Rainy Day in Seoul: What to Do Indoors
Rain need not cancel a day in Seoul (서울). Shopping streets run underground, several national museums are free, and the subway often delivers you into a mall rather than onto a wet pavement. Here is where to go, what it costs, which days those places close, and how to stay dry.
When is the rainy season?
Korea's summer rain band is called changma (장마). The Korea Meteorological Administration publishes normal values for it — 30-year averages covering 1991 to 2020 — rather than fixed dates, because the real start and end shift from year to year and are announced season by season.
| Region | Normal start | Normal end | Length | Rainfall | Days with rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central (includes Seoul) | June 25 | July 26 | 31.5 days | 378.3 mm | 17.7 |
| Southern | June 23 | July 24 | 31.4 days | 341.1 mm | 17.0 |
| Jeju | June 19 | July 20 | 32.4 days | 348.7 mm | 17.5 |
Changma runs about a month, but the central region averages rain on 17.7 of those days — not a solid month of downpour. These are normals, not a promise: for the dates forecast in the year you travel, check the Korea Meteorological Administration. See our seasons and packing notes.
COEX and Starfield: a whole day indoors
Starfield Library, or Byeolmadang Library (별마당 도서관), sits in the middle of COEX Mall (코엑스) in Gangnam (강남). Visit Seoul lists it as free admission, daily 10:30–22:00, open year round, at 513 Yeongdong-daero. It is an open reading space rising two floors; sit with a book without buying anything. Nearest stations: Samseong (삼성) Line 2 Exit 5, 319 m; or Bongeunsa (봉은사) Line 9 Exit 7, 328 m.
Visit Seoul describes COEX Mall as open daily and year round, hours varying per store; the Korea Tourism Organization lists Starfield COEX Mall as 10:30–22:00. Under the same roof: a Megabox cinema with 17 screens and the aquarium.
SEA LIFE COEX Aquarium opens daily 10am–8pm, last entry 7pm, 365 days a year, though the operator notes hours may change with weather. Visit Seoul lists admission at 35,000 KRW for adults and 31,000 KRW for children aged 36 months to 12 years; check the aquarium's own site for current prices.
Free and cheap indoor museums
| Museum | Admission | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of Korea Ichon Stn, Line 4, Exit 2 | Free; charges apply for special exhibitions | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 09:30–17:30; Wed, Sat 09:30–21:00. Admission closes 30 min before closing | Jan 1, Lunar New Year, Chuseok. The permanent exhibition halls and special exhibition halls 1 and 2 also close on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, while the rest of the site stays open |
| National Museum of Korean Contemporary History Gwanghwamun Stn, Line 5, Exit 2 | Free | 10:00–18:00; Wed, Sat 10:00–21:00. Last entry 30 min before closing | New Year's Day, Seollal, Chuseok |
| National Palace Museum of Korea Gyeongbokgung Stn, Line 3, Exit 5 | Listed by Visit Seoul as free | Mon–Fri, Sun 09:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00); Sat and the last Wednesday of the month 09:30–21:00 | Jan 1, Seollal, Chuseok, last Monday of the month |
| Seoul Museum of Art, Seosomun City Hall Stn, Lines 1/2 | Free except for special exhibitions | Tue–Thu 10:00–20:00; Fri 10:00–21:00; Sat, Sun, holidays 10:00–19:00 summer and 10:00–18:00 winter | Jan 1, Mondays |
| MMCA Seoul Anguk Stn, Line 3, Exit 1 | Varies by exhibition; combined ticket 10,000 won when three or more paid exhibitions are open | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 10:00–18:00; Wed, Sat 10:00–21:00 | Jan 1, Lunar New Year's Day, Chuseok |
MMCA Seoul (국립현대미술관), at 30 Samcheong-ro, has free windows worth timing: the Wednesday and Saturday evening openings from 18:00 to 21:00, and Culture Day, the last Wednesday of the month. Visitors under 24 and 65 and over enter free with identification.
Check the closing day first. Seoul Museum of Art closes Mondays; the National Palace Museum on the last Monday of the month; the National Museum of Korea keeps its permanent exhibition halls closed on the first Monday of March, June, September and December. Seollal and Chuseok move with the lunar calendar, so confirm on the museum's own site.
Jjimjilbang: the Korean bathhouse and sauna
A jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a bathhouse with heated sauna rooms attached. Visit Seoul notes that many have grown into family-oriented centres with arcades and cinemas; larger spas run several differently themed saunas alongside massage services.
The Korea Tourism Organization gives first-timers three rules: keep your locker key close, usually worn on the wrist or ankle; start with the cooler rooms at 30–40°C before moving hotter; and avoid rooms above 60°C for more than about 20 minutes.
Admission is set by each venue, so check the price list. Our Korean etiquette notes cover the bathing rules; travel budget puts the cost in context.
Underground shopping arcades
Seoul's arcades were built into subway stations, so they are dry by design. The Seoul Metropolitan Government highlights several; the handiest are under Euljiro (을지로) and Gangnam.
- Gangnam Station Underground Shopping Center — daily 09:00–22:00 at 396 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam Station Exit 8. Fashion, cosmetics and beauty brands.
- Euljiro Underground Shopping Center — the long arcade under Euljiro, with a Jungle Theme Zone among its refurbished stretches.
- Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center — 09:00–22:00, open year round, at Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2, Exit 7. This one is the connector: it links to Lotte Young Plaza, Lotte Department Store Avenuel, Noon Square, the Ibis Ambassador Hotel and the Sogong Underground Shopping Center. Exits 12 to 15 stay open 24 hours.
Indoor experiences: learn to make kimchi
Seoul Kimchi Academy, in Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) at 102 Gyedong-gil, teaches kimchi (김치) making from a professional with 20 years of experience. Classes run in English and Japanese and cost KRW 45,000. Sessions run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:30 and 14:00, and Sunday at 14:00, with special classes Saturday 16:00 and Sunday 10:00; closed Tuesdays, reservations required. Anguk Station (안국) Line 3 Exit 3.
Museum Kimchikan, at Insadong-gil 35-4, pairs a museum with workshops. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00, last admission 17:30; closed Mondays, January 1, the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holiday periods, and December 25. Tickets are 5,000 won for adults 19 and up, 3,000 won for ages 8–18 and 2,000 won for ages 3–7. There are tastings and kimchi-making classes. Anguk Station Line 3 Exit 6. See also traditional culture.
Staying dry: how to use the subway
Trains run from roughly 5:30am until midnight, lines are colour coded, signs are in Korean, English and Chinese, and each exit is numbered — the gap between Exit 5 and Exit 8 decides whether you arrive dry.
- Plan by exit number, not street address. Visit Seoul lists the station, exit and walking distance in metres: under 200 m is a dash, 500 m or more is a real walk in the rain.
- Chain your stops underground. Myeongdong's arcade connects to department stores and hotels; COEX opens off Samseong Exit 5 and Bongeunsa Exit 7.
- Use a transportation card. As of the fare revision on 28 June 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government lists the base subway fare as 1,550 won with a transportation card and 1,650 won for a single ride paid in cash.
- Transfer for free. Up to five free transfers are allowed when you tap in and out of each mode, provided the transfer happens within 30 minutes of getting off the previous one — 60 minutes between 9pm and 7am.
- Buy the card early. T-money (티머니) cards are sold at Incheon Airport from ticket machines near the subway entrance and at nearby convenience stores; the machines do not accept credit cards, so carry cash.
More in getting around and money and payments, and start with our Seoul guide. Palace grounds are outdoors, so save the palaces for a dry morning.
FAQ
Q. When is the rainy season in Korea?
The Korea Meteorological Administration gives 1991–2020 normal values for changma. In the central region, which includes Seoul, it normally starts on June 25 and ends on July 26, running 31.5 days with 378.3 mm of rain spread over 17.7 days with rain. The southern region normally runs June 23 to July 24, and Jeju June 19 to July 20. These are averages, not fixed dates — the real start and end are announced each season, so check the KMA for the year you travel.
Q. Is the National Museum of Korea free?
Yes. General admission is free, with charges for special exhibitions. It opens 09:30–17:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and 09:30–21:00 on Wednesday and Saturday, with admission closing 30 minutes before. It is closed on January 1, Lunar New Year and Chuseok. The permanent exhibition halls also close on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, while the rest of the site stays open. Ichon Station, Line 4, Exit 2.
Q. What is there to do at COEX when it rains?
Starfield Library (Byeolmadang Library) is free and open daily 10:30–22:00, year round. The surrounding COEX Mall holds a Megabox cinema with 17 screens and SEA LIFE COEX Aquarium, which opens daily 10am–8pm with last entry at 7pm, 365 days a year. Take Samseong Station Line 2 Exit 5, or Bongeunsa Station Line 9 Exit 7.
Q. Can I get from the subway into shops without going outside?
Often, yes — Seoul’s underground arcades were built into stations. The Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center runs 09:00–22:00 and links to Lotte Young Plaza, Lotte Department Store Avenuel, Noon Square, the Ibis Ambassador Hotel and the Sogong Underground Shopping Center, reached from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 7. The Gangnam Station arcade runs 09:00–22:00 from Exit 8, and COEX Mall opens off Samseong Exit 5.
Q. Which Seoul museums close on Mondays?
Seoul Museum of Art closes on Mondays and on January 1. Museum Kimchikan closes on Mondays, January 1, the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holiday periods, and December 25. The National Palace Museum of Korea closes on the last Monday of the month, and the National Museum of Korea keeps its permanent exhibition halls closed on the first Monday of March, June, September and December. MMCA Seoul and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History do not list a weekly closing day, but do close on major holidays.
Q. What happens at a jjimjilbang, and what should I know first?
A jjimjilbang is a bathhouse with heated sauna rooms attached; Visit Seoul notes that many have grown into family centres with arcades and cinemas. The Korea Tourism Organization advises keeping your locker key close, usually worn on the wrist or ankle, starting with the cooler rooms at 30–40°C, and avoiding rooms above 60°C for more than about 20 minutes. Prices are set by each venue, so check the price list where you go.
Sources
- National Museum of Korea — official site (hours, admission and closing days) — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — The National Museum of Korea (overview) — checked 2026-08-23
- MMCA — MMCA Seoul viewing information (hours, tickets, free openings) — checked 2026-08-23
- MMCA — MMCA Seoul location and subway access — checked 2026-08-23
- National Palace Museum of Korea — official site (hours and closing days) — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Museum of Art — Seosomun Main Branch visitor information — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — National Museum of Korean Contemporary History — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Art Galleries and Museums for Rainy Days — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Starfield Library (hours, free admission, access) — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — COEX Mall — checked 2026-08-23
- VisitKorea — Starfield COEX Mall (operating hours) — checked 2026-08-23
- SEA LIFE COEX Aquarium — opening hours — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — SEA LIFE COEX, Seoul Aquarium (admission) — checked 2026-08-23
- Korea Meteorological Administration — changma statistics and normal values — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Gangnam Station Underground Shopping Center — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — underground shopping centers — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Subway fares and transfers — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Subway (operating hours, signage, transfers) — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — T-money card Q&A — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Seoul Kimchi Academy — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Museum Kimchikan — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul — Jjimjilbang (Korean spa) overview — checked 2026-08-23
- VisitKorea — K-Jjimjilbang guide (sauna temperatures and etiquette) — checked 2026-08-23
Written and maintained by OPDADA · Last checked 2026-08-23 · Spotted an error? Let us know. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, prices and schedules change — confirm with the official source before you act.