I’m getting very excited for the annual danpoong (단풍) or autumn leaves here in Korea. And, thanks to an anonymous commenter, now we have the 2009 “color predication” chart for South Korea (I’ll admit the term is a new one for me).
Anyhow, thanks to David Hasenick’s site and I hope this helps folks plan their autumn trips… I’ve got plans to visit Naejang Mountain, Seorak Mountain, Jusanji and Gyeongju… just hope they all pan out!
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The Ewha University campus features some pretty spectacular horticulture, including lots of golden ginkgo trees.
When I first came to Seoul, I quickly noticed there was a tree of choice lining the streets. Seoul doesn’t have many landscaped medians or sidewalks, so I felt that this seemingly unremarkable tree, with its rough dark bark and small, pale-green, fan-shaped leaves, was a disappointing choice. Why couldn’t Seoul have imported Jinhae‘s beloved cherry trees or some of the big maples found in New England towns?
These questions only became more pointed in early October, when these trees dropped their stinky little fruits all over the sidewalk. Step on one and you’d regret it the rest of the day. But this time last year, when autumn truly swept in and the temps fell, these previously unremarkable trees morphed. Suddenly their hohum leaves turned solid gold, which contrasted beautifully with their black bark.
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A snapshot from Bukhan Mountain, just north of Seoul. The bright yellow leaves are from an old Gingko Tree.
(A version of this text aired on KBS World Radio on October 25, 2008.)
The French existentialist and philosopher Albert Camus once said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” That famous line reminds me why this is my favorite time of the year, and Korea is a great place to see autumn in all its colorful glory. Korea’s climate has four distinct seasons, and fall is when the mild climate and limited rainfall make traveling especially comfortable.
The Korean word for autumn leaves is danpoong (단풍), … and come to think of it, it’s funny that English doesn’t have its own word, at least to my knowledge. Maybe the leaves here are just more spectacular?
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