Typhoons and the Korean Peninsula in 2025
- Seoyeon Kim
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Oct 22, 2025
Seoyeon Kim
Overview of Typhoon Fengshen (No. 24)
Typhoon Fengshen, the 24th typhoon of 2025, formed over the open sea east of Manila, the Philippines, at approximately 3 a.m. on October 18. As of 3 a.m. on October 19, it recorded a central pressure of 998 hPa, maximum sustained winds of 19 m/s (68 km/h) near the center, and a gale radius of 250 km, indicating a relatively weak system. The typhoon was moving westward at a speed of 14 km/h, passing about 200 km southeast of Manila.
Fengshen is expected to track northward along the eastern coast of Manila before making landfall on October 19. Afterward, it is projected to move northwest, intensify into a medium-scale typhoon over the South China Sea, and approach the coast of Da Nang, Vietnam, around October 23. Current forecasts suggest that South Korea will not experience any significant effects from this system. The name Fengshen was submitted by China, meaning God of Wind.
Unusual Absence of Typhoons in Korea in 2025
Up to Typhoon Nakri (No. 23), none of the 23 typhoons that have formed this year have directly impacted the Korean Peninsula. Since Typhoon Ewiniar (No. 1) formed in May, all 23 typhoons have either moved toward the Philippines, Taiwan, China, or Vietnam, or curved toward Japan.
On average, 25 typhoons form annually in the Western Pacific. Over the past 30 years, 2.5 typhoons per year have affected Korea, most frequently in July (1.0) and August (1.2), with fewer in September (0.8) and October (0.1).
However, 2025 has been exceptionally calm, with no typhoons reaching Korea even by autumn. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), this has only occurred six times since 1951 (1969, 1983, 1988, 1998, 2009, and 2016). Among these, only 1988 and 2009 saw an entire year without a single typhoon impact. If no typhoons affect Korea for the remainder of 2025, this would mark the third such instance in history, and the first in 16 years.
Future Typhoon Outlook
Following Typhoon Fengshen, the 25th typhoon will be named Kalmaegi, and the 26th will be Fung-Wong. Although this year has been unusually quiet, meteorologists emphasize that continued monitoring is necessary, as one or two late-season typhoons often form in October.
Historically, late season typhoons have still affected the Korean Peninsula. For instance, Typhoon Zeb (1998), which formed on October 11 and impacted Korea from October 16–18, and Typhoon Seth (1994) in mid-October. While there remains a statistical possibility of late-season typhoon activity, cold air masses descending from the north make it unlikely that any newly formed typhoons will approach the peninsula.
Typhoon Statistics and Characteristics
In 2024, a total of 26 typhoons formed, slightly above the 1991–2020 average of 25.1. Typhoons are intense tropical cyclones forming in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, accompanied by powerful winds and heavy rainfall. They are characterized by a warm core and spiraling convection bands, and typically occur between May and October.
The term “typhoon” is region specific. The similar systems are called “hurricanes” in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, and “cyclones” in the Indian Ocean. Their strength is classified based on central pressure and maximum wind speed, and they rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Naming System for Typhoons
Since 2000, typhoon names have been selected from a list of 140 names submitted by 14 Asia-Pacific countries, including South Korea, North Korea, Japan, China, and the United States. These names are used sequentially and recycled every four to five years. If a typhoon causes significant damage or casualties, its name is retired permanently. For example, the name Nabi (meaning “butterfly” in Korean) was retired after causing severe destruction in Japan in 2005 and later replaced by Eagle (Doksuri). South Korea’s current list includes names such as Gaemi (ant), Nari (lily), Jangmi (rose), Noru (roe deer), and Doksuri (eagle), while North Korea’s list includes Kalmaegi (seagull), Meari (echo), and Nongae (sunset glow).
If the Korean Peninsula remains free from typhoon influence for the rest of 2025, it will be recorded as a historically rare year, only the third since 1951 to experience complete typhoon avoidance. While ongoing vigilance is advised, current meteorological conditions indicate that Korea is likely to remain in a “typhoon safe zone” through the remainder of the year.
