추석
Chuseok
Korea's harvest moon festival — three days of gratitude, family, and songpyeon.
Origin
Chuseok — meaning 'autumn evening' — falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the harvest moon is at its fullest. It is one of the two most important holidays in Korea, alongside Seollal. The holiday is a time to give thanks for the year's harvest, to honour ancestors, and to reunite with family. In modern Korea it spans three official days — the day before, the day itself, and the day after — creating a national pause unlike any other.
History
Scholars trace Chuseok's roots to Gabae, a festival mentioned in the Samguk Sagi (12th-century historical text) during the ancient Silla kingdom. A legend describes a month-long weaving competition between two teams of women, ending on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month with a feast for the winner. Over centuries, the celebration merged with shamanistic harvest rites and Confucian ancestor veneration, shaping the charye ancestral rites still performed today. During Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945), traditional customs were suppressed but survived in rural communities. Since the 1970s economic boom, Chuseok has also become the great national return — millions of Koreans travelling home simultaneously in what's called the Great Folk Migration (민족대이동).
Modern Celebration
The morning of Chuseok begins with charye — a formal ancestral ceremony where offerings of freshly harvested food and rice wine are laid before a table altar. Families then visit family graves (seongmyo) to clean the site and offer food and bows. Hanbok (traditional clothing) is worn throughout the holiday. Regional variations in food and customs remain vibrant: Gyeongsang province makes different songpyeon fillings from Jeolla province. Young children receive money from elders. Traditional games like ssireum (Korean wrestling) and ganggangsullae (a circle dance performed under the full moon) are still celebrated at cultural events, though less commonly in everyday households.
Traditional Foods
Songpyeon (송편)
Half-moon shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, red bean paste, or chestnuts, steamed on a bed of pine needles. Making songpyeon with family the night before Chuseok is a beloved tradition — an old saying claims that the person who makes the most beautiful songpyeon will have beautiful children.
Jeon (전)
Savory pan-fried pancakes made with vegetables, seafood, or meat. Haemul pajeon (seafood and spring onion) is particularly popular. The sizzling sound of jeon frying is synonymous with Chuseok preparation.
Japchae (잡채)
Glass noodles stir-fried with colorful vegetables, mushrooms, and beef, seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. A staple of Korean festive tables, japchae carries symbolic meaning — its mixed ingredients represent harmony.
Galbijjim (갈비찜)
Slow-braised beef short ribs in a rich soy, pear, and ginger sauce. A labour-intensive dish that signals the importance of the occasion — galbi is expensive and reserved for celebrations.
Sikhye (식혜)
A traditional sweet rice punch, served chilled. Made by fermenting cooked rice with barley malt water, it has a delicate sweetness and is often served as a digestive after the festive meal.
How to Participate
- 01Perform charye — set up an ancestral food offering table and bow together before eating
- 02Visit family graves (seongmyo) to trim grass, clean the site, and lay offerings
- 03Make songpyeon together the night before — a family tradition that involves shaping and steaming the rice cakes
- 04Wear hanbok and take family photographs at a local cultural centre or palace
- 05Watch or participate in ssireum (traditional wrestling) at local festivals
- 06Learn ganggangsullae — the circle dance traditionally performed by women under the full moon
Travel Tips
Chuseok triggers the largest mass movement of people in Korea. KTX train tickets sell out within minutes of release — often 1–2 months in advance. Highways become gridlocked: a normally 3-hour drive can take 8–10 hours. Hotels and guesthouses in popular destinations (Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju) fully book months ahead. Most restaurants, shops, and attractions close on Chuseok day itself; the days before and after are better for exploring. If you are visiting Korea as a tourist, Chuseok is best experienced at a cultural village (like Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul) rather than trying to travel long distances.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chuseok?+
Chuseok falls on 15th day of the 8th lunar month (Sept–Oct). Because it follows the lunar calendar, the Gregorian date shifts each year — check the calendar links below for exact dates.
Is Chuseok a public holiday?+
Chuseok is a public holiday in South Korea. Most businesses, government offices, and schools are closed on this day. It is one of the most significant national holidays in the country.
What do people eat during Chuseok?+
Traditional foods eaten during Chuseok include Songpyeon (송편), Jeon (전), Japchae (잡채). Half-moon shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, red bean paste, or chestnuts, steamed on a bed of pine needles. Making songpyeon with family the night before Chuseok is a beloved tradition — an old saying claims that the person who makes the most beautiful songpyeon will have beautiful children.
What are some activities associated with Chuseok?+
Perform charye — set up an ancestral food offering table and bow together before eating Visit family graves (seongmyo) to trim grass, clean the site, and lay offerings Make songpyeon together the night before — a family tradition that involves shaping and steaming the rice cakes
Is Chuseok a good time to visit South Korea?+
Chuseok triggers the largest mass movement of people in Korea. KTX train tickets sell out within minutes of release — often 1–2 months in advance. Highways become gridlocked: a normally 3-hour drive can take 8–10 hours. Hotels and guesthouses in popular destinations (Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju) fully book months ahead. Most restaurants, shops, and attractions close on Chuseok day itself; the days before and after are better for exploring. If you are visiting Korea as a tourist, Chuseok is best experienced at a cultural village (like Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul) rather than trying to travel long distances.
Printable Calendars
Download a free printable calendar for Chuseok — includes all public holidays.
🇰🇷 South Korea