It grows at altitudes of 1,000–1,900 metres (3,300–6,200 ft) in temperate rainforest with high rainfall and cool, humid summers, and heavy winter snowfall.

The leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1–2 centimetres (0.4–0.8 in) long and 2–2.5 millimetres (0.08–0.10 in) wide by 0.5 mm (0.02 in) thick, glossy dark green above, and with two broad, vividly white bands of stomata below, and slightly notched at the tip.

The winged seeds are released when the cones disintegrate at maturity about 5–6 months after pollination.

Korean fir is a very popular ornamental plant in parks and gardens in temperate climates, grown for its foliage but also for the abundant cone production even on young trees only 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall.

The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit: Biggest group of wild Korean fir grows in Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island, South Korea.