So you have overcome the battle with the gingko smell and decided to enjoy beautiful Autumn foliage in Seoul like the Seoulite or tourist that you are. Free from the humidity, cold wind, and the dust that define the other three seasons, autumn is a popular time of the year here. Autumn in Seoul brings along colors and life.
Danpung or 단풍 means the autumnal color of the leafs, and everyone is excited and planning on where to go to see Danpung. Many people take out of town hiking trips to mountains such as Seoraksan, some plan their trips based on geographical temperature and the Korean foliage forcasts. Some companies even force work retreats on the reluctant employees. (I can see Danpung from where I’m sitting, so no thank you!)
But there are many places within Seoul where you can go enjoy the sight of Danpung. To magnify the effect of Autun foliage in Seoul some places plant the trees and architect beautiful autumnal scenery (which is the reason why there are gingko’s growing out of every orifice of the city).
There are a couple of staples to the Autumn foliage in Seoul. Gingkoes are planted for their brilliant yellow colors, the Japanese maple trees (literally called Danpung tree in Korea) turn blood red.
If you don’t have enough time or money to venture out of town or if you are a lazy Seoulite like me here is a list of 5 places to enjoy Autumn leaves in Seoul.
1.World Cup Park
The World Cup Park might be the most beautiful park in Seoul, built literally on a pile of trash. Well I’m not sure if the trash was still there when they built it but the location was a landfill during the rapid development of Seoul. However, tuck your worries away, the efforts that where put into converting the area has paid off; the World Cup Park is an amazing park that holds a lot to do and see that you won’t even remember its smelly history.
The park was built in 2002 in the vicinity of the World Cup Stadium. It consists of five smaller parks, each with a different atmosphere and design. Perhaps the jewel of them all is Haneul or 하늘 (sky) park, which is built on a hill (hence the name?). If you see yourself up to the tedious task of climbing 291 stairs Haneul Park is must go part of the Seoul.
Where even is it?
2.Olympic Park
Well another one of these, somehow sporting events seem to require a large green area. I’ve been to Jeonju and Busan, why is it that neither of the annual international film festivals have a park?
If you are not old enough to have seen 1988 Seoul Olympic Games (or not, I won’t discriminate against those of you who have seen the games) you can enjoy the beautiful park and see the stadiums where the magic went down. The enormous park which is half the size of Youido is a great place to spend a chill autumn day flat walking or dancing or running or even lying down (beware of the tick attacks).
Trivia: According to my friend the Seoul pigeons originate from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, and spread around the city. Based on the pigeons distance from the park you can estimate their ancestor’s fitness. So the Gangnam pigeons are officially fatter and lazier due to their lazy genes (science!).
Oh also apparently you can find the video of a pigeon flying into the Olympic touch flames as it is released.
Where the heck is this one?
3.Namsan
Namsan, you are not the only one feeling conflicted about its name. Literally translated as the southern mountain, is neither southern nor a mountain for the modern-day Seoulite.
As one of the better known places to see Autumn leaves in Seoul, it is around the center of Seoul and harbors the famous Namsan tower. Due to the symbolic image of the tower and the view of Seoul it offers it has become one of the top tourist spots in Korea. The base of the tower also seems to have some romantic significance with fences covered in locks left there by the visiting couples.
While a lot of tourists find their way to Namsan tower by bus, the more experienced Seoulites and the savvy traveller know to evade that fatal mistake. Hiking/walking up Namsan you can enjoy a beautiful Autumn foliage scenary of Seoul. Walking is for losers you say? There are biking trails up and around it.
Namsan is surrounded by a variety of tourist and leisure spots which makes it a suitable for the overachiever who wants to do multiple activities in one day. Walk down southward to find HBC and Itaewon areas, or northward to Myeongdong and Namdaemun where your consumer capitalistic needs will be catered to.
Is this where I think it is?
4.Bukhansan Dullegil
If you want to do a more serious walk you might want to go a bit further north to Bukhansan. You might be groaning and saying “who feels like an actual hike!” Don’t worry I would not suggest such a ruthless thing to my arch nemesis.
Bukhansan Dullegil is a beautiful trail that surrounds Bukhansan Mountain, the tallest mountain in Seoul that marks its northernmost edges. The trail offers the beauties of hiking the mountain without most of the fuss. And since there are many (really a lot) of temples all around you can stop at any of them to catch your breath and rethink your life choices. You can enjoy Autumn leaves in Seoul and feel you are out in a forrest.
Just go north right?
5.Seonyudo Park
Located in the middle of the Han River Seonyudo park was converted from a water treatment facility in 2002. What’s with Koreans and converting or repurposing city facilities you ask? Brilliant ideas is the answer.
Seonyudo is not the largest park around but it might be the most picturesque. Anytime you visit there is a chance you see people doing wedding or cosplay shoots (lucky you). You might also see a gang of fearless sparrows that will surround you at the sight of food with a post-apocalyptic rigor.
Really any season is the right season to visit this place, but do not miss this amazing spot in your Autumn foliage Seoul hunt!
Do I need to swim over?
Enjoy the Seoul foliage Seoul.