Visiting South Korea in October

October is widely considered one of the best months to visit South Korea, with crisp, sunny days and the country's famous autumn foliage at its peak, particularly around Seoraksan National Park and Seoul's palace grounds. It's also a brilliant month for food festivals: Jeonju's Bibimbap Festival celebrates the city's signature dish with cooking classes, parades and tastings, while Gwangju's World Kimchi Festival marks the age-old kimjang tradition of communal kimchi-making. Gyeongju's ancient burial mounds and temple grounds look particularly striking under autumn colour too. Along with April, this is the busiest month for domestic and international tourism, so book ahead where you can.