Autumn Foliage Spots

Where Korea's Autumn Leaves Are Peaking Now — Observations as of October 26, 2026, and the November Schedule for the South and Jeju

As of October 26, six of the 21 famous mountains tracked by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) have reached peak color. High peaks in Gangwon such as Seoraksan, Odaesan and Chiaksan peaked in mid-October, followed by Deogyusan, Sobaeksan and Jirisan between October 20 and 22. Thirteen mountains, including Bukhansan, Songnisan and Hallasan, are at the first-color stage, while Naejangsan and Duryunsan have not started turning yet. The season runs until mid-November: over the next three weeks the color moves from the Seoul area and inland Chungcheong down to Honam and Jeju.

Current Status — KMA Observations at 21 Mountains

The KMA declares "first color" when about 20% of a mountain has turned, starting from the summit, and "peak" when about 80% has turned. The dates below are observation dates posted on the KMA Weather Nuri "Famous Mountain Foliage Status" page.

Seoraksan's first color appeared on September 28, the same as the long-term average, and the KMA observed its peak on October 16. The Korea Forest Service prediction map released on September 22 had put Seoraksan's peak at October 20. The Forest Service counts the peak from the point when 50% or more of the trees have turned, so its dates and the KMA's normally differ by a few days. As late as October 13, first color had been observed at only four mountains — Seoraksan, Odaesan, Chiaksan and Deogyusan. Over the following ten days, mountains across the south began turning almost all at once.

Peaks Still to Come — Forecasts and Their Sources

The remaining dates are forecasts, not observations. Temperatures can move them several days earlier or later, so check the KMA observations again three or four days before you leave.

No first color had been observed at Naejangsan as of October 26. Jeongeup City expected the leaves to start turning around October 29, so the first November weekend (November 7–8) is likely to be the most crowded. On Hallasan, first color was observed around Eorimok on October 14.

Choosing by Weekend — October 31 to Mid-November

October 31–November 1. Central Seoul and the capital area line up with the forecast peaks for ginkgo and maples (October 30–31). The main options this weekend are Bukhansan, where first color has appeared, Songnisan with a Forest Service forecast peak of October 28, and inland Chungcheong mountains such as Gyeryongsan and Woraksan. In Seoul, Changdeokgung Huwon, Gyeongbokgung, Inwangsan and Namsan are all reachable by public transport.

November 7–8. The south takes over. Naejangsan has a Forest Service forecast of November 4 and a Jeongeup City outlook of November 7–8, so this weekend should draw the biggest crowds. Hallasan will be just past its forecast peak (November 6). Mudeungsan, which showed first color on October 21, as well as Palgongsan and Gayasan, are also candidates for this weekend.

November 14–15 and later. Lowlands and the south coast outlast the mountains. Duryunsan in Haenam has not started turning, and Wolchulsan and Jogyesan only showed first color on October 22. The flat walks of the Damyang Metasequoia Road and Gwanbangjerim Forest and Bulguksa and Seokguram in Gyeongju remain worthwhile until around this time. The full November calendar is collected in Where to Go in November.

Spots by Region and Their Current State

If you are after yellow leaves in particular, Ginkgo Tree Spots lists opening periods and parking by region. Routes that combine historic buildings and autumn color are covered separately in Korea's Seowon Academies.

Seoul and the Capital Area — The Next Two Weeks Are the Season

The lowlands around Seoul turn two to three weeks later than the high peaks of Gangwon. With first color on Bukhansan on October 14, the palaces and parks in the city are at their reddest between the last week of October and the first week of November.

• Changdeokgung Huwon is a restricted tour with fixed visitor numbers and guided time slots, so weekend tickets in foliage season sell out first. Booking and routes are in Changdeokgung Huwon Autumn Tour.
• Pick Gyeonggi spots by area from the Seoul and Nearby Foliage Spots list, and for a one-day plan see the time-by-time routes in Seoul Day Trips for Autumn Leaves.
• At Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong, arrive right after sunrise, before the morning mist lifts, to get the leaves and the river in one frame.

Gangwon Is Past Peak — Is It Still Worth Going?

Ten days have passed since Seoraksan's observed peak (October 16). The ridgelines around Daecheongbong are entering the leaf-fall stage, and the remaining color is concentrated in lower valleys such as Sogongwon and Biseondae. If you planned a summit hike for red ridges, heading to a mountain further south makes more sense this year. On the other hand, if you want to walk quieter valley trails at an easy pace, now is actually calmer. Routes and the cable car are on the Seoraksan page.

The four national parks in Gangwon drew about 54,000 visitors during the day on October 17 and about 51,000 by 2 p.m. on October 24. Even past peak, weekend traffic on the access roads is still heavy.

Transport, Parking and Trail Reservations

Seoraksan. Sokcho City runs a special foliage-season traffic plan from October 3 to November 8. When the Sogongwon parking lot and access road fill up, vehicle entry is restricted in stages and visitors are directed to the free parking lots in Seorak-dong Zones B and C, with a free shuttle to Sogongwon. The Heullimgol section (Heullimgol Visitor Center to the Yongso Falls junction, about 3.1 km one way) requires advance booking through the national park reservation system until November 30, with November entry slots from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-site registration is accepted only when spaces remain.

Naejangsan. The Naejangsan National Park Office closes the park interior to private vehicles from October 30 to November 15 and runs a free circular bus from the Naejangho Lake parking lot to Wollyeonggyo Bridge. Jeongeup City runs its foliage-season plan from October 26 to November 22, with October 31 to November 15 as the intensive management period, and expects about 350,000 visitors. If you drive, plan from the start to park at Naejangho Lake and take the circular bus in. The cable car and routes are on the Naejangsan page.

Other national parks. Trail closures and reservation sections vary by mountain and by year. Check closure notices and the reservation system on the Korea National Park Service website before you leave. Trails can be closed in bad weather even if you have a reservation.

Timing and clothing. Parking lots at popular mountains fill early on weekend mornings. Aim to arrive before 7 a.m., and target the first cable car departures. From late October, mountain mornings often drop into single digits Celsius, so layer a windbreaker over light jackets and wear hiking shoes with firm soles for leaf-covered descents.

Foliage Without a Hike

Foliage Photography — Tips for the Last Three Weeks

• Red is most vivid around 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m., when the sun is low, shooting into backlight that shines through the leaves.
• In Gangwon valleys past peak, photograph the ground instead of the trees. Leaves floating on the water or covering stone steps are the scenes that belong to this stage of the season.
• On cloudy days, go deeper into shaded forest paths. Leaving the sky out and filling the frame with leaves keeps the colors from washing out.

Smartphone settings and composition are covered in the Smartphone Foliage Photo Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is the Seoraksan foliage over? A. The KMA observed the peak on October 16. The summit ridges have moved into leaf fall, while color remains in lower valleys such as Sogongwon and Biseondae. For red ridges, aim for mid-October next year.

Q. Where should I go this weekend (October 31–November 1)? A. Central Seoul's palaces and parks, Bukhansan with its first color, Songnisan with a Forest Service forecast peak of October 28, and Sobaeksan, where the peak was observed on October 22.

Q. When should I visit Naejangsan? A. As of October 26 it has not started turning. The Forest Service forecasts a peak on November 4, and Jeongeup City expects around November 7–8. Weekdays in the first week of November are the safest choice. From October 30 to November 15 the park interior is closed to private cars, so use the Naejangho Lake parking lot and the free circular bus.

Q. Can I still see autumn leaves on Hallasan? A. First color was observed around Eorimok on October 14, and the Forest Service forecasts a peak on November 6. Adding a half-day hike to a Jeju trip around the first week of November works well.

Q. Why do peak dates differ between agencies? A. The KMA counts the peak when 80% of the whole mountain has turned, while the Forest Service prediction map uses the point when 50% or more of the trees have turned. Different standards mean the same mountain can differ by several days. Check the KMA observations for actual progress.

Sources Checked

The sources below are in Korean.

• KMA Weather Nuri, Famous Mountain Foliage Status (first color and peak observations at 21 mountains): https://www.weather.go.kr/w/forecast/life/seasonal-observation/autumn-leaves.do
• KMA observation standards (20% and 80%), status as of October 13, Heullimgol reservations: Segye Ilbo, 2026-10-13 https://www.segye.com/newsView/20261013513478
• Korea Forest Service 2026 Korean Peninsula foliage peak prediction map (2026-09-22): https://www.news1.kr/local/daejeon-chungnam/6298426 , https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202609221040001/
• Gangwon national park visitor numbers: News1, 2026-10-17 https://www.news1.kr/local/kangwon/6323261 , 2026-10-24 https://www.news1.kr/local/kangwon/6330710
• Seoraksan foliage-season special traffic plan: Seoul Shinmun, 2026-09-30 https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/society/2026/09/30/20260930500136
• Seoraksan Heullimgol trail reservation system (October 1–November 30): https://news-wa.com/article/travel/tour-info/2026/10/21/20261021500037
• Naejangsan vehicle restrictions and circular bus, Jeongeup City foliage-season plan: Eroun.net, 2026-09-21 https://www.eroun.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=90591
• Korea National Park Service visitor information and reservations: https://www.knps.or.kr

Information checked: October 26, 2026.