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#InsiderKR: 4 Best-Kept Secret Places to See Autumn Foliage in Korea

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Photo by Siska Ariyanti. 2016 Autumn. Naejangsan. All Rights Reserved.

Ever wondered where is the best place to view autumn foliage in Korea? Ditch the Nami Island, this #insiderKR post is going to show you some of the stunning places in South Korea during the golden autumn days!

Not only that I am going to share my autumn secret hideout in Seoul, but I have also gathered 3 Seoulites to share their best-kept secret places of autumn foliage in South Korea! Read on.

One of the best autumn foliage spot in Seoul got to be the ginkgo garden behind the Royal Queen Dowager’s residence within the Gyeongbok Palace. — Insider Pheuron Tay

Autumn foliage at the Jagyeong-jeon.
Autumn foliage at the Jagyeong-jeon.

“One of my best places to embrace the autumn is the Gyeongbok Palace. I was taking a stroll on a quiet weekday afternoon and walked into this beautiful ginkgo garden behind the Jagyeong-Jeon (자경전 慈慶殿). It was like walking into an ocean of glittering golden leaves.”

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea in autumn.
Glamping. Pack up your personal belongings, call your friends along, and you can basically leave the rest of the stuff to the glamping site. Remember to prepare some Ramyeon and Army Stew ingredients and So-maek for an authentic Korean campsite experience. Read my detailed write-up about glamping here.

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
Grilled ginkgo nuts & fresh figs.

Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself.
• Korean mistaken me as local while people at home refuse to believe I am not a foreigner.
• I own 35 lipsticks but insist on wearing the same 5 shades over and over.
• I love bright sunlight. I get cranky and depressed in a dimly lighted room.

Gyeongju has the best autumn foliage…even the small maeul (village) bus stops match the autumn atmosphere so well. — Insider Neoh

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“Although most Korean will recommend hiking to enjoy autumn foliage, I enjoy the scenery at Gyeongju (경주) very much. The slow-pace life over there, the streets filled with ginkgo trees and the endless rice fields…check out the small maeul (village) bus stops! Surprisingly they match the autumn atmosphere so well. Last but not least, the historical sites and temples covered in red and yellow leaves…makes a trip down to Gyeongju worthwhile.”

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea during autumn?
Hiking. Try Seorak Mountain. Basically autumn is a great season to travel, eat, drink and sleep. Remember to take lots of photo and hashtag them like mad.

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
You should definitely try fresh Bang-eo aka Japanese Amberjack (방어회) and Gwamaegi, Korean half-dried pacific herring (과메기), they're my favourite sashimi during autumn. If raw fish isn't your cup of tea, try their fresh persimmon or dried persimmon.

Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself. 
• My Korean colleague asked me to stop pretending to be a foreigner.
• When I took out my passport to explain further, my colleague asked if I bought it from Jungonara. (Korean website that sells 2nd-hand goods, like Craigslist.)
• I am a foreigner.

I went paragliding at Danyang during early autumn and I was genuinely blown away by the magnificent scenery beneath me. (It was so beautiful) I could’t stop smiling to myself .– Insider Irene Siah

Video Courtesy of Irene Siah

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea during autumn?
Road tripping or PARAGLIDING. It was a great experience flying in the air, with amazing autumn foliage beneath! Definitely something you want to add to your bucket list!

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
Autumn is the season of tangerine! I just had a tangerine-grapefruit juice (감귤 자몽 주스) from U:DALLY and it tastes sooooo good! You can even bring the cute little bottle home after drinking the juice
U:DALLY's Tangerine and Grapefruit Juice & Strawberry Latte.
U:DALLY’s Tangerine and Grapefruit Juice & Strawberry Latte. Photo by Irene Siah.

Naejangsan National Park was probably my favourite… The best photo spots: the Uhwajeong Pavilion & the Maple Tunnel.– Insider Siska

Naejangsan Uhwajeong Pavilion

All Naejangsan Photos By Siska Ariyanti.

“I suggest skipping the free shuttle bus service and walking all the way up because the route from the car park to the cable car station is amazingly beautiful. It takes about 30 mins-1 hour to reach the cable car station, depending on where you park your car at. The Naejangsa temple itself is just so-so, but the two scenic photo spots I mentioned above are situated along the way to Naejangsa. “

Any great autumn foliage spots you want to share with us?
For a place within Seoul, Children's Grand Park (서울 어린이대공원) is worth a visit. I would recommend a stroll around the park or even go for a picnic.
Photo by Siska Ariyanti. 2016 Autumn. Children's Grand Park. All Rights Reserved.
Photo by Siska Ariyanti. 2016 Autumn. Children’s Grand Park. All Rights Reserved.
If you have time to travel out of Seoul, I would recommend Jeonju (전주). You can have a foodie tour yet at the same time, enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage this city has to offer. Check out Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School, their ginkgo trees are at least 200-300 years old, therefore creating a picturesque view.
Photo by Siska Ariyanti. 2016 Autumn. Jeonju Hyanggyo. All Rights Reserved.
Photo by Siska Ariyanti. 2016 Autumn. Jeonju Hyanggyo. All Rights Reserved.
What is your personal must-eat during this season?
Danpatjuk (단팥죽), sweet red bean soup at "The Second Best in Seoul" (서울서 둘째로 잘 하는집), Samcheong-dong.

2 Comments

  1. hi dear,
    i’m going to seoul this coming 10th-15th november 2017..may i know whether i can still see autumn at that time? thank you

    -nadia

    • Hi Nadia,

      Autumn foliage come and go depending on the temperature and weather of that particular year. Sometimes it’ll start earlier, and it also depends on the area you’re going (mountain/seaside etc). I can’t confirm if you’ll be able to see the foliage, however 1st-2nd week of November is usually the best time of all:)

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