설악산 대청봉 일대에서 첫 단풍 관측…9월 중순 정상부부터 물들 전망
First Autumn Colours Spotted Around Daecheongbong on Seoraksan, with the Summit Expected to Turn in Mid-September
Part of the September 3, 2026 daily edition
설악산국립공원사무소는 8월 31일, 해발 1708m인 대청봉 일대에서 단풍이 관측됐다고 밝혔습니다. 최근 대청봉 일대의 평균기온이 약 16도를 기록하는 가운데 일교차가 커지면서, 일부 나뭇잎이 노란색과 붉은색으로 물들기 시작했습니다. 사무소는 산 전체의 20%가량이 물들면 첫 단풍, 80% 이상 물들면 절정으로 봅니다. 9월 중순쯤에는 설악산 정상부의 20% 이상이 오색단풍으로 물들기 시작해, 단풍이 점차 산 아래쪽으로 넓어질 것으로 전망됩니다. 사무소는 올해도 예년과 비슷한 시기에 단풍이 관찰될 것으로 보인다고 밝혔습니다.
Translation
설악산국립공원사무소 said on August 31 that autumn colours had been observed around 대청봉, a peak 1708 m above sea level. The average temperature around 대청봉 has been about 16 degrees lately, and as the gap between day and night temperatures widened, some leaves began turning yellow and red. The office counts it as the first colouring when about 20% of the whole mountain has turned, and as the peak when more than 80% has. Around the middle of September, more than 20% of the summit area is expected to start turning, and the colours should then spread down the mountain. The office said the leaves look likely to turn at about the same time as in an average year.
Vocabulary
- 단풍명사 (noun)autumn leaves, autumn colours
- 관측되다동사 (verb)to be observed
- 해발명사 (noun)above sea level
- 평균기온명사 (noun)average temperature
- 일교차명사 (noun)daily temperature range (day-night gap)
- 물들다동사 (verb)to be dyed, to turn colour
- 절정명사 (noun)peak, height
- 정상부명사 (noun)the summit area
Grammar points
-(으)면if, when
-(으)면 sets a condition, and the clause after it says what follows. Here it defines two terms at once: 20%가 물들면 첫 단풍, 80% 이상 물들면 절정. Korean often uses -(으)면 where English would say 'when X per cent has turned', and the same form covers both 'if' and 'when', so context decides which one you hear.
Example: 사무소는 산 전체의 20%가량이 물들면 첫 단풍, 80% 이상 물들면 절정으로 봅니다.
The office counts it as the first colouring when about 20% of the whole mountain has turned, and as the peak when more than 80% has.
-(으)ㄹ 것으로 보이다it looks likely that, to seem set to
-(으)ㄹ 것으로 보이다 marks a forecast rather than a fact: something looks likely, but has not happened. Weather and season stories lean on it constantly, because nobody can promise when leaves will turn. Note that 보이다 here is not 'to be visible' but 'to appear to be', and the thing expected takes -(으)ㄹ 것으로.
Example: 사무소는 올해도 예년과 비슷한 시기에 단풍이 관찰될 것으로 보인다고 밝혔습니다.
The office said the leaves look likely to turn at about the same time as in an average year.
More in this edition
Economy
Intermediate
편의점 먹거리 경쟁…CU는 치맥페스티벌 우승 치킨, GS25는 '넘버원 치킨도시락' 재출시
Korea's Convenience Stores Compete on Food: CU Sells the Daegu Chimac Festival's Winning Chicken, GS25 Brings Back Its Chicken Lunchbox
Life
Advanced
1회 데이트 평균 지출 남성 9만800원·여성 6만4000원…실제 지출과 '적정선'은 약 2배 차이
An Average Date Costs 90,800 Won for Men and 64,000 for Women in Korea, and What People Spend Is About Twice What They Call Comfortable
Society
Expert
한일 청년 4,000명 조사…결혼 의향 한국 81.4%, 일본은 42.4%가 '평생 생각 없다'
A Survey of 4,000 Young Koreans and Japanese: 81.4% in Korea Mean to Marry, While 42.4% in Japan Say They Never Will
Policy
Expert
서울외국인포털 개편…9월 1일부터 'MY SEOUL+'로, 앱 없이 웹에서 상담 예약까지
Seoul's Portal for Foreign Residents Relaunches as 'MY SEOUL+', with Consultations Bookable in the Browser