Soyosan, Gyeonggi's "Sogeumgang," Turns Red... Head to Dongducheon This Fall

Dongducheon City: An All-Five-Senses Getaway Near Seoul
Soyosan’s Multicolored Foliage, Forest Healing, Bosan-dong Festival and More at a Glance
Soyosai Opens on the 19th; Soyodanpung Cultural Festival Brings More Festivities on the 31st
Mayor Pa

October, when the autumn breeze turns cool and the mountainsides are tinged red and yellow. There is a place where you can enjoy the atmosphere of fall without traveling far: Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, less than an hour from Seoul.

With access to Seoul Subway Line 1 and a network of express roads, Dongducheon is an easy choice for a day trip or a weekend getaway with an overnight stay. There is plenty to choose from, including the colorful autumn foliage of Soyosan, known as "Gyeonggi's Sogeumgang," a natural recreation forest and healing forest, activity facilities for the whole family, and the exotic-feeling Bosan-dong Tourist Special Zone. From walking along foliage-lined paths to spending a night in the forest, Dongducheon offers the chance to immerse yourself in autumn close to home.

Autumn foliage at Soyosan (left) and Soyo Byeol & Sup Theme Park. Provided by Dongducheon City.

Autumn foliage among rocky peaks... New rest stop at Soyosan

Soyosan is a top destination for an autumn trip to Dongducheon. Its mountainsides, where striking rock formations meet dense forests, turn red and yellow with autumn leaves. Along the path to Jajaeam Temple, steeped in the legend of Buddhist monk Wonhyo and Princess Yoseok, visitors can take in the autumn scenery to the sound of flowing water. Wonhyo Falls and the surrounding rocks add to the enjoyment of walking the mountain trails.

Jajaeam Temple, where the Silla-era monk Wonhyo is said to have practiced, adds to the autumn atmosphere with its rugged mountain setting and tranquil temple scenery. Wonhyo Falls and the striking rock formations along the path to the temple are also among Soyosan's attractions. Visitors can enjoy the fall scenery at their own pace, from a leisurely stroll to a full hike, making it a popular destination for families, couples and hikers alike.

This fall, a new attraction will open at the entrance to Soyosan. On October 19, the Soyo Sai cultural complex will open at the entrance to Soyosan. The two-story facility was renovated from the former Livestock Brand Meat Town. It includes a tourist information center, a cafe, a foot bath, a gift shop and cultural activity spaces. After walking the foliage-lined paths, visitors can stop for tea, relax with a foot bath and rest.

On October 31, the 38th Soyo Maple Culture Festival and the 17th reenactment of General Eo Yuso's procession will be held at the Soyosan Outdoor Amphitheater. The event will reenact the procession and victory report of General Eo Yuso from the Joseon Dynasty. Dongducheon Mayor Park Hyung-deok will play King Seongjong, including in a scene in which the king bestows a royal grant of land. Performances by local arts groups and invited singers, as well as traditional culture activities, are also planned.

Soyo Sai (left) and General Eo Yuso's procession at the Soyo Maple Festival. Photo provided by Dongducheon City.

A forest stay and spa... A leisurely day of rest

Those looking for a quiet place to enjoy autumn can head to Dongducheon Natural Recreation Forest in Tap-dong-dong. Guests can stay in forest cabins or the forest recreation center, walk the forest trails during the day and unwind in the quiet woods in the evening. The forest also offers contactless smart check-in, allowing guests to enter their rooms using a password sent to their phones.

The forest also operates SOOP PICK, a public local platform for ordering regional food and products. Guests can scan a QR code in their room to order food and desserts from local restaurants, as well as products from local workshops, without installing a separate app. There is no minimum order or delivery fee, and orders can be collected twice a day from an unmanned pickup station inside the recreation forest.

Rim Spa inside the recreation forest features a bade pool for enjoying hydro-massage while looking out at the forest, as well as a family spa. Nearby, Dongducheon Healing Forest offers forest therapy programs, forest trail walks and foot baths. Combining a walk in the woods, time to relax and local food makes for a leisurely day.

Natural Recreation Forest (left) and Rim Spa. Photo courtesy of Dongducheon City.

Forest adventures for kids... A family trip combining play and learning

For a family outing with children, the many activity facilities are not to be missed. Nolja Sup, next to the natural recreation forest, is an adventure facility in the woods offering a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Indoors, visitors can try climbing, rope courses and slides; outdoors, they can enjoy a net adventure, an extreme slide and treehouses. The option to choose indoor or outdoor activities depending on the weather makes it popular with families.

The Gyeonggi Northern Children's Museum, in the Soyosan area, is another popular stop for family outings. Visitors can explore hands-on exhibits about forests and ecology, including "Oreum Sup," where they can climb through the body of a giant herbivorous dinosaur, the Brachiosaurus, as well as "Dinosaur Forest" and "Nature Forest." It is a place where children can learn about nature by moving around and exploring for themselves.

Those who want to stay an extra day can continue their trip to the nearby Soyo Byeol & Sup Theme Park. With caravans and a spacious lawn, it is a place where visitors can enjoy the activity facilities during the day and unwind with family in the evening. Combining play, learning and a night in the forest makes for an even more rewarding family trip.

Nolja Sup (left) and the Gyeonggi Northern Children's Museum. Provided by Dongducheon City.

From foliage viewing to alleyway adventures... Another side of Bosan-dong

At Bosan-dong Tourist Special Zone, near Bosan Station on Subway Line 1, visitors can discover a different side of Dongducheon from the scenery of its mountains and forests. The streets bring together the history of the U.S. military presence and the changes brought by urban regeneration, while colorful graffiti and distinctive shops in its alleys create an exotic atmosphere.

In Bosan-dong's workshop district, visitors can admire leatherwork, woodwork, silver crafts and pottery, and take part in activities to make their own. Items made in a one-day class can serve as souvenirs of the trip. At Bosan-dong World Food Street, visitors can sample distinctive street food from around the world.

On October 18, the 2026 Hello DDC Festival will be held around the Korea-U.S. Friendship Plaza in Bosan-dong Tourist Special Zone. Alongside the main concert, there will be a random-play dance event and dance challenges featuring dance creator Chumchuneun Gomdol. Food booths linked to Bosan-dong World Food Street, workshop activities at Design Art Village and photo zones are also planned.

A trip that takes in the autumn foliage at Soyosan and the culture and food of Bosan-dong lets visitors experience, in a single day, the contrasting charms of Dongducheon's natural and urban landscapes.

Bosan-dong Tourist Special Zone (left) and Bosan-dong World Food Street. Provided by Dongducheon City.

From fall colors to a year-round tourism destination

Dongducheon City is developing Soyosan into a tourist destination where visitors can stay and enjoy themselves throughout the year. Through the Soyosan Expansion and Development Project, the city plans to gradually add tourism and recreation spaces, including a park golf course, a pet theme park, Soyo Naeum Park, the ecological restoration of Soyo Stream and the Dongmakgol Forest Campground, following the opening of Soyo Sai. The goal is to broaden the range of experiences so that visitors who come to see the autumn foliage will return in every season to discover something new.

"Dongducheon is an autumn destination less than an hour from Seoul, where visitors can enjoy everything from Soyosan's fall foliage and a forest retreat to family activities and distinctive food," Mayor Park Hyung-deok said. "I hope the newly opening Soyo Sai and the Soyo Maple Culture Festival will offer another enjoyable experience to those visiting Dongducheon this fall."

He added, "We will continue to link outstanding tourism resources, including Soyosan and the natural recreation forest, and expand tourism infrastructure to make Dongducheon a destination that people will want to visit in every season."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.