Korea in Autumn
Korea in Autumn: When the Leaves Turn and Where to See Them
Autumn color in Korea starts on the high peaks of Gangwon at the end of September and works south and downhill until about mid-November. Choose your mountains by date rather than by reputation, and autumn becomes one of the easiest seasons of the year to travel.
When is the best time to see fall foliage in Korea?
Usually from mid-October to early November. Color starts on Seoraksan and the other high Gangwon peaks in late September or early October and peaks there in mid to late October. Seoul’s palaces, parks and Bukhansan follow in late October and early November, and Naejangsan, Jirisan and Jeju come last, into mid-November. For 2026, the forecast published by the national tourism board puts peak color around 25 October on Seoraksan, 4 November on Bukhansan and 11 November at Naejangsan.
How Foliage Timing Works in Korea
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) uses two markers. First color is the day when about 20 percent of a mountain, counted down from the summit, has changed; peak is when about 80 percent has. Color moves the opposite way to cherry blossom: it starts in the north and at altitude and works south and downhill, so a mountain park can be at peak while the trees in the city below are still green.
That gap is the main planning fact. Seoraksan’s long-term average peak is 17 October, while Seoul’s parks and the southern mountains turn weeks later. The tourism board describes the national peak as running from mid-October through early November, and Naejangsan in the south-west usually starts changing in mid-October, peaks in early November and fades around the middle of the month.
Exact dates move with the weather each year. Through the season the KMA posts photos of 21 major mountains on its Weather Nuri site (from 21 September to 27 November in 2026), and a separate Gangwon service shows live conditions on the Seoraksan, Odaesan, Chiaksan and Taebaeksan trails. Check them in the week before you go.
2026 forecast peak color, north to south
Forecast by Weatheri, published by VisitKorea on 8 September 2026. Actual dates change with the weather.
The 2026 Forecast and What Has Happened So Far
The forecast VisitKorea published on 8 September 2026, credited to the private forecaster Weatheri, expected first color on Seoraksan on 3 October, Bukhansan on 23 October, Jirisan on 28 October and Hallasan on 31 October. Its expected peaks were 25 October on Seoraksan, 4 November on Bukhansan, 5 November on Jirisan, 11 November at Naejangsan and 13 November on Hallasan.
The north has already run ahead of it. The KMA recorded first color on Seoraksan on 28 September 2026, the same as the long-term average and four days earlier than in 2025, when the peak came on 24 October. Treat any published date as approximate, and if one mountain is the reason for the trip, keep a spare day so you can move the visit.
Where to See Autumn Color
These are the places the tourism board itself points to each autumn, listed roughly in the order they turn.
Seoraksan National Park (Sokcho, Gangwon)
The first major park to turn and the best known. Color runs down the ridges from late September, and October weekends are its busiest. Express buses from Seoul to Sokcho take roughly two and a half hours, and Sinheungsa Temple is close to the main entrance. Nearby on the coast, Naksansa Temple in Yangyang pairs the leaves with a view of the East Sea.
Seoul: palaces, Namsan and Bukhansan
Inside the city, VisitKorea’s picks are Gyeongbokgung, Seoul Forest, Olympic Park and N Seoul Tower, where the Namsan Dulle Trail and the Namsan cable car take you through the trees. Bukhansan, the national park on the city’s northern edge, is forecast to peak around 4 November in 2026. Changgyeonggung stays open until 21:00 every day except Monday, which makes it the palace for an evening walk under the leaves.
Nami Island and the outskirts of Seoul
Nami Island, a river island near Chuncheon reached by ferry or by zip line, is a well-known autumn day trip from Seoul and crowded at weekends, so a weekday matters more here than almost anywhere. Hwadam Botanic Garden and The Garden of Morning Calm are the other day trips the tourism board lists for the edge of the capital.
Naejangsan National Park (Jeongeup, Jeonbuk)
Called the Geumgang of Honam for its autumn color, Naejangsan is known for its old maples and the tunnel of maple trees between Iljumun Gate and Naejangsa Temple. Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong, on the park’s southern side, is the other foliage stop. Visitor numbers peak in late October and early November, so start early. KTX trains reach Jeongeup from Yongsan in roughly one and a half to two hours, with a local bus or taxi for the last stretch.
Jirisan, Gyeongju and the south
Jirisan, the large national park in the south, is forecast to peak around 5 November in 2026. In Gyeongju, VisitKorea names Bulguksa Temple as the autumn stop, and on the south coast the reed beds at Suncheon Bay turn gold in autumn.
Hallasan (Jeju)
Jeju turns last, with a forecast peak around 13 November on Hallasan in 2026. The two summit trails need an online booking through the official Hallasan reservation site; the lower trails do not.
| Place | Where | 2026 forecast peak | From Seoul |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoraksan | Sokcho, Gangwon | About 25 October | About 2.5 hours by express bus |
| Bukhansan | Northern edge of Seoul | About 4 November | Subway and local bus |
| Jirisan | Southern provinces | About 5 November | Several hours; stay nearby |
| Naejangsan | Jeongeup, Jeonbuk | About 11 November | KTX to Jeongeup, then bus or taxi |
| Hallasan | Jeju | About 13 November | About 1 hour by air |
Peak dates are the 2026 Weatheri forecast published by VisitKorea; travel times are approximate
Autumn Weather and What to Pack
Autumn is the other comfortable season after spring. Seoul’s long-term averages (KMA 1991 to 2020 normals) run from a low of 17.7°C and a high of 26.2°C in September to 10.6°C and 20.2°C in October and 3.5°C and 11.9°C in November. Rain falls from about 142 mm in September to around 52 mm in October and 51 mm in November, and the air is usually clearer than in spring’s yellow-dust season. Early September can still be hot and humid, and a late typhoon occasionally reaches the south in the first half of the month.
Mountains are the exception to the mild picture. Summits are colder and windier than the town at the trailhead, and the gap grows through October, so dress for the top rather than the car park.
- Layers rather than one heavy coat: a fleece or thin down jacket for mornings, evenings and summits, over clothes that work at 20°C in the afternoon.
- Walking shoes with grip, since the popular trails are rocky and slippery after rain.
- A light rain jacket. Autumn is the dry season, not a rain-free one.
- Sun protection for clear days on open ridges.
- A plan to finish before dark. National park trails close after sunset, and the days shorten quickly through October.
Autumn Festivals
Regional festival calendars are full in autumn, but dates move every year. Two of the larger ones, checked against their official sites:
Autumn festivals
Andong Maskdance Festival
Mask dance troupes from Korea and abroad perform around Andong and Hahoe Village, usually from late September into early October. The 2026 edition ran from 24 September to 4 October. If your dates miss it, Hahoe’s regular mask dance performance continues through December.
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
Lanterns on the Namgang River around Jinju Fortress in the first half of October. The 2026 festival runs from 3 to 18 October.
Confirm on the official site in the week before you travel, since organizers can change programs and dates at short notice.
Crowds and How to Plan the Route
Foliage brings out domestic travelers in large numbers, and the well-known parks are at their busiest on peak weekends. Weekdays are far calmer, and an early start beats both the tour buses and the parking queues.
- Follow the color south. Start in Gangwon in mid-October, spend late October and early November in Seoul, and finish in the south-west or on Jeju in the first half of November.
- Check the holiday dates. National Foundation Day (3 October) and Hangeul Day (9 October) are public holidays, Chuseok falls in September or early October depending on the year, and China’s National Day week (1 to 7 October) brings extra visitors to Seoul and Jeju.
- Book transport early for peak weekends. KTX and express bus seats on foliage weekends can sell out, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Keep a spare day. If one mountain is the reason for the trip, leave room to move it if the color comes early or late.
If you would rather see how a week fits together around these dates, our seven-day itinerary lays out a route from Seoul with the transfer times built in.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the leaves change color in Korea?
Usually from late September on the highest peaks to mid-November in the south and on Jeju. Most of the country is at or near peak between mid-October and early November.
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Seoul?
Usually late October to early November. The 2026 forecast puts Bukhansan, on Seoul’s northern edge, at peak around 4 November; palace grounds and city parks turn around the same time.
Is Seoraksan or Naejangsan better for fall foliage?
They peak at different times, so the choice mostly comes down to your dates. Seoraksan turns first and usually peaks in mid to late October; Naejangsan peaks around early November. In late October Seoraksan is the safer bet, and in November it makes more sense to head south.
What should I wear in Korea in autumn?
Layers. October in Seoul averages a high of about 20°C and a low of about 11°C, November is colder, and mountain summits are colder and windier than the cities, so bring a warm layer for mornings, evenings and hikes.
How accurate are foliage forecasts?
They are a guide, not a promise. In 2026 the published forecast expected first color on Seoraksan on 3 October, and the KMA recorded it on 28 September. Check the KMA’s live mountain photos a few days before you go.
Overview of Autumn Travel in Korea
Autumn in Korea is mild, fairly dry and clear, and the foliage season moves from the northern mountains in October to Seoul and the south by early to mid-November. Planning the route around that order matters more than any single destination.
Foliage starts on the high Gangwon peaks in late September and usually peaks there in mid to late October.
Seoul’s palaces, parks and Bukhansan usually turn in late October and early November.
Naejangsan, Jirisan and Jeju come last, into early and mid-November.
Seoul averages 10.6°C to 20.2°C in October with about 52 mm of rain, but summits are colder and windier.
Forecast dates move with the weather, so check the KMA’s mountain photos in the week before you go.
Related guides
Sources
- 2026 Fall Foliage Forecast, VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization)
First color and peak dates for Seoraksan, Bukhansan, Jirisan, Naejangsan and Hallasan, credited to Weatheri, plus the tourism board’s list of foliage spots in and around Seoul.
- First autumn foliage on Seoraksan, Korea Meteorological Administration press release, 28 September 2026 (official, Korean)
First color on 28 September, the average peak date of 17 October, the 20 and 80 percent definitions, and where to find the 21-mountain foliage photos and the Gangwon trail service.
- Mount Seorak welcomes first fall foliage, The Korea Times
English report of the KMA observation, including the 2025 peak date of 24 October.
- Weather Nuri, Korea Meteorological Administration (official)
Live foliage status and photos for 21 major mountains during the season.
- Korea Meteorological Administration (official, English)
Source of the 1991-2020 Seoul climate normals used for September to November.
- Naejangsan National Park, VisitKorea
The park’s autumn reputation, its temples and visitor information.
- Naejangsa Temple, VisitKorea
The maple tunnel between Iljumun Gate and the temple.
- Step into Autumn Colors of Korea, VisitKorea
Autumn picks including Seoraksan, Naksansa, Nami Island, N Seoul Tower and Bulguksa.
- Changgyeonggung Palace, VisitKorea
Opening hours and closing day.
- Hallasan National Park trail reservation, Jeju Province (official)
Summit bookings for the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails.
- Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori regular performances, VisitKorea
The standing mask dance performance at Hahoe Village, March to December.
- Andong International Maskdance Festival (official, Korean)
The 2026 festival dates, 24 September to 4 October, and venues.
- Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (official, Korean)
The 2026 festival dates, 3 to 18 October.
Links checked 10 October 2026. Foliage dates change with the weather and festival dates are set each year, so confirm on the official page before you travel.
What This Page Does Not Cover
This guide is built from the KMA’s foliage reports and climate normals, the tourism board’s published forecast and the festival organizers’ own sites, listed above. It does not list every foliage spot or festival, and it cannot account for trail closures, traffic or your mobility on the day.
Last checked: 10 October 2026. The 2026 forecast dates are given as published; actual peaks may come earlier or later.