South Korea’s maple leaf viewing season kicks off in Gangwon Province, with Seoul following suit in mid-October

By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

As autumn arrives in South Korea, people eagerly anticipate the moment when the maple leaves on the streets start to glow brilliantly. Based on data from the Korea Meteorological Administration, the 20-day window from the initial sighting of red foliage to one week after peak color is the prime time to enjoy Korea’s spectacular maple leaves. This year, the first signs of red foliage emerged slightly earlier than last year. Starting October 2, visitors to Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province can witness the beautiful early stages of maple leaves turning red, while Mount Bukhan in Seoul will enter this initial phase around October 15.

The dates of peak foliage are determined by the proportion of red leaves. When 20% of the maple leaves have turned red, it marks the beginning of the season, and when 80% have turned, it's considered peak. In Seoul, Mount Bukhan will begin to show early red hues on October 15 and reach its best viewing period on October 26. Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest palace in Seoul, showcases the most iconic architecture of the Joseon Dynasty—the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion—reflecting the majestic beauty of royal maple leaf viewing during that era. The stone steps and carvings in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall, set against a backdrop of crimson foliage, are a perfect representation of the artistry of sculpture and natural splendor.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in Gyeonggi Province, as well as Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju, are not only culturally significant destinations for maple viewing but also offer unique architectural value. Suwon Hwaseong is highly praised for its practical design and creativity in terms of architecture, military function, and commercial use. The earthen path leading to Seokguram Grotto not only allows visitors to admire the beautiful maple leaves along the way but also leads to the main chamber dome at the end, which was ingeniously constructed with 360 stone slabs during the height of the Silla Dynasty—a prime example of Korea’s traditional cave temples. For real-time updates on Korea’s maple foliage conditions, visit www.kma.go.kr/weather/observation/maple_photo.jsp. A mountain icon indicates the best time for viewing.

The predicted maple leaf viewing dates for various regions in South Korea are as follows:

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