As demand grows for enjoying autumn scenery in urban and suburban areas rather than traveling long distances, data from navigation destination settings reflects a notable increase in nearby foliage spots.
T-map Mobility reported on October 12 that an analysis of destination setting data from October to November in 2024 and 2025 revealed a significant rise in the number of people selecting urban and suburban foliage spots.
The location with the highest increase was the Namsan Cable Car, which saw a remarkable 85.4% rise in destination settings in 2025 compared to the previous year. The Seoul Botanical Garden and Giheung Lake Park followed with increases of 68.8% and 68.5%, respectively.
In contrast, traditional foliage spots experienced a decline. Among the top 15 locations based on destination settings in 2025, 11 reported decreases compared to the previous year. While Hwadam Forest and Seorak Cable Car maintained their positions as the top two spots for two consecutive years, both saw over a 20% drop in destination settings. Other locations like Nami Island (-10.2%), Namhansanseong (-14.4%), and the National Arboretum (-17.0%) also reported declines.
However, not all traditional spots saw a decrease. Naejangsan National Park and Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park experienced increases of 54.3% and 54.1%, respectively. Naejangsan rose from 22nd to 12th place, while Mungyeongsaejae climbed from 24th to 14th.
Naejangsan also showed monthly variations. Due to late summer heat, the peak foliage period is expected to be delayed until mid-November, resulting in a slight decrease in destination settings in October, but a surge in demand in November contributed to an overall increase.
This year, peak foliage times are anticipated to vary by region, occurring from late October to early November. The Korea Forest Service predicts that foliage will reach over 50% color change on October 20 for Seoraksan, October 28 for Sobaeksan, November 4 for Naejangsan, and November 6 for Hallasan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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