As the late heat continues, the first autumn foliage of the year was observed around Daecheongbong in the Seoraksan Mountain area.
According to the Seoraksan National Park Office of the Korea National Park Service on the 31st, some leaves around Daecheongbong, at an elevation of 1,708 meters, have begun turning yellow and red. It appears to be due to the recent drop in the average temperature around Daecheongbong to about 16 degrees and larger day-to-night temperature swings.
However, it still does not meet the Korea Meteorological Administration's standard for the "first autumn foliage." The Korea Meteorological Administration considers it the first autumn foliage when about 20% of the entire mountain has turned color, and the peak foliage when 80% or more has changed.
The average first foliage date for Seoraksan Mountain is Sept. 28, and last year the first foliage was observed on Oct. 2.
The Seoraksan National Park Office projected that as temperatures gradually fall, more than 20% of the summit area will turn by mid-September, after which the foliage will quickly spread down the mountain.