Apr | 12.9 | 6:04 | 6:57 |
| May | 13.8 | 5:31 | 7:21 |
| Jun | 14.3 | 5:20 | 7:40 |
| Jul | 14.1 | 5:32 | 7:40 |
| Aug | 13.3 | 5:54 | 7:14 |
| Sep | 12.2 | 6:18 | 6:31 |
| Oct | 11.1 | 6:42 | 5:48 |
| Nov | 10.2 | 7:11 | 5:19 |
| Dec | 9.7 | 7:36 | 5:16 |
Sunny days
How many genuinely sunny days each month brings — days the sky stays clear or mostly clear — banded into plain-language zones.
Suncheon averages about 11 sunny days a month — counting the days the sky stays clear or mostly clear — with a clear seasonal swing between 2 and 17 days.
The sunnier stretch runs 3.5 months, from around Sep 26 to Jan 11. The sunniest month is October, with roughly 15 sunny days (bright).
The greyest month is July, down near 4 sunny days — about 71% fewer than the October peak.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny days | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
| Sky | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Gloomy | Gloomy | Gloomy | Mixed | Bright | Bright | Mixed |
| Sunny days | Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Mixed |
| Feb | 11 | Mixed |
| Mar | 12 | Mixed |
| Apr | 12 | Mixed |
| May | 10 | Mixed |
| Jun | 6 | Gloomy |
| Jul | 4 | Gloomy |
| Aug | 7 | Gloomy |
| Sep | 9 | Mixed |
| Oct | 16 | Bright |
| Nov | 15 | Bright |
| Dec | 14 | Mixed |
Humidity comfort
Share of days at each humidity comfort level, based on the dew point — the measure that tracks how muggy it actually feels.
Humidity comfort is graded by the dew point — the temperature at which the air would be fully saturated — because it tracks how muggy it actually feels far better than relative humidity does. A low dew point feels dry and crisp; a high one feels sticky and oppressive no matter the reading on a humidity gauge.
In Suncheon, how humid it feels changes dramatically over the year.
The more humid part of the year lasts 4.0 months, from around May 31 to September 29. The muggiest month is July, when the air feels humid, muggy or worse about 99% of the time.
The most comfortable stretch runs from around September 30 to May 30, and March is the most comfortable month — the air is dry or comfortable 100% of the time.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 92 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 76 | 97 | 100 |
| Comfortable (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Humid (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Muggy (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oppressive (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 50 | 49 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miserable (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | Miserable (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr | 92 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May | 60 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun | 7 | 20 | 38 | 25 | 9 | 0 |
| Jul | 0 | 1 | 7 | 29 | 50 | 13 |
| Aug | 0 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 49 | 21 |
| Sep | 14 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 13 | 1 |
| Oct | 76 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov | 97 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind
Average wind speed through the year, banded into plain-language speed zones so a number reads as 'breezy' or 'calm' without knowing the scale.
This is the average sustained wind speed at the standard 10 metres above open ground — the steady flow a weather station reports, not the sharper gusts that come and go, which can run half again as fast. It's the number that says whether a place is generally breezy or calm.
Across the year, average wind speed in Suncheon is typically calm, near 8 km/h, and varies little with the seasons.
The windier part of the year lasts 5.7 months, from around Nov 20 to May 10. The windiest month is January, averaging about 10 km/h (calm).
The calmer part of the year runs from around May 11 to Nov 19, with June the calmest month at about 7 km/h.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | calm |
| Feb | 10 | calm |
| Mar | 9 | calm |
| Apr | 9 | calm |
| May | 8 | calm |
| Jun | 7 | calm |
| Jul | 8 | calm |
| Aug | 7 | calm |
| Sep | 7 | calm |
| Oct | 8 | calm |
| Nov | 8 | calm |
| Dec | 9 | calm |
Hazard calendar for Suncheon
When the seasonal hazards worth planning around — the rainy season, tropical-cyclone risk and dust haze — are active through the year.
Suncheon sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Suncheon's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Best time to visit Suncheon
To characterize how pleasant the weather is in Suncheon throughout the year, we compute two travel scores — one for general sightseeing, one for beach and pool weather.
Around late April, Suncheon is still near the start of its best-weather window — great conditions with the peak-season crowds not yet at full swing.
Inferred from the travel-score curve; month-by-month visitor numbers are a planned addition.
The travel score favors clear, rainless days with daytime highs between 18°C and 28°C. Based on this score, the best times of year to visit Suncheon for general outdoor tourist activities run from mid April to late June and again from mid September to early November, with a peak score in the second week of October.
The travel score (filled area), and its constituents: the temperature score (red line), the cloud cover score (blue line), and the precipitation score (green line).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel score (0–10) | 0.3 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 1.5 |
| Rating | poor | poor | fair | good | good | good | fair | fair | good | good | fair | poor |
| Travel score (0–10) | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.3 | poor |
| Feb | 1.4 | poor |
| Mar | 3.8 | fair |
| Apr | 6.1 | good |
| May | 7.0 | good |
| Jun | 6.3 | good |
| Jul | 4.7 | fair |
| Aug | 4.6 | fair |
| Sep | 6.6 | good |
| Oct | 7.4 | good |
| Nov | 4.8 | fair |
| Dec | 1.5 | poor |
The beach/pool score favors clear, rainless days with daytime highs between 24°C and 34°C. Based on this score, the best time of year to visit Suncheon for hot-weather activities is from mid May to mid October, with a peak score in the first week of June.
The beach/pool score (filled area), and its constituents: the temperature score (red line), the cloud cover score (blue line), and the precipitation score (green line).
What to pack for Suncheon, by month
Month by month, what's worth putting in the bag — from the temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind. Tap a month for a quick packing note.
For a warm-season trip around August (highs near 29°C), the essentials are light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. In the cold season around January (highs near 6°C), pack a warm layer and a heavy coat.
In August, Suncheon sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 17 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Suncheon
Average ocean temperature at the nearest coast, month by month, banded into swim-comfort zones — the other half of the beach question.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 38 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 12°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 20 to Oct 22 — about 4.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 14 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Bracing |
| Feb | 12 | Bracing |
| Mar | 12 | Bracing |
| Apr | 13 | Bracing |
| May | 16 | Cool |
| Jun | 20 | Cool |
| Jul | 23 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 24 | Warm |
| Oct | 21 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 17 | Cool |
| Dec | 14 | Bracing |
UV index (midday) in Suncheon by month
Clear-sky midday UV index through the year, shaded by the WHO exposure levels — how much sun protection each month calls for.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Suncheon peaks around August 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 6 | High |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 5 | High |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Average hourly UV index in Suncheon
Modeled clear-sky UV for every hour of every day — when in the day sun protection actually matters.
The whole year hour by hour: each column is a day, each row an hour, and the color is the modeled clear-sky UV index — the midday peak scaled down as the sun sits lower in the sky. Darker overlays mark night, lighter ones the civil-twilight hours around sunrise and sunset.
UV falls off far faster than brightness as the sun drops, so even in August the burn window is concentrated in the middle of the day: about 7.5 hours a day reach index 3 (protection recommended), and 4.5 hours reach 6 or more. Mornings and late afternoons stay comparatively gentle year round.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV ≥ 3 (h/day) | 0 | 3 | 5.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 7.5 | 7 | 5.5 | 3 | 0 |
| UV ≥ 6 (h/day) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UV ≥ 3 (h/day) | UV ≥ 6 (h/day) | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 3 | 0 |
| Mar | 5.5 | 0 |
| Apr | 7 | 3 |
| May | 7.5 | 4.5 |
| Jun | 8 | 4.5 |
| Jul | 8 | 4.5 |
| Aug | 7.5 | 4.5 |
| Sep | 7 | 4 |
| Oct | 5.5 | 0 |
| Nov | 3 | 0 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 |
Air quality in Suncheon by month
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see which months the air is worst, not just the yearly average.
Air quality in Suncheon is worst in March — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.0× the cleanest month (July, 28 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 42 | 47 | 57 | 49 | 42 | 38 | 28 | 30 | 37 | 40 | 44 | 39 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | Poor |
| Feb | 47 | Poor |
| Mar | 57 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 49 | Poor |
| May | 42 | Poor |
| Jun | 38 | Poor |
| Jul | 28 | Moderate |
| Aug | 30 | Moderate |
| Sep | 37 | Poor |
| Oct | 40 | Poor |
| Nov | 44 | Poor |
| Dec | 39 | Poor |
Growing season
The growing season in Suncheon typically lasts about 276 days, from around March 3 to December 3 — the span where a frost-free day is more likely than not. It is reliably frost-free from April 2 to November 10.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free chance (%) | 14 | 26 | 70 | 97 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 82 | 31 |
| Frost nights | 31 | 28 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 31 |
| Frost-free chance (%) | Frost nights | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | 31 |
| Feb | 26 | 28 |
| Mar | 70 | 31 |
| Apr | 97 | 1 |
| May | 100 | 0 |
| Jun | 100 | 0 |
| Jul | 100 | 0 |
| Aug | 100 | 0 |
| Sep | 100 | 0 |
| Oct | 100 | 0 |
| Nov | 82 | 18 |
| Dec | 31 | 31 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days tally heat above 10°C: each day adds however many degrees its average temperature runs over that threshold, and cold days add nothing. Suncheon banks about 2,166 degree days a year, and the running total — which growers use to time plantings and predict maturity — climbs fastest around August.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing degree days (°C·days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 241 | 348 | 468 | 487 | 347 | 176 | 13 | 0 |
| Growing degree days (°C·days) | |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 85 |
| May | 241 |
| Jun | 348 |
| Jul | 468 |
| Aug | 487 |
| Sep | 347 |
| Oct | 176 |
| Nov | 13 |
| Dec | 0 |
Solar energy
Average daily shortwave solar energy reaching the ground, banded into brightness zones so the number means something at a glance.
Solar energy is how much sunlight actually reaches the ground each day, measured in kilowatt-hours per square metre (kWh/m²) — the combined effect of how long the sun is up, how high it climbs, and how much cloud gets in the way. It's the raw fuel a solar panel has to work with: for scale, 1 kWh/m² a day is dim and wintry, while 7+ is desert-bright.
Suncheon receives about 4.2 kWh/m² a day of solar energy on average — bright — with a clear seasonal swing between 2.6 and 5.9 kWh/m².
The brighter stretch of the year lasts 6.4 months, from around Mar 4 to Sep 15. The brightest month is May, averaging about 5.7 kWh/m² (bright).
The dimmest month is December, down near 2.6 kWh/m² — roughly 54% less than the May peak.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.9 | Moderate |
| Feb | 3.7 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4.7 | Bright |
| Apr | 5.4 | Bright |
| May | 5.8 | Bright |
| Jun | 5.3 | Bright |
| Jul | 4.6 | Bright |
| Aug | 4.6 | Bright |
| Sep | 4.2 | Bright |
| Oct | 3.9 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2.9 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2.6 | Moderate |
Where is Suncheon?
Suncheon sits at 35.0°N, 127.5°E, 19 m above sea level, in South Korea. The nearest listed city is Kwangyang, 10 km away.
Topography around Suncheon
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Suncheon.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Suncheon has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 416 m around an average of 91 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 863 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,875 m.
The land around Suncheon is covered by trees (54%) and artificial surfaces (36%) within 3 km, trees (67%) within 16 km, and trees (55%) and water (29%) within 80 km.
South Korea travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type C / F
- 220 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 57% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $36,227
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 99%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.5
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 8.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 522
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Suncheon (34.9505°, 127.4878°, elevation 19 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).