Chuseok(Thanksgiving-day) in Korea : History, Traditions, Foods, Free Attractions and Travel Tips
Chuseok in Korea 2026
History, Traditions, Foods, Free Attractions and Travel Tips
If you are visiting Korea in September, there is one traditional holiday you should know about: Chuseok (추석).
Often called “Korean Thanksgiving,” Chuseok is one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea. It is a time for families to come together, celebrate the autumn harvest, remember their ancestors, enjoy traditional food, and spend time with relatives.
For foreign visitors, Chuseok is also an excellent opportunity to experience traditional Korean culture.
🌕 What Is Chuseok?
Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the autumn full moon appears.
It is also known as Hangawi (한가위). The word “Han” can mean “great,” while “gawi” refers to the middle or central part of the eighth lunar month.
The holiday is closely connected to Korea's agricultural history.
For centuries, autumn was a time when farmers harvested rice, fruits and other crops. After working throughout the year, people gathered with their families to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the year's abundance.
Today, Chuseok has become both a traditional family holiday and an opportunity to experience Korean culture.
The National Folk Museum of Korea traces the tradition back to Gabae, an ancient Silla-era event recorded in the Samguk Sagi.
🇰🇷 Why Is Chuseok Important to Koreans?
Chuseok is about more than simply taking a few days off.
It combines several important ideas:
- Family reunion
- Gratitude for the harvest
- Respect for ancestors
- Sharing food
- Traditional Korean culture
- Hope for health and prosperity
Millions of Koreans traditionally travel to their hometowns during the holiday to meet parents, grandparents, relatives and friends.
For this reason, Chuseok is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in Korea.
👨👩👧👦 1. Family Reunion
One of the most important Chuseok traditions is spending time with family.
Many Koreans travel from Seoul and other large cities to their hometowns.
A typical family gathering may include:
Travel home → prepare food → family meal → visit ancestors → talk and relax together
However, modern Korean families celebrate Chuseok in many different ways.
Some families travel abroad, go camping, visit restaurants, or take short domestic trips instead of following every traditional custom.
🕯️ 2. Charye – Remembering the Ancestors
One traditional Chuseok custom is Charye (차례).
Charye is a memorial ceremony in which families prepare food and pay their respects to their ancestors.
Traditional offerings may include:
- Rice
- Fruit
- Alcohol
- Songpyeon
- Meat
- Fish
- Vegetables
- Jeon
After the ceremony, family members traditionally share the food together.
This part of Chuseok represents the idea that the family remembers and respects previous generations.
Not every Korean family performs Charye today. Customs vary considerably from family to family.
🌳 3. Seongmyo – Visiting Family Graves
Another traditional custom is Seongmyo (성묘), or visiting ancestral graves.
Families may visit a grave, clean the area, arrange offerings and pay their respects.
This tradition reflects the importance of remembering one's ancestors in Korean culture.
🥮 4. Songpyeon – The Most Famous Chuseok Food
If you ask a Korean person to name one food associated with Chuseok, songpyeon (송편) will probably be one of the first answers.
Songpyeon is a small Korean rice cake traditionally shaped like a half moon.
Common fillings include:
- Sesame and sugar
- Red beans
- Soybeans
- Nuts
Songpyeon is traditionally steamed over pine needles, giving it a distinctive fragrance.
Why is it shaped like a half moon?
The half-moon shape is often associated with growth, prosperity and the future.
During Chuseok, families traditionally make songpyeon together, making the preparation itself a family activity.
🍽️ 5. Other Chuseok Foods You Should Try
Chuseok is a great time to explore Korean food.
Jeon
Jeon is a type of Korean savory pancake or fritter.
Popular varieties include:
- Kimchi jeon
- Seafood jeon
- Vegetable jeon
- Meat patties
Japchae
Japchae is made with glass noodles, vegetables and various ingredients.
Namul
Namul refers to various seasoned vegetables and greens.
Fresh Autumn Fruit
Apples, pears and other freshly harvested fruits are commonly enjoyed during the holiday.
Together, these foods create a colorful Chuseok table.
🎎 6. Traditional Games and Performances
Chuseok is also associated with traditional Korean entertainment.
Ganggangsullae
Ganggangsullae is a traditional Korean circle dance.
Participants hold hands, form a large circle and sing and dance together.
It is traditionally associated with the full moon and Chuseok and has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Ssireum
Ssireum is traditional Korean wrestling.
Two competitors attempt to throw each other using strength, balance and technique.
Jegichagi
Jegichagi is a traditional Korean game in which players kick a small shuttlecock-like object and try to keep it in the air.
Traditional Games for Visitors
During Chuseok, cultural attractions throughout Korea often organize traditional games and hands-on activities.
This can be a particularly fun experience for foreign visitors.
👘 7. Try Wearing Hanbok
Chuseok is a wonderful time to experience hanbok, traditional Korean clothing.
You can rent hanbok in places such as:
- Seoul
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Insadong
- Jeonju Hanok Village
- Around major palaces
Taking photographs in hanbok near a traditional Korean palace can make your Chuseok trip especially memorable.
🏯 8. Visit Korean Palaces During Chuseok
If you are staying in Seoul, consider visiting Korea's traditional palaces.
Popular destinations include:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Changgyeonggung Palace
- Deoksugung Palace
- Jongmyo Shrine
During Chuseok, major cultural attractions often organize traditional programs, performances and special events. Some national heritage sites and museums also offer free admission during the holiday period.
Tip: Check the official website before visiting because opening hours and holiday schedules can vary.
🌲 9. Enjoy Korea's Autumn Nature for Free
Chuseok arrives at the beginning of Korea's beautiful autumn season.
This makes it a great time to enjoy:
🍂 Autumn leaves
🌳 Forests
🏞️ Mountains
🌿 Arboretums
🚶 Walking trails
For 2026, the Korean government has announced free admission during the Chuseok period for a range of national heritage and cultural attractions, including the four major royal palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, Joseon Royal Tombs, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and national recreational forests.
For travelers on a budget, these programs can make Chuseok surprisingly affordable.
🚗 10. 2026 Chuseok Highway Toll-Free Period
There is another useful benefit for travelers.
The Korean government has announced that highway tolls will be waived from September 24 through September 27, 2026.
This applies during the four-day holiday period and is intended to reduce transportation costs and make domestic travel easier.
So if you are renting a car and traveling around Korea during Chuseok, this can be a good opportunity for a road trip.
Possible destinations include:
Seoul → Gyeongju
Seoul → Jeonju
Seoul → Gangneung
Seoul → Busan
Gwangju → Yeosu
However, remember that highway toll-free policies do not necessarily mean that every private or local toll road is free.
🚆 11. Traveling by Train During Chuseok
Train tickets can become difficult to obtain because millions of people travel during the holiday.
For 2026, the holiday train reservation system covers trains operating during the Chuseok travel period, and travelers are advised to make reservations in advance.
Popular routes include:
- Seoul → Busan
- Seoul → Gyeongju
- Seoul → Jeonju
- Seoul → Daegu
- Seoul → Gwangju
- Seoul → Gangneung
If you are planning a Chuseok trip by train, book as early as possible.
📍 12. Best Places to Experience Chuseok Culture
Seoul
Gyeongbokgung + Insadong + Bukchon
A great combination of palace architecture, traditional streets, food and hanbok experiences.
Jeonju
Jeonju Hanok Village
One of Korea's best-known traditional neighborhoods, with hundreds of hanok houses and plenty of Korean food.
Gyeongju
Bulguksa + Daereungwon + Hwangnidan-gil
A great destination for travelers interested in Korean history.
Andong
Andong is famous for traditional Korean culture, mask dance and Confucian heritage.
Busan
If you prefer a combination of Korean culture and the sea, Busan offers beaches, markets, food and urban sightseeing.
💰 13. How to Enjoy Chuseok on a Budget
You don't need to spend a lot of money to experience Chuseok.
Free or low-cost ideas
1. Visit a royal palace
Experience Korean architecture and history.
2. Visit a museum
Many museums organize special holiday programs.
3. Play traditional games
Try jegichagi, yutnori and other Korean games.
4. Visit a traditional market
Try Korean holiday foods and local specialties.
5. Walk through a hanok village
Jeonju and Seoul are especially popular.
6. Enjoy autumn scenery
Take a walk through a park, forest or mountain trail.
7. Take a domestic road trip
The 2026 highway toll-free period can reduce transportation costs.
🌕 14. Make a Chuseok Wish Under the Full Moon
Perhaps the most romantic part of Chuseok is the full moon.
Traditionally, people look at the bright autumn moon and make wishes for:
- Good health
- Family happiness
- Prosperity
- A successful year
- Peace
If you are visiting Korea during Chuseok, find a quiet park, mountain viewpoint or riverside location and enjoy the full moon.
It is a simple way to experience the emotional atmosphere of the holiday.
❤️ What Does Chuseok Mean to Koreans Today?
Modern Chuseok is changing.
Not every Korean family follows traditional rituals.
Some families still perform Charye and visit ancestral graves, while others simply have a family meal.
Some people return to their hometowns.
Others use the holiday as an opportunity to travel.
But one idea remains important:
Spending time with people who matter.
That is perhaps the best way to understand Chuseok.
It is a holiday about family, gratitude, food, tradition and togetherness.
🇰🇷 A Perfect Chuseok Day for Foreign Visitors
Here is a simple one-day Chuseok itinerary:
Morning
👘 Rent a hanbok
↓
🏯 Visit a traditional palace
↓
📸 Take photographs
Afternoon
🍜 Enjoy Korean food
↓
🏘️ Explore a traditional market or hanok village
↓
🎎 Try traditional games
Evening
🥮 Try songpyeon
↓
🌕 Look at the full moon
↓
❤️ Make a Chuseok wish
This gives you a taste of both traditional Korea and modern Korean life.
🌕 Final Thoughts
Chuseok is much more than the Korean version of Thanksgiving.
It is a holiday that connects Korea's agricultural past, family traditions, food culture, history and modern lifestyle.
For foreign visitors, Chuseok offers a unique opportunity to see a different side of Korea beyond K-pop, shopping and modern cities.
You can wear hanbok, visit ancient palaces, taste songpyeon, explore traditional markets, play Korean folk games and enjoy the beautiful autumn landscape.
And in 2026, the holiday comes with additional opportunities to enjoy cultural attractions and domestic travel, including free admission at selected national cultural sites and toll-free highways from September 24 to 27.
Happy Chuseok!
즐거운 추석 보내세요! 🌕🍂🇰🇷
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