Chuseok in South Korea: A Guide for Expats to Traditions, Food & Travel Tips
- Lanae Rivers-Woods
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
By Lanae Rivers-Woods and South of Seoul
Who doesn’t love the holidays? One of the coolest parts about being an expat is that you get to celebrate even more of them than you did at home! One of the biggest holidays of the year in South Korea is Chuseok (추석). It’s like Thanksgiving and Christmas all rolled into one. Everyone gives each other gifts, and there is a huge harvest festival meal that families share together.
What is Chuseok in South Korea? A Guide for Expats
The generic explanation of Chuseok (추석) explains that the holiday has an agricultural history. During Chuseok, families come together and share a feast in celebration of the harvest season. The Chuseok meal represents abundance and prosperity, but many of its dishes are also steeped in history and symbolism. All of this is true but you need to know more to connect with the holiday while living in South Korea. Also, if you don’t know more, you may feel alienated during Chuseok because you feel left out due to a lack of invitations to friends’ homes.
Chuseok may feel more like a mix between Mexico’s Day of the Dead and Thanksgiving, but private. This is not generally a day for huge groups of strangers to get together and celebrate; instead, families come together for family-related cultural rituals regarding deceased relatives. Such rituals occur in the home of grandparents and at ancestral grave sites. This often requires people to travel to other parts of the country to stay with family.
How Long Does Chuseok in Korea Last?
Chuseok (Like Christmas and Thanksgiving) is only one day, but the holiday is between 4 -7 days in length depending on the year. Businesses might be closed 1-7 days, depending on their family commitments.
When is Chuseok in South Korea? (2025 Dates)
The date of Chuseok changes since it is based on the Lunar Calendar. It usually happens in either September or October. This year it is celebrated from Sunday, Oct 5 to Wednesday, Oct 8, and is considered a public holiday in Korea.
Korean Fall Holidays 2025: Chuseok, National Foundation Day & Hangeul Day
This year is extra special because several important Korean holidays fall close together. National Foundation Day (개천절, Gaecheonjeol) is on Friday, October 3rd, and Chuseok Day lands on Monday, October 6th. The official public holiday for Chuseok stretches from Sunday, October 5th, through Wednesday, October 8th. Just a few days later, on Thursday, October 9th, Koreans also celebrate Hangul Day (한글날), which honors the creation of the Korean alphabet.
With so many holidays packed into one week, it’s important to plan ahead. Families will be traveling, businesses may close or adjust their hours, traffic will be heavy, and popular destinations are likely to be much busier than usual. If there are places you want to shop, eat, or explore, make sure to double-check their holiday schedules so you aren’t caught by surprise.
The History of Chuseok Food and Traditional Meals
The history of the Chuseok meal traces back to Korea’s agrarian roots, where the holiday became a way to express gratitude to ancestors for their blessings. As with many traditional holidays around the world, food played (and still plays) a central role in Chuseok celebrations.
Families gather to perform ancestral ‘Jesa’ rites known as ‘Charye,‘ where they present offerings of freshly harvested food to their ancestors. This practice underscores the deep respect Koreans have for their ancestors and the role they believe they play in bringing about a successful harvest.
Chuseok Traditions: Jesa Rituals and Invitations
It’s rare to invite non-family members to Chuseok rituals, but not unheard of. The invitation usually comes from close friends. More often than not, international residents may be invited to a day of cooking but are not able to attend the family ceremony. Koreans don’t avoid inviting people to Chuseok to make people feel excluded. It simply seems odd and uncomfortable to invite a non-family member to share intimate time at the grave of a deceased parent or grandparent. The ritual is part of Jesa.
Even if you don’t attend Jesa, it’s socially important to be familiar with it in detail if you live in Korea. The Soul of Seoul has an exceptional series of blog posts about the Chuseok Jesa traditions. We highly recommend reading all of her posts on the topic. She has lived in Korea for over a decade and is married with a family.
Chuseok Food in Korea: What’s on the Table
The food items on the Chuseok Table Food List will generally be fried or preserved with oil, salt, sugar, and soy sauce. This is because, traditionally speaking, Chuseok food needed to travel well for Jesa ceremonies during a time when people didn’t have refrigeration. Therefore, such food recipes use oil, salt, sugar, and soy sauce which 1) slows how fast food spoils and 2) improves the taste of food over time. Therefore, you will need heavily marinated meats, fried foods, and kimchis.
Where to Buy Chuseok Food in Korea: Traditional Markets
Want to try food items but don’t know how to make them? Don’t fret. Traditional markets offer everything you need for a simple or complex Chuseok meal. Korea is a modern society with two busy parents who can’t take days off to cook. This means that traditional markets start putting out all their Chuseok dishes in the 2-3 days leading up to the holiday.
How Expats Can Celebrate Chuseok at Home
So, maybe you don’t get invited into a Korean home for Chuseok, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate! You can easily create this holiday meal at home for your family without performing a Jesa. In fact, taking part in the Chuseok meal in your international home can create a stronger sense of belonging in Korea. So let’s get into how you can make a Chuseok meal happen.
After you have compiled your Chuseok meal, your international Chuseok table may look a little different than a Korean family table. This is because you also want to honor your family ancestors. For example, my older “Korean sister” who helps us with Chuseok (let’s be real, she makes the magic happen) actually added Salmon sashimi to our Chuseok table in honor of my Alaskan culture.
Chuseok Travel and Daily Life in Korea: What Expats Should Know
Almost the entire country closes on Chuseok. Everyone is home with their families just like we are on Christmas and Thanksgiving. That means you need to do your banking, grocery shopping, and what not ahead of time.
Traveling traffic will be CRAZY! We never recommend traveling over Chuseok unless you are with a planned travel group. They will make sure you are fed, have a place to stay, and get to where you need to be. Everyone else will be stuck in traffic jams that stretch across the county. If you plan on doing a road trip, the best times to drive to get somewhere are 11pm-6am.
Bus and train tickets will be limited. If you haven’t bought your tickets already, don’t expect to get anywhere on a train. You might have better luck with buses. However, getting anywhere on Chuseok requires a lot of luck.
Airports. Get there as early as you can. The lines and traffic can be crazy.
USFK Chuseok Travel Restrictions and Vehicle Movement
While there’s no official current-year (2025) directive publicly posted regarding Restricted Movement Orders during Chuseok, historical guidance from Eighth Army provides a clear framework:
BLACK status: All U.S. Government vehicles are prohibited from movement. Only emergency vehicles, used under strict risk assessment and personally authorized by commanders at the O-6 level or higher, may operate.
AMBER status: Military vehicles used only for essential business are permitted. Commanders at the O-3 or GS-10 level may authorize movement via back-of-dispatch.
RED status: Only vehicles designated for emergency or essential business may be driven. Authorization must come from commanders at the O-5 or GS-13 level and require approved dispatch documentation.
These restrictions typically apply during peak periods of Chuseok to ensure safety and mitigate traffic congestion. Though there’s no public policy release for 2025 yet, it's reasonable to expect similar protocols will apply during Chuseok this year, given the consistency of past practices. Here are some movement tips during Chuseok.
Check with your command or S3/Safety Office for any official Restricted Movement Order guidance specific to your installation.
Be prepared for phased vehicle movement restrictions tied to AMBER, RED, or BLACK levels, aligned with holiday traffic peaks.
Plan travel carefully. South Korean infrastructure sees heavy congestion during Chuseok.
Plan all transportation ahead of time, especially during the anticipated peak travel windows.
POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) movement may not be directly regulated, but due to road closures, police checkpoints, or safety issues, travel could still be extremely limited.
Chuseok in Military and Immigrant Communities in Korea
Due to the fact that we have US military installations across the RoK, plus many Koreans live here far away from their families, there are neighborhoods that will have some businesses open during the holiday. Ask around your community to find out what will be open during Chuseok.
How Expats Can Participate in Chuseok Traditions
Gift giving is a big part of the season. If you want to join in the fun, buy a Chuseok gift box and give it to your Korean friends, real estate agent, etc. They will feel the love big time! It feels just like Christmas. Spam is a hugely popular Chuseok gift.
Visit a business that is open for you. A HUGE thing you can do is visit businesses that are open for your convenience. Remember that these business owners are missing important time off with family to help make your life more comfortable in Korea. Take them a present (like a coffee or juice from a mart) and tell them,“Thank you and Happy Chuseok!”
Send Chuseok messages. If you have Kakao, there are all kinds of cute Chuseok characters that we all send to your real estate agent, shop owners, and friends (just like Christmas or Thanksgiving in the States). It makes you feel wonderfully warm and fuzzy to get these messages.
Support business owners being with family and tell them how glad you are that they took care of themselves. I think we can agree that it’s better when people take off the holidays and spend time with loved ones. Support the tradition of Chuseok by planning ahead, not complaining when things are uncomfortable for 48 hours, and celebrating what matters most: family.
How Chuseok in South Korea is Changing Over Time
Just like this US, holidays are becoming more commercial. More and more places across the country are staying open on the holiday weekend. Mostly in major cities. Change is inevitable.
We know you will learn to love Chuseok once you understand the spirit of things. Read more articles on it. Watch some YouTube videos and embrace this wonderful new holiday you get to add to your life.
Resources for Expats Celebrating Chuseok in South Korea
Chuseok can feel a little overwhelming when you’re new to Korea, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. There are so many great guides out there to help you plan meals, find things to do, and even understand the traditions behind the holiday. Here are some resources that make celebrating Chuseok a whole lot easier:
Not sure what to cook? A Chuseok Menu for International Residents in Korea offers ideas that blend Korean holiday flavors with international kitchens.
Curious about what’s on the table? Traditional Korean Holiday Foods gives you a closer look at the dishes that often appear during Chuseok and other major celebrations.
Living near Pyeongtaek? Check out Things to Do During Chuseok in Pyeongtaek and Chuseok in Pyeongtaek for a look at local traditions and activities.
For a deeper understanding of the holiday itself, Supporting & Celebrating Chuseok is a must-read.
Wondering if your favorite café or shop will be open? How to Find Business Hours in Korea helps you avoid last-minute surprises.
Staying in the capital? What to Do if You’re Staying in Seoul for Chuseok has plenty of options to keep you busy.
Looking for family-friendly activities? Kids will love these Korean Chuseok Crafts.
Curious about rituals? Learn how to honor ancestors with How to Perform a Korean Jesa Ceremony and How to Set the Table for Jesa.
Chuseok is about connection, whether that’s through food, tradition, or community. Use these resources to plan ahead, join in the celebrations, and find your own way to feel at home during one of Korea’s most important holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chuseok in Korea
Is Chuseok a public holiday in Korea?
Yes, Chuseok is one of Korea’s biggest national holidays. Most businesses close for several days so families can travel, prepare food, and honor ancestors.
When is Chuseok celebrated?
Chuseok follows the lunar calendar, so the dates change each year. It usually falls in late September or early October. In 2025, Chuseok Day is Monday, October 6, with the holiday period running October 5–8.
What food is eaten during Chuseok?
Popular dishes include songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes), jeon (savory pancakes), marinated meats, and traditional side dishes. Families prepare these foods for both the holiday meal and ancestral rites.
Can foreigners celebrate Chuseok?
Absolutely! While family rituals are private, expats can still join the celebration by cooking a Chuseok meal, giving gift sets, attending local events, or supporting businesses that remain open.
Is travel difficult during Chuseok?
Yes. Roads, trains, and buses are extremely crowded as millions of people travel to visit family. If you need to travel, plan far in advance and avoid peak hours if possible.
Why is Spam a popular Chuseok gift?
Spam gift sets have become a cultural tradition in Korea because they’re practical, high-quality, and easy to share. They’re considered a thoughtful way to show generosity and care during the holiday.
What do people usually wear for Chuseok?
While most people today celebrate in everyday clothes, some families choose to wear hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) for ancestral rites or family gatherings to honor tradition.