Autumn Leaves in South Korea - ETA for 2011

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."

Click here for a comparison with 2010 and with 2009.  Am waiting for the official schedule published by KTO and will post here ASAP for fall foliage hunters.

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

Good News And Bad For Seoul Sweepers

First the good news for Seoul sweepers - you can take a break and not bother about raking the leaves on 74 streets in Seoul. According to the Korea Times, the Seoul City council has decreed that you must leave the leaves alone for the viewing pleasure of tourists and avid photographers and the tactile delight of curious children who love to romp among and scatter the piles of autumn leaves.

And now the bad news: you can start sweeping them up again by mid-November. Goodness knows if you'll be knee-deep in gingko or maple leaves by then. Let's also hope there won't be rain for the next two weeks as it's no fun sweeping soggy, rotting leaves.

Check out: One Man's Photo Opportunity is Another's Dreaded Labour

sources:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/11/203_75753.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/11/153_75775.html

Information Booths For Fall Foliage

Don't where to find the autumn leaves in Korea? Never fear - some temporary info booths have been set up to guide visitors to the most beautiful instances of fall foliage in at least one national park. ( see below). It's not clear, though, if any or how much information will be available to English-speaking tourists.

I really don't know if there's such a need for these booths. Why can't the info ( if there's anything new in the first place) be made available in the current Tourist Information offices or the National Parks offices and even better still, the websites? The staff in such places didn't seem terribly overwhelmed with visitors even when I visited them during the peak periods. It would save Korean taxpayers a lot of money if the KNTO and NPA pooled resources to answer these basic questions which most tourists want to know:via already established channels:

1. How reliable is the fall foliage schedule issued by the KMA?
2. How will the daily changes in the weather affect the colours of the autumn leaves?
3. Which spots in the various national parks are particularly well-known for maple colours, for gingko colours or for a mixture of reds, golds, browns and greens?

Taken from the KNTO Website:
"A temporary ‘Foliage Information Center’ has opened near the entrance of Naejangsan National Park (and a few other locations around Jeongeup City) to assist seasonal visitors who’ve come to see the fall leaves. The autumn changing of the leaves is a much celebrated seasonal event in Korea and with the leaves of Naejangsan expected to reach their peak around the first weekend of November, preparations are in full swing.


In an effort to provide visitors with information on when and where to enjoy the brilliant colors, Jeongeup Municipal Office will be operating three fall information centers until November 15th. Visitors to the information centers can receive information about major tourist attractions and local delicacies (etc.) in addition to information on the leaves themselves.

‘Foliage Information Centers’ are located in the Sculpture Park near the Naejangsan entrance, near the Naejang IC, and near the Jeongeup IC of Honam Expressway. Each center operates daily from 9:00 to 18:00.

*Depending on the number of visitors and fall foliage conditions, centers may close as early as Nov 10th.


source: http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1123148

Quintessential Autumn Colours of Korea

Started out posting  photos of what I thought were the quintessential images of winter in Korea. It soon developed into a mini-series of sorts on this blog with two other postings on spring and summer. To complete this set, here are some pictures of my favourite autumnal colours  in Korea in no particular order.

1. The cosmos is one of the earliest heralds of autumn altlhough it actually starts to bloom in late summer. This wild flower comes in various colours and it also provides inspiration for poets like Ko-Un. Thanks to Bro. Anthony for this translation.

Autumn from Young People's Songs for the Four Seasons

Descending from a train, at every rural station
banks of cosmos were blossoming amidst the coughing
and from the heavens your eyelids were drooping.
As night grew deeper, the stars gave birth.
On an empty table heaped with your death
I happened to receive a brief letter.
A letter is always a death, and a life.
Insects in autumn meadows die splendidly only if leaves are
blown from the trees, not simply falling,
and likewise falls the leaf of your fingerprint voice

Click here for where you can admire cosmos a.k.a. 코스모스    or koseumoseu in Korea.

2. The  cluster amaryllis or kkotmureut blooms around Chuseok  in September. A powder extracted from the dried bulbs of thee crimsom flowers has been used to preserve Buddhist paintings so you can expect to see these on temple grounds such as Seonamsa.  

3. The ghostly beauty of the graceful silver grass will be celebrated throughout October in the Mindungsan Mountain Silvergrass Festival in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do.

4. The size of this photo doesn't do justice to the striking view of persimmons hanging like tiny orange lanterns on bare boughs. The appearance of birds must have been an added bonus for the photographer, Robert.

5. Once read that little compares to the ethereal beauty of a field of buckwheat flowers in the evening light. Apparently its scent is also another autumnal pleasure to savour. The 12th Hyoseok Cultural Festival was held recently in Bongpyeong, the birthplace of author, Lee Hyoseok who gained fame for his short story, "When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom". I've read one version of it and don't really understand why it resonates so strongly with Koreans. Perhaps one has to be Korean to appreciate fully the story but fortunately one doesn't need to be of any particular nationality to enjoy these flowers.

6. A pity that I could never place white chrysanthemums to decorate the home as my culture has the same practice as the Koreans in using them for funeral wreaths. According to one source, Koreans began to use them for mourning rites at the end of Joseon Kingdom in the late 19th century. While I love the austere purity of the white blooms, the flowers traditionally stood for ``nobility'' and ``solemnity'' and the white variety is in keeping with the Korean tradition of wearing mourning clothes made of white hemp. Still, Koreans are free to celebrate with chrysanthemums in other colours in festivals such as the Masan Chrysanthemum Festival.

7. Don't bother asking me which  is my favourite autumn tree as I would always be torn between the gingko tree ( eunhaeng namu ) and the maple tree. I've heard of people cursing the stink emanating from gingko nuts when they are accidentally stepped on  but I just love the lovely gold and fan-shape of the gingko leaves. For some fancilful stories about this tree which proved hardy enough to survive the Hiroshima blasts, click here.

8. There's good reason why KNTO promotes Maple Korea but I've said it before and I'll say it again here. I worry how about global warming is playing havoc with the carotenoids and anthocyanins ( part of the chemistry and metabolic system of the trees that explain the change of colour). Just hope my feat that autumn is getting shorter and shorter in Korea is unfounded.

9. The mellow browns of metasequoias such as those flanking a road in Damyang or a lane in Nami-seon have a regal air about them. Click here for an earlier posting on these impressive trees which look even more awesome in autumn.

10.  Was wondering how to conclude this list - should I focus on the jujube or red date plant or ginseng? But I stumbled upon a website with these pretty yellow-white flowers of the green tea bushes which apparently bloom between September and November. Had never seen these before but I like drinking green tea more than ginseng so the debate ended there.


Sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/10/12/2010101200361.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/10/09/2010100900322.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/09/13/2010091300346.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926332
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/10/115_73477.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/10/115_73391.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926990
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926950
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15329¤t_page=2
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926536
http://www.korea.net/exploring.do
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=697123
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=293025
http://maryeats.com/2006/10/21/the-truth-about-persimmons/
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/beverage/recipe-sujeonggwa-korean-persimmon-punch-075162
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Korea-Andong-Hahoe_Folk_Village-Persimmon_tree_and_birds-01.jpg
http://discoverkorea.co.kr/bbs/view.php?id=news&page=2&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=hit&desc=asc&no=22
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=260977
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1101200
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/09/113_45777.html
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=28314
http://www.thewip.net/contributors/2008/08/south_asias_oldest_tree_specie.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color

Autumn Leaves Have Reached Seoraksan!

Autumn leaves have started to appear in Seoraksan! Head for Gangwon-do to catch the fall foliage.

Mountain climbers find autumn has arrived at Mount Seorak in Gangwon yesterday. Cool temperatures seem to have spurred fall colors to appear on mountains in the middle of the Korean Peninsula. [YONHAP]

For earlier postings on Seoraksan, click on the headings below:

Part 1 - Not So Easy Getting Away From It All

Part 2 - Beware of Traffic Jams On Mountain Roads

Part 3 - Osaek In The South Corner

Part 4 - Lessons For The Novice Hiker

Part 5 - Sample The Waters At Osaek

Part 6 - Where To Stay In Osaek

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926391
http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=50243
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=651225
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=257506

ETA for Autumn Leaves 2010 - Latest Update

Here's the latest info copied from the KNTO website:
"We all might have to wait just a little bit longer this year to be dazzled by Korea’s brilliant fall foliage. The Korea Meteorological Administration recently announced that the autumnal tint will be making its appearance 1~11 days later than it has in previous years. Leaves on Jirisan and the central regions of Korea are expected to start changing from October 3rd to 18th, while the southern regions will start experiencing the seasonal bursts of color around October 17th to the 30th.

The first foliage of Seoraksan Mountain is predicted to start around October 3rd and will reach its peak around October 20th.* On Mt. Naejangsan, the peak time will be around the 6th of November. In the middle regions and Mt. Jirisan, the autumnal tint will peak around late October; in the southern regions, early November.
*First foliage = 20% of a given area’s foliage has changed colors
*Peak foliage = 80% or more of a given area’s foliage has changed colors

Mountains 2010 Autumn Foliage Schedule


Place  - First Foliage Date  / Peak Time Date

Seoraksan (설악산) - 10.3   /  10.20
Odaesan (오대산)   - 10.6   / 10.28
Bukhansan (북한산) -10.22 / 11.1
Chiaksan (치악산) - 10.15  /  10.31
Woraksan (월악산)- 10.19  /10.27
Songnisan (속리산)- 10.18 / 10.26
Gyeryongsan (계룡산)-10.18 /  10.30
Palgongsan (팔공산) - 10.24  / 11.1
Gayasan (가야산) - 10.18  / 11.3
Naejangsan (내장산) - 10.28 /  11.6
Jirisan (지리산) - 10.17 /  10.29
Mudeungsan (무등산) - 10.27  / 11.12
Duryunsan (두륜산) - 10.30  / 11.11
Hallasan (한라산) - 10.22 / 11.9

The information above comes from the Korea Meteorological Administration and it can be found on the KNTO website.

At the same time, bear in mind, that the weather has been playing mind games with the KMA in recent years. It's getting harder and harder to predict what Mother Nature is going to do, especially when we've not been showing her enough respect. Expect her to behave more capriciously.
 
For instance, just today, the nation is experiencing its first frost this year - temperatures in Gangwon-do have dipped to around zero degrees Celcius.Farmers already badly affected by heavy rains and typhoons are bracing themselves for another attack on their crops because of this unanticipated frost.
 
According to KBS, the "Korea Meteorological Administration has forecast that afternoon highs will hover around 20 degrees Celsius, with strong winds expected to subside later in the afternoon. But the weather agency added that the cold weather is expected to continue through Friday before autumn rains hit the nation on the weekend."

Goodness knows what effect the early frost will have on the autumn leaves.
Please also check out this posting. ( from 2009 as an indication of things to come)

ETA for Autumn Leaves 2010

Here's some vital news from KBS for those chasing the fall folliage:

"Autumn foliage is expected to be visible at the nation’s major mountain areas starting in the early part of next month, or a week later compared to previous years.The Korea Meteorological Administration said Wednesday that autumn leaves at Mount Seorak will be visible around October third, while Mount Jiri and Mount Songni will see their leaves turn red starting around October 20th. Autumn foliage is expected to be at its most colorful at Mount Seorak around October 20th and at Mount Naejang around November sixth."

Keep your fingers crossed, folks that the weatherman has got it right.
Click here  for the latest update.
Check out this 2009 posting also for a little more perspective.
 
source:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=75695
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_4_13_3.jsp