Where to go in Korea in November: 19 festivals

Festivals and seasonal sights in 50 places across Korea in November: Suncheon Bay Reed Festival (Suncheon), Busan Fireworks Festival (Busan), Autumn…

Top 10

Suncheon

• Suncheon Bay Reed Festival — Around ten days in early November, when the reeds are at their most golden. Sign up ahead for the dawn boat tour and crane-watching sessions.
• Autumn leaves on Jogyesan — Early to mid November the forest road to Seonamsa turns red. The trail over Gulmokjae from Seonamsa to Songgwangsa takes 3-4 hours.

Busan

• Busan Fireworks Festival — An hour-long show. Claim free sand early in the afternoon or book a paid seat (R ₩100,000, S ₩70,000). Expect long subway lines afterward.
• Autumn Leaves — Early to mid November: Beomeosa's ginkgo and the maples on the approach to Tongdosa. Taejongdae may close some trails for fire season from early November.

Namhae

• Autumn Leaves on Geumsan — Early to mid November the granite slopes go red; the shuttle line is at its longest.
• Yi Sun-sin Memorial Ceremony — Memorial rites and performances at Gwaneumpo around the anniversary of the Battle of Noryang.

Paju

• Paju Jangdan Bean Festival — Farmers sell Jangdan beans, meju blocks, tofu and doenjang direct. Tofu-making sessions and tasting stalls run all day; bean queues are long, so go before noon.
• Late autumn colour at Byeokchoji — Maples around the pond reflect in the water through early November. Last entry shifts by season, so check before you go.

Gurye

• Jirisan Piagol Maple Festival — Late October to early November the Samhongso stretch is at its reddest, and that weekend the village holds a mountain rite and forest concert. Park below the village and walk in.
• Harvest and sansuyu days at the five-day market — Late-autumn market days bring new grain, dried sansuyu and dried persimmons to the stalls. Go early while the good stuff is still there.

Jeonju

• Autumn Foliage at the Arboretums — Late October into early November. Both are free to enter and park, so on weekend mornings the lots fill first.
• Ginkgo Trees at Jeonju Hyanggyo — Early November, the 400-year-old ginkgos turn gold and leaves carpet the courtyard. Hanbok photographers crowd in, so go in the morning.

Damyang

• Autumn Color on Chuwolsan — A steep hour and a half up to the cliff-hugging Boriam, with Damyang Lake and the color spread out below.
• Metasequoia Road in Rust — The needles turn reddish brown and carpet the road. Weekend afternoons mean parking queues, so come in the morning.

Ulsan

• Seoknamsa Autumn Leaves — The valley path into the temple goes red. The lot fills on weekend afternoons, so go in the morning.
• Taehwagang Rook Murmuration — Tens of thousands of rooks from Siberia swirl in black waves over the bamboo at dusk. Find a spot on the bank 30 minutes before sunset.

Ganghwa

• Ginkgo Gold at Jeondeungsa — The old ginkgos turn gold and carpet the ground. The wall path colours up at the same time.
• Ganghwa Pungmul Market Day — November market days are piled with turnips, salted shrimp and yellow sweet potatoes. Kimchi-season shoppers come in numbers.

Haenam

• Autumn colour at Daeheungsa and Duryunsan — Early to mid-November the gate-to-temple path turns red. Weekend car-park queues are long, so be there before 9am.
• Migratory birds at Gocheonam Lake — From late autumn through winter, flocks of Baikal teal lift off the lake all at once at dusk. Close to the Uhang-ri dinosaur museum.

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