2026 Autumn Foliage: A Beginner's Guide to Drone Aerial Photography

You may want to capture the special sight of colorful autumn foliage from the sky with a drone, but it can be daunting to know where to start. This guide walks beginners through the entire process for their first drone aerial photography attempt in the fall of 2026, from choosing a model and finding the best shooting locations to, most importantly, how to check flight regulations.

Key Drone Foliage Photography Tips at a Glance: 3-Line Summary

• Choose a beginner drone under 250g: These can be operated for non-commercial purposes without a pilot certificate, lowering the barrier to entry.
• Check 'Drone One-Stop' before flying is a must: You must confirm before takeoff whether the area is a flyable zone or if separate approval is required.
• Flying in national parks is strictly prohibited: Not only can you be fined, but it can also threaten the natural ecosystem, so you must find autumn foliage spots outside of national parks.

How to Choose a Beginner Drone?

The first thing to consider when starting with drone aerial photography is the aircraft's weight. As of 2026, drones with a maximum takeoff weight of less than 250g are suitable for beginners because they can be flown for non-commercial (hobby) purposes without a separate pilot certificate.

The DJI Mini series is a representative example of a beginner drone under 250g, and the specifications for one of them are as follows.

• Model Name: DJI Mini 4K
• Aircraft Weight: 246g (as of 2024-04)
• Camera: Supports 4K/30fps video recording

These lightweight drones have fewer regulatory burdens and are easy to carry, making them great for enjoying aerial photography on a light autumn foliage trip.

Step-by-Step Shooting Preparation: From Planning to Execution

Successful aerial photography starts with thorough preparation. Follow the 4 steps below to get ready.

Step 1: Apply for Flight and Photography Permits You cannot fly a drone freely everywhere. The 'Drone One-Stop Civil Service' website (drone.onestop.go.kr), operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is essential for planning your flight.

• Flight Approval: Required for flights above 150m altitude, in no-fly zones, and within controlled airspace (9.3km radius around airports). It takes about 3 business days to process after application.
• Aerial Photography Permit: Required if the shooting area includes security facilities such as military installations. You must apply at least 4 business days before the shoot. It is generally not needed for shooting in ordinary mountains or fields.
• Cost: There are no application fees for flight approval and aerial photography permits (as of 2026-08).

Step 2: Select a Shooting Location The most important point is that drone flights are completely banned in all areas of national parks. Caution is needed as most famous foliage spots like Seoraksan and Naejangsan are located within national parks. Fines for unauthorized flights start at 200,000 KRW for the first offense. Instead, you can consider the following places:

• Danyang Bobaljae Pass: A famous aerial photography spot known for its colorful autumn foliage along a winding road.
• Parks and arboretums managed by local governments: It's a good idea to inquire with the management office about the possibility of drone flights before visiting.
• Another option is to look for 2026 autumn foliage spots near Seoul that are not national parks.

Step 3: Decide on the Shooting Time The peak autumn foliage season varies slightly each year depending on the climate. The Korea Forest Service usually releases a forecast map at the end of September. As a reference, the peak foliage times for major mountains in 2025 were as follows:

• Seoraksan Mountain: Around October 25
• Songnisan Mountain: Around October 27
• Naejangsan Mountain: Around November 6

Step 4: Set Up Your Shooting Equipment To capture the vivid colors of autumn foliage under the autumn sun, using an ND filter is almost essential. An ND filter reduces the amount of light entering the lens, helping you achieve the shutter speed needed to express natural motion in your video.

• Basic Shutter Speed: Set it to the reciprocal of twice the video frame rate (fps). (e.g., 30fps → 1/60s)
• Recommended ND Filters by Weather (as of 2024-12)
  • Cloudy days, shade: ND4 or ND8
  • Clear days: ND16 or ND32
  • Very bright noon sunlight: ND64

Major Drone Regulations and Fines at a Glance

To avoid penalties due to ignorance of the law, we have summarized the key regulations in a table.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Just before flying, do a final check of the items below.

• Check if the drone body, controller, and smartphone batteries are fully charged
• Check if the memory card is formatted and inserted
• Check the weather in the flight area (especially wind speed)
• Re-check the flight restriction information for your current location on the Drone One-Stop app/website
• Prepare necessary accessories like ND filters for the shoot
• Print or save the flight/photography permit on your smartphone (if required)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can I fly a drone under 250g anywhere? A. No. While drones under 250g are exempt from pilot certification requirements, they are still subject to the Aviation Safety Act, including restrictions on no-fly zones, controlled airspace, and flying above 150m altitude. There are many prohibited areas, such as national parks, military installations, and areas around airports, so you must check for flyability using the 'Drone One-Stop' service before takeoff.

Q. The autumn foliage in national parks is stunning. Is drone photography really not allowed? A. That's correct. Drone flights for general hobby purposes are completely prohibited under the 'Natural Parks Act'. This is to ensure the safety of visitors and protect the flora and fauna ecosystem. Flights are only allowed in exceptional cases, such as academic research or public-interest reporting, with prior permission from the National Park Service office. Violators will be fined 200,000 KRW for the first offense.

Q. Do I always need to get both flight approval and an aerial photography permit? A. No, the two permits are separate. An aerial photography permit is a procedure to confirm with the Ministry of National Defense whether the intended shooting area includes national security facilities like military installations; it does not apply to most general landscape photography. Flight approval is a permit required when flying above 150m altitude or in restricted airspace like a control zone. Therefore, if you are flying below 150m in an open rural area, you might not need either permit. However, if you are unsure, it is safest to check and apply through Drone One-Stop.