South Korea boosts some truly impressive fall time mountain hues, but its important to time it right to make the most of your autumn hike. In this article, I delve into the eagerly anticipated fall foliage forecast for the upcoming season, guiding you on when and where to witness nature’s breathtaking display at its peak.
To accompany the foliage forecast, the sister article on the 5 best mountains to see South Korea’s fall foliage will also be published.
Why do leaves change color?
As autumn approaches, the daylight hours decrease and the temperatures drop. In response, the tree reduces its production of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis, allowing other pigments like carotenoids (yellows and oranges) and anthocyanins (reds and purples) to become more visible. The exact timing of this process varies each year because it’s influenced by several factors, including temperature, sunlight, and moisture levels. A warmer and sunnier fall may delay the color change, while cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours can expedite it. The impact of such differences are especially seen in the early September days and most forecasts are based on this data. Therefore, the specific timing of the fall foliage display is unique to each year, location and elevation. In South Korea, leaves undergo these color shifts from north to south, with elevation playing a key role.
The Forecast
Let’s establish the beginning and pinnacle of autumn leaves with the following definitions. The ‘peak of autumn leaves’ occurs when around 80% of the leaves on the entire mountain are displaying vibrant colors. Generally, this peak becomes about two weeks after the commencement of autumn foliage, which is marked by 20% of the leaves changing color. But the time between the start and the peak can be shorter, like that of Jirisan’s predicted 8 day gap, due to the mountain’s environmental factors; such as elevation, temperature, sunlight, and moisture levels.
Since leaves are biological things subject to inconsistencies, there is some degree of guess work that goes into predicting the fall foliage. Each company / group that does it, comes up with slightly different numbers.
So I’m presenting to you, two different forecasts from two different sources – both based on released data from the Korean weather service.
Predictions sorted based on fall foliage start (20%)
Additionally, provided below is an English map version with slightly different dates based on predictions generated by www.inmykorea.com
If you are curious about the predictions seen in the map, the full English article about the fall foliage can be found here.
Precautions for Enjoying Autumn Foliage
Additional Attire and Snacks are Essential during the Fall season. This is especially true when embarking on mountain hikes, as the body undergoes temperature fluctuations due to perspiration. Initially, hikers may opt for lightweight clothing due to the humidity and warmth, but as the elevation increases, temperatures can drop rapidly, leading to a big decreases in body temperature. So, it’s advisable to pack extra clothing and consider carrying emergency provisions such as water, an emergency blanket, protein/chocolate bars, and electrolyte replacement powders to replenish lost calories and minerals. While seasoned hikers are typically well-prepared, newcomers or those returning to hiking after an extended period should take particular care in this regard.
Planning your Autumn Getaway
As fall foliage paints the mountains with brilliant hues, it inevitably lures a multitude of tourists, turning serene landscapes into overcrowded meeting spaces. For example, in the autumn season Seoraksan National Park routinely has 10+ buses full of tourists all waiting to hike just from the Osaek starting point at 3am! It’s truly chaos. To escape the crowds, savvy travelers may find it worthwhile to plan their hikes on weekdays or explore lesser-known mountain trails adjacent to the popular national parks. These strategies can offer a more tranquil and intimate experience with nature’s autumn spectacle while avoiding the peak weekend rush.
Accuracy and Updates
The Korean weather service has released their predicted weather information for September (which determines the fall foliage timing). At this time, they have not released their predicted fall foliage forecast, but private individuals and organizations who have for years been generating the maps have released their predictions. From these predictions I’ve written this article. When the weather service releases their guide and if there are differences I will edit this article accordingly and note it.
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Happy Trekking
-Aurora K
