Stunning Fall Foliage

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As we enter this autumn, the leaves are fast turning color throughout the nation. Fall foliage already covers 80% of Mount Seoraksan. This year's foliage is expected to be even more vivid and stunning than previous years. Here's the reason.

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When the winds grow chilly, trees begin to prepare for the winter. A special layer of cells is formed on the leaves and branches to block the flow of moisture and nutrients produced through photosynthesis. This leads to higher acidity inside the leaves which destroys the green-shade chlorophyll and gives rise to other hidden colors of leaves. Also, photosynthesis in the autumn season produces different colors for different trees. The red is due to the formation of anthocyanin.

[Soundbite] Kim Seon-hee (PhD, National Institute of Forest Science) : "The reason why each tree has leaves of different color is because of the unique pigments trees possess and produce. Even the same species show different shades as the ratio of pigments also differ by time."

The climate must also work favorably for the foliage to fully display its natural hue. Photosynthesis requires lots of sunshine, a wide daily temperature difference between day and night as well as an adequate amount of moisture. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts this fall meets all of these conditions and we can therefore expect lush, thick-colored and beautiful foliage.

[Soundbite] Im So-yeong (Korea Meteorological Administration) : "Weather conditions since September indicate considerable sunshine, wide daily temperature range and smaller precipitation than average years, creating an ideal condition for the turning of colors."

Korea's clear fall sky is turning into an array of shades in more a radiant fashion than in any other year.