Blog · November 2, 2026
Seoul autumn leaves forecast 2026
The Seoul autumn leaves forecast for 2026 put the peak in late October: the Korea Forest Service gave October 30 for ginkgo and October 31 for maple, and Bukhansan, Seoul's big mountain, was on track for about October 27. So if you're reading this in early November, you're catching the tail end. There's still colour, just not for long.
What the forecasts said, and what happened
| Bukhansan, first leaves | Observed Oct 14 by the weather agency (KMA). Normal year: Oct 15 |
|---|---|
| Bukhansan, peak | Normal year: Oct 28. Counting the usual gap from first leaves, about Oct 27 this year |
| Ginkgo, nationwide peak | Oct 30 (Korea Forest Service forecast) |
| Maple and oak, nationwide peak | Oct 31 (Korea Forest Service forecast) |
| Seoul area | Peak "from late October" (Korea Tourism Organization 2026 foliage map) |
From the Korea Meteorological Administration's Bukhansan release (Oct 14), the Korea Forest Service forecast (Sep 22) and the Korea Tourism Organization's 2026 foliage map, as reported in the press. Checked November 2, 2026. "Peak" here means about half the trees have turned (forest service) or about 80% (weather agency), so sources measure it a little differently.
Quick note on how Koreans talk about this. Danpung (단풍) means autumn leaves, and the news counts two dates: first leaves, when about 20% of a mountain has turned from the top down, and the peak. Seoul's city trees, the ginkgo on the streets, tend to run a few days behind the mountains.
Where to see the leaves in Seoul
The palaces
Gyeongbokgung's Hyangwonjeong pond and the back garden of Changdeokgung are the classic autumn shots. Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays, Changdeokgung on Mondays. Hanbok photo spots in Seoul
Ginkgo streets
Ginkgo is Seoul's street tree, so the yellow is everywhere: around the palaces, Samcheong-dong, and the road past Cheong Wa Dae. Seoul city keeps a list of 110 autumn-leaf walks in four groups: downtown, riverside, park and trail.
Bukhansan
The mountain on Seoul's northern edge. It turned on October 14 this year, a day ahead of normal, so by now the upper slopes are past their best and the colour sits lower down.
My tip: In the first week of November, skip the mountain tops and stay low. Palace gardens, city parks and ginkgo streets hold colour longer than the ridges. And go on a dry day. One night of wind and rain can bring the ginkgo down all at once, and then it's a yellow carpet instead of yellow trees. Pretty, but a different photo.
Missed Seoul? The south peaks later
The leaves move south through November. Normal-year peaks from the weather agency: Naejangsan November 4, Duryunsan November 10. The forest service forecast Naejangsan around November 4 and Hallasan around November 6 for 2026. Jeonju, a day trip by KTX, has ginkgo and hanok in the same frame. Hanbok rental in Jeonju
Questions
When is the Seoul autumn leaves peak in 2026?
The Seoul autumn leaves peak in 2026 was forecast for late October. The Korea Forest Service gave October 30 for ginkgo and October 31 for maple, and Bukhansan's normal peak is October 28. Early November is the tail end.
Are there still autumn leaves in Seoul in November 2026?
Yes, in the first days of November 2026 Seoul still has some autumn leaves, mostly ginkgo on streets and in palace gardens, but the peak has passed. For full colour in November, the southern mountains such as Naejangsan peak later.
When did the autumn leaves start in Seoul in 2026?
The Korea Meteorological Administration observed the first autumn leaves on Bukhansan, Seoul's reference mountain, on October 14, 2026, one day earlier than the normal date of October 15.