When is typhoon season in Korea, and how should foreigners prepare for and stay safe during typhoons?

Korean typhoon season runs from late June through October, with the strongest typhoons typically hitting in August and September. Korea sees 2 to 3 direct typhoon hits and 5 to 8 affecting weather systems per year. The southern coast (Busan, Jeju, Yeosu) is most exposed, while Seoul gets weaker but still significant impacts. Modern typhoons in Korea bring 100 to 200 km/h winds, 200 to 500mm of rain in 24 hours, and significant flooding risk.

Preparing your home: Stock 3 days of water (3L per person per day), non-perishable food (canned, instant noodles, energy bars), flashlights with extra batteries, a power bank for phones, basic first aid kit, prescription medications for at least a week, and important documents (passport, ARC, visa) in a waterproof bag. Tape large windows in an X pattern (controversial but commonly done in Korea), close all windows including bathroom vents, secure loose outdoor items like potted plants and laundry rack, and unplug non-essential electronics in case of power surges. Keep your bathtub filled with water as backup if water service is interrupted.

During the typhoon: Stay indoors and away from windows, especially during the strongest gusts. Avoid going outside even in the calm 'eye' (which is brief and the back winds hit hard). Don't use elevators in case of power outages. Park your car away from trees, billboards, and construction sites. Don't drive through flooded streets, since 30cm of water can sweep cars away.

Key alerts and apps: Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) at kma.go.kr/eng issues typhoon warnings 5 to 7 days ahead with track predictions. The Safe Korea Emergency Ready App pushes alerts in English, Chinese, Japanese, and other languages. The 119 Smart app for one-touch emergency calls. Sign up for SMS alerts through your district office for hyper-local flooding warnings. The Citizen Safety Insurance scheme covers typhoon damage for foreign residents enrolled through their district office (most are auto-enrolled).

Transportation: Flights at Incheon, Gimpo, Jeju, and Gimhae get canceled or delayed during typhoon landfall, sometimes 24 hours before/after. KTX trains keep running unless tracks flood, but check Korail website. Subways stop service if flooding hits underground stations (Gangnam Station notoriously floods). Buses suspend service in heavy rain warnings. Avoid traveling 24 hours before forecasted landfall.

What to expect at home: Apartment building elevators may auto-stop during emergency power cuts. Your gas service may be temporarily shut off as a safety measure. Internet and cable can have outages. Most Korean apartments are well-built (post-2000 buildings to typhoon standards) but older buildings, basement apartments (반지하), and detached houses (단독주택) face higher flood and wind damage risk. Renters insurance through Samsung Fire or KB Insurance for 100,000 won/year covers most typhoon damage.

After the typhoon: Don't enter flooded areas due to electrocution risk and contamination. Check your apartment for water damage, especially in older units. Boil tap water for 24 hours if there are infrastructure damage warnings. Photograph any damage for insurance claims. The 1399 disaster relief hotline coordinates aid for foreigners. The Korean Red Cross opens shelters during typhoon emergencies for displaced residents.

Historical lessons: Typhoon Maemi (2003), Bolaven (2012), and Hinnamnor (2022) caused the most damage. Stay informed, take warnings seriously even if early ones seem mild, and don't be complacent because Korean infrastructure is strong, but powerful typhoons can still cause flooding, landslides, and infrastructure failures. Your safety is more important than work or appointments, and Korean employers understand typhoon-related absences.