Korea’s 24 Jeolgi Seasons (The 24 Seasons in Korea)

How well do you know Korea’s lunar calendar, and its 24 ‘Jeolgi’ seasons in Korea?

Like many other East Asian countries, Korea traditionally followed a lunar calendar, as opposed to the solar calendar followed by the West. Unlike the solar calendar, which is based on the earth’s rotation around the sun, the lunar calendar uses the phases of the moon to calculate months and dates.

The lunar calendar is used for the observation of many Korean festivals, including Seolnal (lunar new year), Jaewol Daeboreum (first full moon), Chuseok, and Buddah’s Birthday.

The Lunar Calendar also includes twenty-four solar terms called ‘Jeolgi’. These ‘Jeolgi’ split the year into different seasons according to weather and climate, with each spaced approximately 15 days apart. The observance of these Jeolgi were highly important in Korea in predicting agricultural cycles and observing other seasonal rituals.

Read about some of Korea’s ‘Jeolgi’ seasons below! All dates are according to the lunar calendar.

24 Seasons in Korea

Sohan – January 6th – Small Cold

Literally meaning ‘small cold’, Sohan was thought to be the coldest day of the year in Korea. After Sohan, the weather gets progressively colder, before snapping and beginning to ease over the following Jeolgi, Daehan.

Daehan – January 21st – Great Cold

Ipchun – February 4^th – Start of Spring

Ipchun was a very important day in the lunar calendar, with many rituals held on this day to help ensure successful farming that year. The Chinese characters for the word ‘Ipchun’, meaning ‘start of spring’ were traditionally written on rectangular signs and hung above household doorways to bring good luck.

Woosoo – February 19^th – Start of the Spring Rain

Gyungchip – March 5^th – Insects and Creatures Awake from Hibernation

Chunboon – March 20 – Days Begin to get Longer

Chungmyung – April 4^th – Weather begins to Brighten

Gokwoo – April 20 – Spring Rain Falls on the Grain

Ip-ha – May 5 – Start of Summer

Falling during the fourth lunar month, Ip-ha represents the beginning of summer according to the lunar calendar. Farmers at this time are busy weeding and tending to their crops, while the women traditionally fed and saw to the silkworms.

Soman – May 21 – Grain Growth

Mangjong – June 5^th – Grain in Ear, or Bearded Grain

Haji – June 21^st – Summer Solstice

Haji, or ‘summer solstice’, marks the longest day of the year according to the lunar calendar, when the sun is at its northernmost point in the sky. It is one of the most important days during the summer season. Barley and wheat were harvested in the days leading up to Haji.

Soseo – July 7^th – Weather Begins to get Hotter

Daeseo – July 22^nd – Full Summer Weather Begins

Ipchoo – August 7^th – Start of Fall

Usually in the lunar calendar’s seventh month, Ipchu marks the official beginning of autumn in Korea, and is the thirteenth of the twenty four Jeolgi. The weather on Ipchu would be used to predict the weather over the coming autumn months, which was important in helping ensure a successful harvest.

Cheoseo – August 23^rd – Summer Heat Begins to Lessen

Baekro – September 7^th – White Dew Period

Baekro – or ‘white dew’ period – is so called because during this season, alternating hot and cooler weather causes little crops of white, dew-like Acacia flowers on the ground in the mornings.

Chooboon – September 22^nd – Fall Equinox (night and day equal in length)

Hanro – October 8^th – Cold Dew Period

Sanggang – October 23^rd – Arrival of the Frost

Ipdong – November 7^th – Start of Winter

Ipdong literally means ‘onset of Winter’, and represents the beginning of the coldest and harshest period of the year. At this time, families start to prepare for Kimjang – the making of kimchi to see them through the winter months. Kimjang traditionally took place within the five days before or after the beginning of Ipdong, as this was thought to be the time when it would become most delicious.

Soseol – November 22^nd – Little Snow

Daesol – December 21^st – Major Snow

Dongji – December 29 – Winter Solstice