October Recommendations

October Outings — Two Holidays, Peak Festivals, Start of Autumn Foliage

October is both the best month for outdoor excursions and the busiest. Every year, Gaecheonjeol (October 3) and Hangeul Day (October 9) create short holidays when they fall near weekends, coinciding with regional festivals, night openings, and autumn foliage. This page is a guide to help you choose what to see and when in October. Detailed information for individual festivals and attractions is linked from each section.

October 2026 Calendar — Two Holidays

In 2026, Hangeul Day falls on a Friday, allowing for a three-day break from October 9th to 11th. Gaecheonjeol is on a Saturday. Since holiday dates vary by day of the week each year, it's safer to check the calendar before booking accommodation and transportation. Roads and accommodations around popular festival venues fill up first during holiday weekends.

Autumn Foliage Begins in Mid-October in the North

The Korea Forest Service's 2026 autumn foliage peak prediction (when over 50% of leaves have changed color) is October 20 for Seoraksan, October 28 for Songnisan, November 4 for Naejangsan, and November 6 for Hallasan. By tree species, ginkgo trees are expected to peak around October 30, and maple and oak trees around October 31. The trend is for colors to appear first in the high-altitude areas of northern Gangwon Province and then spread nationwide by late October.

Predictions can shift by a few days depending on temperature. Regional attractions and hiking trails are compiled in Autumn Foliage Spots, and day trips from Seoul are in Seoul Vicinity Autumn Foliage Day Trips.

Major October Festivals at a Glance

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival begins on the first day of the Gaecheonjeol holiday weekend and continues past the Hangeul Day holiday until the 18th, meaning both holidays fall within the festival period. The lanterns are lit daily from 6 PM to midnight. The full schedule for September-November and records of past September festivals can be viewed at the Autumn Festival Calendar.

Silver Grass and Pink Muhly — Best Scenery in October

For silver grass and pink muhly, timing is more crucial than festivals. Colors begin to emerge in late September, become most abundant in October, and by November, the silver grass starts to fade. Regional attractions and how to get there are organized in Autumn Pink Muhly and Silver Grass Spots, and riverside reed beds in Autumn Reed Bed Cycling and Hiking in Korea. Many people aim for late afternoon when the sun is low, as silver grass appears brightest when viewed against the light.

October Nights — Night Openings and Light Festivals

October's evening temperatures are still bearable, making it the last good month for night viewing.

• Hwaseong Haenggung Palace Night Opening — If it overlaps with the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, the fortress area will also be crowded.
• Mireuksa Temple Site Night Opening — Illumination of the Mireuksa Stone Pagoda in Iksan.
• Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival — The main event begins after sunset.
• Changdeokgung Huwon Autumn Tour — A daytime tour, but reservations fill up quickly.

After mid-October, night temperatures can drop to single digits. If you choose your clothes based only on daytime temperatures, you might struggle to endure two or three hours after sunset.

Last Week of University Festivals and Halloween

Autumn university festivals are concentrated in September, with some schools continuing into early October. Dates, lineups, and admission policies for external visitors can be found in Autumn University Festivals.

The last week of October is Halloween. October 31, 2026, is a Saturday. Theme parks operate Halloween seasonal events from September to November. Parade times, horror zone operating hours, and costume regulations are compiled in Everland and Lotte World Halloween. The Halloween weekend is one of the busiest days of the year, so if weekday visits are possible, that's preferable.

October Attire and Essentials

October is a month with significant temperature differences between day and night. While light long-sleeved clothing may suffice during the day, a windbreaker or thin padded jacket will be necessary after sunset.

What to Revisit Every October

The structure of October is similar each year. There are Gaecheonjeol and Hangeul Day, regional festivals are concentrated in the first to third weeks, and autumn foliage begins in the northern regions in mid-month and moves south by late month. What changes are the days of the week and the confirmed dates of festivals. Local governments usually finalize schedules one to two months in advance, so it's safer to check official announcements rather than relying on last year's dates. Plans for November continue in Late Autumn in November.

Sources

• Korea Forest Service 2026 Autumn Foliage Peak Prediction Report: https://www.youngnong.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=70540
• Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Official: https://yudeung.com/
• Andong International Mask Dance Festival Opening Report: https://www.ajunews.com/view/20260920021400158
• Gimje Horizon Festival Official: https://festival.gimje.go.kr/
• Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival Schedule Report: https://www.youcandonews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20263
• Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival Schedule Report: https://www.gukjenews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3707073
• Yangyang Songi Salmon Festival Schedule Report: https://www.gnnnews.kr/201047

Last checked: 2026-09-29