When and where can I see the best fall foliage in Korea?
When and where can I see the best fall foliage in Korea? How do I plan an autumn trip to catch peak colors?
1 Answer
Korean fall foliage peaks from mid-October to early November. The color moves north to south, so Seoraksan goes first (mid-Oct), then Naejangsan and Jirisan (late Oct), and Seoul city peaks early November.
Top spots are Seoraksan's Gwongeumseong, Naejangsan's Maple Tunnel, Odaesan in Gangwon, Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, and inside Seoul try Namsan and Deoksugung. The Korea Forest Service publishes a foliage forecast (forest.go.kr) that's updated weekly. Weekends get extremely crowded, so plan a weekday morning or stay overnight near the trailhead. Mid-week the trails are quiet and photos turn out much better.