When to see fall foliage at Seoraksan this fall?…Korea Forest Service “Peak on the 20th next month” - 경향신문

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Ginkgo foliage peak prediction map. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

Autumn foliage is forecast to peak late next month.

According to the ‘2026 Fall Foliage Peak Prediction Map’ released by the Korea Forest Service on the 22nd, this fall the foliage will begin in earnest in the mountainous areas of northern Gangwon early next month and is expected to peak nationwide in late October.

In South Korea, the first foliage this year was observed on the 14th at the Jombongsan Forest Genetic Resources Reserve in Inje County, Gangwon. The peak period is expected to begin next month at Seoraksan and gradually expand to the central and southern regions. The Korea Forest Service regards the peak as when at least 50% of the leaves have changed color.

By major mountains, the predicted peak date for Seoraksan is the 20th of next month. Songnisan is the 28th of next month, Naejangsan is November 4, and Hallasan is November 6.

By species, the predicted peak for ginkgo is the 30th of next month, and for maple and oak species it is the 31st of next month. Compared with the past five years, the predicted peak this year is about 0.8 days later.

The Korea Forest Service uses the mountain weather network to collect meteorological information for forest regions nationwide and accumulates long-term seasonal observation data to release predictions such as foliage timing. Going forward, it plans to improve accuracy by linking wide-area forest observation information based on the agri-forestry satellite launched this year.

Park Young-hwan, head of the Forest Environment Protection Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, “Autumn foliage is one of the plant phenological phenomena most easily felt in everyday life,” and added, “Based on long-accumulated observation data, we plan to provide more accurate predictive information and to continue recording seasonal changes in forests due to climate change.”