Korean Job Discussion Forums

[highdials5]

Hi,

I'm really looking forward to Autumn and doing some hiking, surrounded by all the red and brown leaves, but I have a couple of questions I'd like somebody to help with:

1. Which places are the most photogenic, in terms of the Autumn colours?
2. Is it possible to see the exact dates for different regions, like during the cherry blossom season?

Many thanks!

Rich

[Morgen]

Seoraksan has some of the best scenery in Korea, but that's the reason October is the peak travel season for the area. I recommend arranging your hotel far in advance. There are many smaller areas in Gangwondo like Mureung Valley, which will still probably be swarmed with locals but not at the same level.

[AaronDiesel]

If you're going to Seoraksan (which I highly recommend) don't bother staying at the rip-off hotels there.

Go to "The House Hostel" (near the intercity bus terminal) instead - I paid $18 per night for my own room the last time I went.

You can book online through Hostels.com or Hostelworld.com

[Moldy Rutabaga]

It sounds funny, but follow the papers -- the English newspapers here always seem to print autumn leaves pictures. You might go to Seoraksan the week before or after Chuseok to avoid the crowds and stay in a love hotel somewhere, although when I last went it wasn't that jammed. Alternatively, Songnisan is nice and there's a thread going on about it now. Any of the main parks would probably look nice in early October.

Ken:>

[highdials5]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

The week before might still be early, Highdials. Again, I follow the newspapers for autumn pictures. You can see my pictures for other parks I've been to. http://keneckert.com/pictures/pictures.html

Ken:>

[highdials5]

[5600]

You could go to Godaesan. It's about an hour past Soyosan near Dongducheon. Very easy to get to, no big apartment buildings to look at and a nice view of the treeless N. Korean mountains.


Take line 1 to Dongducheon station then hop on the train (1,000won) and ride till you can ride no more. You will be in Sintan-ri. Just follow the people to the park entrance.

[Xuanzang]

Jiri san should be nice this time of year.

[chris_J2]

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=290592

Mountain. Begins on / Reaches peak on

Seoraksan 9.29 10.20
Geumganasan 9.27 10.18
Odaesan 10.4 10.18
Chiaksan 10.6 10.21
Woraksan 10.11 10.23
Jirisan 10.6 10.15
Hallasan 10.13 10.26
Songnisan 10.14 10.28
Mudeungsan 10.20 11.1
Palgongsan 10.17 10.26
Gayasan 10.11 10.24
Bukhansan 10.15 10.29
Gyeryongsan 10.16 10.26
Naejangsan 10.15 11.5
Duryunsan 10.26 11.8

Haeinsa is good. Check these images:

Scroll through all 11 pages for some jawdropping images in all seasons.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=545728

[highdials5]

Thanks for all the information.

The 2009 schedule is out now, and it says that Seoraksan's first colours will be on the 1st October, and peak colours will be on the 20th October.

My question is, will it still be worth going in the middle of this period, on the 10th-11th October to be precise? Or should I wait until peak hits?

Thanks again,

Rich

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Seoraksann is the most overrated place (next to hyundai beach) in Korea.

A much better time to be had in Kyeongju and a lot more to see and even better hiking and mountain ranges (Namsan, if memory serves me right - not to be confused with namsan in Seoul, the one in Kyeonggju is 7km by 8km national park with thousands of temples and buddhst staues littered everywhere.) Sceneic Bulguksa, framed by autumn leaves....

Seoraksan, I just don't get the appeal. Plus the food in that province is the worst I've had in Korea. It's okay, but cheolla do and Kyeongju have better and more scenic mountains imo.