Enjoy the Korean Chuseok holiday

When traveling in Korea, you may notice that the streets become exceptionally quiet around the end of September. This is the Chuseok holiday.
It is one of the biggest holidays of the year for Koreans, and if you are in Korea during this time, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

🌕 What is Chuseok?

Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month and is a day to give thanks for a successful harvest.
In pure Korean, it is called Hangawi, which combines the words for 'big' (han) and 'middle' (gawi), meaning the middle of autumn.
You can think of it as similar to Thanksgiving in the United States. On this day, families gather in their hometowns to perform charye (ancestral rites) to show gratitude to their ancestors and visit their graves for seongmyo. At night, people often gaze at the full moon and make wishes.

📅 When is the 2026 Chuseok holiday?

In 2026, the day of Chuseok is Friday, September 25th. The official holiday lasts for three days, from Thursday, September 24th, to Saturday, September 26th. Including the following Sunday, it is effectively a four-day break. There are no substitute holidays designated this year. During this period, highways and trains are very crowded with people heading to their hometowns, so if you are planning to travel between cities, it is best to secure your tickets in advance.

🍽 Foods eaten during Chuseok

The most representative food is songpyeon. It is made by kneading dough with newly harvested rice, shaping it into a half-moon, and filling it with sesame seeds, beans, or chestnuts. It is steamed on a bed of pine needles, which gives it a subtle pine scent. The act of families sitting together to make them is a quintessential holiday scene. Other dishes often served include jeon (pan-fried battered ingredients), japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables), galbijjim (sweet braised short ribs), and fresh seasonal fruits like pears and persimmons.

Good to know before you travel

Many places close on the day of the holiday. Department stores, some large supermarkets, and privately owned restaurants and cafes are often closed, as are hospitals and pharmacies (please check before visiting as this may vary). On the other hand, convenience stores, major tourist attractions, and franchise stores generally operate as usual. There is a silver lining: during the holiday, the four major palaces, including Gyeongbokgung, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are open for free. In 2026, this is scheduled from September 24th to 27th.

Chuseok is the time of year when you can experience the most authentic Korean scenery.
If you are wondering where to go during the holiday, ask the AI chat in the TripDoc app.
You can also make complex holiday travel easier by booking your KTX or SRT tickets in advance through the app.