Make your date with the autumn leaves in Korea in October - but look sharp. The season, as I've suspected, is getting shorter and more elusive. See the KBS news article below:
from 2010's autumn foliage schedule posted on the KTO website
From the KBS news website:
"Autumn foliage will appear later than usual this year and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves won't last as long. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that leaves are expected to change color first at Mount Seorak around October third and at Mount Jiri around the 13th. The foilage at Mount Bukhan will begin to turn red around the 19th. These dates are three to four days later than average.
But the crimson foliage is expected to reach its peak faster this year, from mid-October in the central region and late October in the south. The weather agency says higher than normal temperatures through mid-September will push back the start of the turning of the leaves but as temps go down from later this month, the changing of colors will pick up speed."
Same news from Arirang:
"Autumn is here in Korea and you can see the leaves turning a beautiful red at Mt. Seorak starting October 3rd.The Korea Meteorological Administration says the fall foliage will move through late October peaking two weeks after the first showing. High temperatures this month have delayed start of the changing colors compared to an average year by about one to six days depending on the region."
Sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Sc_detail.htm?No=84575&id=Sc
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=120474&code=Ne2&category=2
16 comments:
autumn always gets me excited
Hi Fatim,
Thanks for dropping by. Autumn's my favourite season too.
Hope you get to enjoy great autumn views this year.
Ajumma
Hi, I was planning to visit Mt Sorak on 1/11/2011 & Gyeongbokgung Palace on 3/11/2011. As this year autumn foliage will appear later, so do you think that I still can see beautiful autumn leaves?
Hi Michelle,
I'm not an expert and not even an amateur weather-watcher but from what I've read, I doubt you can see much colour around the times you've mentioned.
Autumn may be later but also note their colour is predicted not to last as long as before. Odds of seeing colourful autumn leaves are better further down south.
Anyway, hope for your sake that I'm wrong.Please drop me a line after your holiday and tell me so. Seriously.
Regards,
ajumma
I'm going to Korea tomorrow for a week, I want to see autumn but I guess, I'm too early...sigh...
Hi there,
Too bad about being too early for the autumn leaves but at least you have the chance to visit Korea.
Enjoy your trip!
Cheers,
ajumma
Hi, I will be in Seoul from 20 Oct to 22 Oct 2011, I hope to see autumn color in Seoul..
Hi Anon.,
Think your timing should be good. Wishing you lots of great photo opportunities snapping maples leaves in brilliant reds!
Regards,
ajumma
hi,
We will also visit Seoul this Oct 20-24. Can you tell us the probability to see the autumn color in Seoul :) I really hope to see the city full of brown color leaves :)
Thanks,
Hi Anon.,
Your timing should be good as the autumn leaves are expected to reach their peak in fall colours by 22 October. You may expect not just browns but lots of vivid reds ( from the maples) and golds ( from the ginkgo trees).
Happy holidays!
ajumma
Hi,
I'll be in Seoul from 20th to 27th October. I hope I will have chance to see the great autumn color in Seoul. I'll be going to Mount Sorak on 24th October..Is it the good timing?
Ajumma, where's the best place to see autumn color in Seoul?
hi Anon.,
Sorry for this late reply. Was away from the PC for some time.
To answer your question, here's a snippet from KBS News:
"The weather agency forecasts that Mount Seorak’s autumn foliage will peak around October 18th."
Not sure how long the leaves will remain on the trees after they reach the peak of their autumn colours but I don't want to raise your hopes about spectacular foliage in Seoraksan at the time you stated.
Still, you should be able to see autumn leaves in "full force" the further south you go.
All the best,
ajumma
I have visited Mount Sorak on 2/11/2011, the autumn leaves just reached the peak. My Korean tour guide revealed my timing was just right as her clients which visited 1 week earlier were failed to see nice autumn colour. She further said the autumn leaves forecast was not reliable. I think, Korea Tourism Organisation should update the development of autumn leaves to avoid disappointment of tourists.
Hi Michelle,
Many thanks for your update and suggestion. Interesting to see how "reliable" the forecast is by the Korean Metereological Board.
I'm glad your timing was perfect. Did you take lots of lovely close-ups of the maple leaves?
Was it your first visit to Korea? Care to share your impressions?
Regards,
ajumma
Hi! I'm planning to go to Jeju Island next year for my birthday around first or second week of October. Will I be able to see the beautiful colors of autumn leaves around that time? And what could be the weather like? Should I pack coats and warm clothings?
Hi there,
Thanks for your question but sorry, it's hard to say because the schedule for the autumn foliage for 2012 isn't even out yet.
Just to give you an idea, this year, the leaves on Jeju were supposed to start changing colour around 17th October and the peak of the fall colours was expected around the 28th of October. In 2010, the leaves were predicted to start changing colour around the 22nd of October and reach their peak on the 9th of November.
Going on past records, the first two weeks of October may be too early.
It's recommended that you pack some light woollies but not heavy winter coats.
Regards,
ajumma
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