When and Where Will Korea's Autumn Colors Peak in 2026?
If you're planning to visit Korea in October, one of the biggest questions is when the fall foliage will peak. According to a forecast the Korea Forest Service (the government agency that manages Korea's forests) released on September 22, this year's colors will move from north to south starting at Seoraksan, much as usual — but knowing the specific dates for each region can make your itinerary far more efficient.
At a glance: Forecast source Korea Forest Service, released September 22, 2026 / Seoraksan (Gangwon): peak around October 20 / Songnisan (Chungbuk): October 28 / Naejangsan (Jeonbuk): November 4 / Hallasan (Jeju): November 6 / "Peak" is defined as about 50% of leaves having changed color / Nationwide peak expected in late October.
The Forest Service said the first sign of autumn color this year was observed on September 14 at Mt. Jeombong in Gangwon Province. "Peak foliage" doesn't mean the whole mountain has turned — it refers to the point when roughly half the leaves on the monitored trees have changed color at that specific mountain. This year's peak dates are running about 0.8 days later than the five-year average, meaning little change from a typical year. By tree species, ginkgo trees are expected to peak around October 30, and maples and oaks around October 31.
If you're in a city like Seoul or Busan right now (September 24), it's still too early for real autumn color. If you're specifically chasing Seoraksan's foliage, the third and fourth weeks of October are the sweet spot — book the cable car and accommodation early, since this is peak season and both sell out. If your trip runs into early November, heading further south to Naejangsan or even Hallasan lets you extend the colorful season.