Dori Village Ginkgo Tree Forest

In front of Dori Village in Seo-myeon, west of Gyeongju, ginkgo trees stand in dense rows, and in late autumn the whole grove turns yellow. It is neither natural forest nor a planned park: the trees were originally planted to be sold as saplings. In a city known for Silla-era tombs and temples, it shows Gyeongju from a completely different angle.

A forest of unsold saplings

The trees grew on private land where one person raised ginkgo saplings for sale over several decades. When the market for them dried up, the trees were simply left to grow, and the forest is the result. Because they were planted so close together, the branches could not spread sideways and the trunks shot straight up, creating an unusual grove of tall, slender columns. Ginkgos turn yellow all at once in autumn and shed their leaves fairly quickly, which makes the change of the whole grove to a single colour all the more striking.

Until a few years ago only locals knew about it, but social media turned it into a photo spot and one of Gyeongju's best-known autumn destinations. It is also popular for wedding photos.

In autumn so many people come that thousands of cars pass through the village in a single day. Residents have started selling farm produce, coffee and tea by the roadside, and a small café has opened. Watching a quiet farming village turn into a seasonal attraction is part of the experience here.

Around the forest and the village

• The ginkgo paths: dirt paths lead between the straight trunks. After the leaves fall, the ground is covered in a yellow carpet, so it is worth coming even after the peak.
• Village murals: house walls are painted with ginkgo leaves, animals and short phrases, which go well with the forest in photos.
• Village market: when the leaves turn, residents sell farm produce and snacks at the village entrance.

In 2026 Gyeongju City started a project worth about KRW 51 million to repaint murals, repair roofs and fences and plant seasonal flowers, aiming to make the village worth visiting in every season.

Tripto tips

• Best time: late autumn (usually around November), when the leaves turn yellow. Timing varies from year to year, so check the foliage news before you set off. In summer the green colonnade is pleasantly cool.
• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour for the forest and the village.
• Photo tip: step back into the field in front of the forest to fit the wall of straight trunks into one frame.
• Fees: open at all times; no entry fee.
• Fees: open at all times; no entry fee.
• Missed the peak? The fallen leaves keep the ground yellow for a while, so the season to enjoy it is fairly long.
• Getting there: about 14 km west of central Gyeongju as the crow flies, so a car or taxi is easiest. It combines well with the Tomb of General Kim Yu-sin or Oksan Seowon.
• Watch out for: the forest is private land and the village is a place where people live. Stay out of yards and fields. On peak weekends traffic jams the village roads, so go early in the morning.