Korea Seasonal Guide
🍁 Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) (추석)
Mid-September to early October (lunar)
Korea's biggest holiday — 3 days of family reunions, ancestral rites, and songpyeon rice cakes.
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving / Mid-Autumn Festival) is Korea's biggest holiday, falling on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. In 2026 it's September 24-27 (4 days with bridge holidays). Koreans travel home en masse — Seoul empties out. Charye (ancestral rites), songpyeon (crescent rice cakes), and ssireum (traditional wrestling) are the cultural highlights. Many businesses + restaurants close, but palaces + parks remain open + add free programs.
Peak dates
September 24-27, 2026 (4-day with bridge holiday)
What to expect
- •Seoul empties to 50% normal population
- •Major restaurants + shops closed 9/24-9/26
- •Long-distance buses + trains sell out
- •Free programs at all palaces
- •Traditional clothing (hanbok) everywhere
Best locations
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul)Free entry for hanbok wearers + special Chuseok programs
- Namsangol Hanok Village (Seoul)Free traditional games + folk performances
- Gyeongju Hanok Village (Gyeongbuk)UNESCO + traditional Chuseok celebrations
- Bukchon Hanok Village (Seoul)Quiet (residents away) + photogenic
- Korean Folk Village (Yongin)Traditional Chuseok demonstrations + folk games
What to pack
- •Stretchy clothing (a lot of food)
- •Light jacket (autumn temps)
- •Camera (cultural performances)
- •Patience (transport delays)
Tips
- •Book transport tickets 3+ months ahead (sell out in hours).
- •Avoid road trips outside Seoul — 100km+ traffic jams normal.
- •Many cultural sites have FREE programs during Chuseok.
- •Try songpyeon (crescent rice cake) from any traditional market.
- •Hotels in Seoul stay open + may run promotions (empty city = available rooms).
Frequently asked
When is Chuseok 2026?
September 24-27, 2026 (4-day with bridge holiday). Major Korean holiday.
Is Seoul worth visiting during Chuseok?
Yes — locals leave, city is quieter, all palaces have free programs, hotels may discount.
What food is eaten at Chuseok?
Songpyeon (crescent rice cakes), japchae, jeon (Korean pancakes), galbi-jjim (braised beef ribs).