Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). It is 3 a.m. on the first Monday after the Chuseok holiday. The sky over Sokcho (속초) is clear and the temperature is 19°C. The daytime high is 25°C and the overnight low 18°C, a daily temperature range of about 7 degrees, and the chance of rain is 9%. Considering how often it rained over the holiday, it is a much more comfortable start to the week.
Once the holiday is over, the question people visiting Sokcho ask most is "When should I go to see the autumn leaves?" The answer is in the '2026 Korean Peninsula Autumn Foliage Peak Forecast Map' released by the Korea Forest Service on September 22. The expected peak date for Seoraksan (설악산) is Tuesday, October 20, the earliest in the country this year. Counting from today, that is exactly 22 days away. Today we will explain how to read this number and what is worth preparing in Sokcho in the meantime.
Seoraksan on October 20, more than a week earlier than other mountains
In the Korea Forest Service forecast, the expected peak dates for the major mountains are as follows.
- Seoraksan: October 20 (Tue)
- Songnisan (속리산): October 28 (Wed)
- Naejangsan (내장산): November 4 (Wed)
- Hallasan (한라산): November 6 (Fri)
Comparing just Seoraksan and Songnisan, there is an eight-day difference. Autumn foliage starts on high mountains in the north and moves south in the order that temperatures drop. Seoraksan is at a high latitude and has peaks over 1,700m, so it turns color first every year. The Korea Forest Service expects the leaves this year to begin changing from the mountains of northern Gangwon in early October and spread to the central and southern regions. It expects the nationwide peak to come about 0.8 days later than the average of the last five years, so it is close to an ordinary year, neither notably early nor late.
This forecast was made by combining plant phenology observation data accumulated since 2009 at public arboretums and other sites nationwide with mountain weather observation data from the National Institute of Forest Science. In other words, it is a forecast based on long-term observation, not a guess from current weather alone.
Even on the same Seoraksan, dates differ by tree
An easy-to-miss part of the forecast map is the peak date by tree species. The overall peak for Seoraksan is October 20, but oak trees are forecast to peak on Sunday, October 25. Trees that turn fiery red, like maples, reach their peak first, and the oaks that cover the mountain slopes in brown and gold follow about five days later.
On top of that comes the difference in altitude. Ridges over 1,500m such as Daecheongbong (대청봉) and Jungcheong (중청) tend to pass their peak by mid-October, while the lower valleys where many visitors walk, such as Sogongwon (소공원), Biseondae (비선대) and Cheonbuldong Valley (천불동계곡), only turn color throughout in late October. So it helps to divide the dates like this.
- Ridge traverses and Daecheongbong hikes: second week of October to around the 20th. The foliage at the summit comes quickly and goes quickly.
- Easy walks at Biseondae, Sinheungsa (신흥사) and Sogongwon: around October 20–25. The weekend that overlaps with the oak peak is a safe choice.
- Taking the cable car just to Gwongeumseong (권금성): weekdays around the 20th. On weekends, the wait to board gets long.
The 'first foliage' has already begun, but you should know what it means
According to the Korea Forest Service, this year's first foliage was recorded by citizen observation on September 14 at Jeombongsan (점봉산) in Inje (인제), in the Forest Genetic Resource Reserve. Jeombongsan lies south of Seoraksan National Park, connected to Namseorak (남설악). This means the first red leaves were already spotted a month ago on a mountain close to Sokcho.
However, if you put too much hope in the words 'first foliage,' you may be disappointed. Generally, when about 20% of a mountain has changed color it is called the first foliage, and when about 80% has changed it is called the peak. If you come right after news of the first foliage, you will mostly see green mountains with scattered red leaves. If you want the 'blazing Seorak' you have seen in photos, it is safer to aim for about 2–3 weeks after the first foliage news.
The Chuseok holiday is over, but there are two more holidays in October
Looking at this year's October calendar, there are two more breaks before the foliage peak.
- October 3 (Sat), National Foundation Day, to October 5 (Mon), substitute holiday: a three-day weekend. During this period, the 61st Seorak Cultural Festival (설악문화제) (October 2–4, Expo Lawn Plaza (엑스포 잔디광장) and Seorak Rodeo Street (설악로데오거리)) is held in downtown Sokcho, with street parades on Rodeo Street at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the 3rd. On the night of the 4th, the closing ceremony and fireworks follow.
- October 9 (Fri), Hangeul Day: a weekend when you can take three days off, Friday through Sunday.
Both holidays are a little early for the Seoraksan peak. Instead, the upper parts of the mountain start to change color, and downtown the festival and the Cheongchoho Lake (청초호) Chrysanthemum Exhibition (September 30–November 8) are in full swing. If you come knowing that it is early autumn up on the mountain and festival mood in town, you will be more satisfied. If you are aiming only for the peak, taking annual leave on weekdays, October 19 (Mon) to 23 (Fri), is the quietest option. It is best to expect the weekend around the peak, October 24–25, to be as crowded as a holiday.
Getting around Seoraksan in foliage season with less hassle
In the 속초어때 congestion tallies during the holiday, Sinheungsa (Seoraksan), the Daepo Port (대포항) observatory, Cheongchoho Lake and others kept showing as 'crowded' or worse. As of early this morning, Sinheungsa is still listed as 'crowded.' In foliage season it gets far busier than this. Just a few preparations can make a big difference in how it feels.
- Aim to arrive at the Sogongwon parking lot before 8 a.m. On foliage-season weekends, the lot often fills up in the morning and cars line up along Seoraksan-ro (설악산로). If you leave your car in downtown Sokcho and take city bus No. 7 or 7-1, it goes straight to the front of Sogongwon.
- Check the entry cutoff time for each trail. Seoraksan operates a designated entry time system, so long-distance courses such as those toward Daecheongbong cannot be entered after a set time. Please check the times for each course in advance on the Korea National Park Service website.
- An outer layer for the temperature swing is a must. Even downtown Sokcho today has a low of 18°C and a high of 25°C, but once you climb above 1,000m the temperature drops considerably and the wind is strong. On the ridges in mid-October, single-digit temperatures at dawn are common.
- The sun sets early. Today in Sokcho, sunrise is at 06:18 and sunset at 18:14. By October 3, sunset moves up to 18:06, and valleys in the mountains get dark much earlier than that. It is safer to avoid starting a hike late in the afternoon.
If you live in Sokcho, try a weekday morning
For residents, we suggest a slightly different approach. Instead of weekends when out-of-town cars flood in, if you do a loop of just the Sogongwon and Biseondae section early on a weekday morning, you can quietly enjoy the peak foliage in two or three hours before or after work. On weekday mornings around October 20, the route to Biseondae is a flat path that takes less than two hours round trip, so it is not a burden.
And foliage season is the busiest time for local shops after Chuseok. At 학사평 순두부촌 (Haksapyeong Sundubu Village) and the restaurant area in Seorak-dong (설악동), waits get long around lunchtime, so it is easier for everyone if residents shift their time to before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m.
Today's sea and road conditions in Sokcho
We have talked only about the mountains, but the sea is lovely today too. The water temperature is 23°C and wave height 0.4m, so it is calm. However, the beaches have already closed for the season and there are no lifeguards, so please refrain from going in the water and enjoy it only with walks and photos. All three access roads, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로) (toward Seoul), Donghae-daero (동해대로) (coast and downtown) and Seoraksan-ro (toward Seorak), are estimated to be flowing smoothly. With all the holiday return traffic gone, the road to Seorak-dong also looks likely to be quiet on weekdays this week. Now is the last week or two to see a 'quiet Seorak' before the foliage.
Seoraksan foliage calendar at a glance
- September 14: This year's first foliage observed by citizens at Jeombongsan in Inje
- Early October: Leaves begin changing from the mountains of northern Gangwon (Korea Forest Service outlook)
- October 2–4: 61st Seorak Cultural Festival
- October 3–5: National Foundation Day holiday (substitute holiday on the 5th)
- October 9: Hangeul Day, Friday holiday
- October 20 (Tue): Expected Seoraksan foliage peak
- October 25 (Sun): Expected Seoraksan oak peak
A forecast is only a forecast, so depending on temperatures over the next three weeks it may move a few days earlier or later. 속초어때 will also bring you updates on conditions at Seoraksan as the date gets closer.
Today we looked at the peak timing of Seoraksan's autumn foliage and date-by-date travel plans in Sokcho after the Chuseok holiday. Did you find it useful? We will be back next time with even more useful information.
