BOOKMARK: IG-Worthy Spots in South Korea to Visit During Autumn

From yellow ginkgo trees to pink muhly, we've got you covered.
by Ina Louise Manto | September 22, 2023

Because the Philippines doesn’t experience all four seasons, we have to fly abroad to experience it. Autumn in the northern hemisphere is right around the corner, and South Korea is one of the nearest places to experience chilly and pleasant weather; it’s only a four-hour plane ride away. If you’re planning a trip to witness fall foliage, don’t forget to include these IG-worthy spots in your itinerary:

The Garden of Morning Calm

Location: 432, Sumogwon-ro, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do

@traceeyyyyy Made a promise to myself that I need to come back here during #foliageseason and it is wayyyyy a wise decision. #traceys30s #2022oftracey #wanderlust #traceyinseoul #traceyinkorea #hellokorea #seoultravel #koreatravel #아침고요수목원 #gardenofmorningcalm ♬ original sound – Tracey Quynh Trang

Set at the foot of Chungryeongsan Mountain, The Garden of Morning Calm is a sight to behold in all seasons. But the garden transforms into a paradise of red, yellow, and green leaves during autumn, making it one of the most popular spots for foliage. The Garden of Morning Calm first opened in 1996. Since then, it’s been a location for many dramas and movies and houses over 5,000 kinds of plants.

You can also catch the wild chrysanthemum exhibition that will take place from September 16 to October 15, 2023. This annual exhibition features over 50 species of chrysanthemums that bloom during autumn. It’s one of the major exhibitions in the garden and has been running for more than 10 years.

Namsan Park

Location: 04628 231, Samil-daero, Jung-gu

@faiezfaiezy Autumn in Namsan Park 2022 . You should go to Namsan Park from end of Oct to Mid of Nov to get this View! #seoullife #seoultravel #autumninseoul2022 #seoulkorea #placetovisitinseoul ♬ Opening Title (from 파라다이스) Intro – T-Max

If you’re only in Seoul during your trip, Namsan Park is one of the best spots to visit. You can either hike up the hill or go on a leisurely cable car ride to reach Namsan Seoul Tower. From the tower, you won’t only have a view of the surrounding city skyline and mountains, but also the vibrant autumn leaves from below. Don’t forget to leave a lock if you have a partner!

Nami Island

Location: 1 Namiseom-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea

@faiezfaiezy Place to visit in South Korea during Autumn . Nami Island ️ it take around 2 hours from Seoul. #seoullife #placetovisitinseoul #namiisland #autumninseoul2022 #seoulkorea #southkorea #autumninmyheart ♬ SWIPE – ALYPH

Nami Island remains a popular tourist destination near Seoul, especially during autumn. The island follows the concept of “Fairy Tale Village and Song Village”, making guests feel like they entered the world of one of their favorite tales. While there are plenty of activities to do around the island, tourists love to have their photos taken on the forest road, which has been made as a background in several Korean dramas and movies.

Olympic Park

Location: 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

 

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Home to South Korea’s largest sports arena for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Olympic Park is an expansive park divided into several zones. Some include a cultural art park, a leisure sports park, and a history experience park. It will take hours to explore the entire space, but if you’re looking for its famous photo spots, don’t forget to drop by the Wild Flower Garden. During autumn, yellow cosmos flowers come in full bloom. Make sure to visit early too, to achieve the scene in the video above.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Location: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

@clarissaacindy Found this huge tree behind the palace #seoultravel#tlog #파트너크리에이터 ♬ Everybody Loves Somebody – Frank Sinatra

Want to feel like you’re in your favorite historical drama? Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest among the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. It’s a must-visit, especially for first-timers, and exploring its grounds and gardens is made better when you rent a hanbok and wear it while on tour. Feel like royalty for a day!

Damyang Metasequoia-lined Road

Location: 633 Hakdong-ri, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do

 

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Feel like you’re the main character of a movie when you visit the Metasequoia-lined Road in Damyang. It’s one of Korea’s most scenic roads with trees that turn fiery red during autumn. Boasting 8.5 kilometers of metasequoia trees, the famous road is one you’d love to take during a road trip.

Naejangsan National Park

Location: 936 Naejangsan-ro, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

Naejangsan National Park transforms into a postcard-like scene during autumn, with the Naejansan Pavilion as one of its most popular spots. The pavilion is surrounded by a pond; with the trees’ reflection on the water, this scene sets a relaxing and tranquil ambiance, which tourists can’t get enough of.

Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace

Location: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

@joarahyun One of the most beautiful spots in Seoul Secret Garden Changdeokgung Palace #autumnvibes #seoultravel #seoulkorea #traveltiktok ♬ Prologue (From “Beauty and the Beast”) – Moisés Nieto

After visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, head to Changdeokgung Palace and find the quaint Secret Garden. It’s the largest garden among the Five Grand Palaces that stretches for nearly a kilometer. Look for the Juhamnu Pavillion, a two-story building that overlooks the garden and pond. This was once the royal library and the surrounding scene makes it the perfect venue for reading.

Note: You would have to pay extra to access the Secret Garden as it’s only open for guided tours.

Hueree Natural Park

Location: 256 Sillyedong-ro, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju-do

@iwanderlista Hueree Nature Life Park in Jeju island is so pretty! It’s huge and you’ll have lots of photo spots all to yourself. Entrance fee is 13,000 won which is more than what parks usually cost, but you’ll get plenty bang for buck here. I want to come back every season and I can highly recommend you visit as well #huereepark #huereenaturelifepark #휴애리자연생활공원 #jejuisland #jejutourism #koreatravelguide ♬ Sweet Sunset – Tollan Kim & dulai

Did you know that Filipinos can enter Jeju Island visa-free? Whether you’re visiting Jeju for visa-free entry or including it as a side trip in Korea, don’t forget to head to Hueree Natural Park to experience the Hueree Pink Muhly Festival. This festival celebrates the pink hues that cover the park during autumn.

Yangju Nari Park

Location: 458 Mansong-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

@clarissaacindy♬ dear katara – L.Dre

If you prefer witnessing flowers over trees during autumn, Yangju Nari Park’s flower gardens are a must-visit. It’s the spot for flower lovers as these curated gardens bloom into various colors such as pinks, oranges, reds, and purples, making it a hotspot for insta photos.

Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest

Location: 686-4 Gwang-won-ri, Nae-myeon, Hongcheon, Gangwon-do

Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest is the product of one man’s hard work for over 30 years. It all started when the owner’s wife suffered from indigestion and he learned of the medicinal effects of mineral waters from Sambong Springwater. He started sprinkling ginkgo tree seeds over the land, which has now become a scenic forest.

Plan your trip accordingly though, because this forest is only open to the public in October.

Sinsoyang Sports Park

Location: Hapcheon, 898, Yeongchang-ri

 

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Want to feel like you’re walking on pink clouds? Sinsyong Sports Park houses an expansive pink muhly plantation, which has become a popular autumn spot over the years.

Looking for other places to explore? Join WindowSeat.ph’s official Facebook community What’s Your Trip PH for more recos!