Jeju's Mount Halla sees latest foliage start since 1991

The first autumn foliage of the year on Jeju’s Mount Halla was observed on Monday, marking the latest start since 1991.

Mount Halla's autumn foliage on Oct. 24. [YONHAP]

The first autumn foliage of the year on Jeju’s Mount Halla was observed on Tuesday, marking the latest start since 1991.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Wednesday, the first signs of autumn foliage on Mount Halla began 19 days later than last year’s date of Oct. 10 and 15 days later than the average date of Oct. 14.

Typically, late October sees the mountain in peak fall colors. However, this year, the first foliage appeared only at the end of the month. The average peak foliage period for Mount Halla is Oct. 28.

The KMA data portal shows that this year’s foliage start date is the latest since records began in 1991.

Previously, the latest recorded start of foliage on Mount Halla was Oct. 28, 1999, with peak foliage occurring on Nov. 21 that year.

The KMA defines first foliage as when about 20 percent of the mountain, starting from the summit, is covered in color, and peak foliage as when approximately 80 percent is in color.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]