Korea Autumn Leaves 2026: Seoul Area Peaks Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, the South Follows in November
Why NOW picked itFor anyone choosing where to see the leaves this weekend: the Seoul area peaks Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, while Daegu and the south come after Nov. 4, so pick the region by your date.
This year's foliage should peak in late October around Seoul and in Gangwon, and in early to mid November across Gyeongsang and Jeolla. Here are the dates from the Korea Tourism Organization's '2026 Foliage Map' (Oct. 8) and the Korea Forest Service's forest map (Oct. 15), put side by side.
Seoul area: this Thursday through Sunday
The Korea National Arboretum forecasts maple peak on Oct. 29, ginkgo on Oct. 31 and oak on Nov. 2. Yumyeongsan Recreation Forest in Gyeonggi is set for Oct. 31.
In Gangwon, the provincial Hwamokwon garden peaks for ginkgo on Oct. 27, maple on Oct. 28 and oak on Oct. 31. Sambong Recreation Forest was due on Oct. 21, so it has already passed.
The south: first and second week of November
Heerisanhaesong Recreation Forest in South Chungcheong is Nov. 4 and Jirisan Recreation Forest in South Gyeongsang is Nov. 2. Daegu Arboretum peaks for ginkgo on Nov. 4 and maple on Nov. 6; the Gyeongsangnam-do Arboretum's maples follow on Nov. 8.
In Jeolla, Daea Arboretum is Nov. 1-4 and Wando Arboretum Nov. 9-16, with Jindo Recreation Forest around Nov. 17. Jeju's Hallasan Arboretum is last: ginkgo on Nov. 16, maple on Nov. 19.
Where these dates come from
The forecast uses observations from 829 citizen scientists in the arboretum's Plant Phenology Observation Project. Weather can move the real peak by a few days.
The map lists 36 recommended spots, including Incheon Grand Park, Cheorwon Gosokjeong, Goesan Mungwang Reservoir, Geochang Changpowon, Damyang Meta Provence and Seogwipo Ttarabi Oreum. Check the Korea Ggoonggu site again before you leave.
Sources & context
2026-10-26T03:25:17.363Z
Wikitree: report on the Korea Tourism Organization's 2026 foliage map (Oct. 8) ↗Financial News: 2026 foliage map released (Oct. 8) ↗Herald Business: 2026 National Recreation Forest foliage peak forecast map (Oct. 15) ↗Wikimedia Commons ↗Wikimedia Commons ↗Wikimedia Commons ↗A pavilion among maples at Naejangsan (taken Nov. 2016; not this year's foliage). Photo by Tung Thanh Dang, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit
Ingu Kang (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0Autumn colour on the Bukhansan ridgeline (taken 2013; not this year's foliage). Photo by Ingu Kang, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit
Jeongtaeyoung (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0The Naejangsan cable car among autumn leaves (taken Nov. 2016; not this year's foliage). Photo by Jeongtaeyoung, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons