Visiting Seoul During Chuseok? Here’s What Actually Changes
If you are visiting Seoul during Chuseok, you will probably hear two completely different things.
“Seoul is actually great during Chuseok.”
The truth is somewhere in between.
Chuseok is one of Korea’s biggest traditional holidays.
But for a traveler, the most useful question is not simply:
A better question is:
Which parts of Seoul slow down, what stays easy to use, and what should I plan differently?
No.
Seoul does not suddenly become an empty city with every shop locked.
But the city does change.
Myeongdong. Jongno. Insadong. Hongdae. Dongdaemun.
If one restaurant is closed, you still have alternatives nearby.
This is the part I would personally be most careful about.
Not whether you can find coffee.
Not whether every convenience store disappears.
And not whether Seoul’s subway suddenly stops.
The annoying situation is much simpler:
and find a Chuseok holiday notice on the door.
That is especially possible with smaller family-run restaurants.
Chuseok rewards flexibility.
If your planned restaurant is closed, you are unlikely to be completely stuck.
Seoul has plenty of CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and emart24 locations. Individual holiday hours can vary, but convenience stores remain one of the most practical backup options.
There is something about Korean holidays that is difficult to understand just by looking at the official holiday dates.
The traffic does not magically begin on the morning of September 25.
From what I have seen over the years, if you are planning a road trip from Seoul to another part of Korea, I would already start paying attention from the week before Chuseok.
Some families go earlier to tidy the gravesite and cut back grass and weeds before the holiday — a custom known as beolcho.
That means weekend and regional road traffic can become relevant even before the official Chuseok holiday begins.
If you are considering Busan, Gyeongju, Jeonju or another destination outside Seoul, I would not treat the week before Chuseok like an ordinary travel week.
Traditionally, Chuseok is a family holiday.
Families gather, prepare food, remember their ancestors and eat together.
Some families traditionally hold charye, an ancestral memorial rite, and many families also visit ancestral graves.
After the ceremony, families traditionally share the food together.
But Korea has changed.
Some families still keep these traditions closely.
Others simplify them, buy prepared food, skip the ancestral rite, travel instead, or simply meet and eat together.
So I would not describe modern Chuseok as if every Korean household follows exactly the same ritual.
a lot of people want to see their family.
And that explains a lot about the roads.
In my case, my parents live only about five minutes away.
So I do not have to sit in Chuseok traffic for hours just to see them.
But everyone’s situation is different. For someone whose parents live several hours away, the same holiday can mean a long drive, crowded highways and a lot more planning.
If Seoul feels a little quieter during the holiday, it does not necessarily mean the city has simply “closed.”
A lot of people have gone somewhere important to them.
Palaces are actually one of the first things I would check for a Chuseok itinerary.
Official Korean travel guidance notes that royal palaces can be especially useful holiday attractions, but individual palace notices and operating arrangements should still be checked before visiting.
Check the palace information again on the day or shortly before your visit.
This is the part visitors can easily miss.
Some private businesses take a break, but Seoul also runs special cultural programs around the holiday.
The Namsangol Chuseok Festival: Namsan Dalbit Madang runs from September 25 to 27, from 10 AM to 8 PM.
General admission is free. Some activities, food and drinks cost extra.
On September 26, the Seoul Baekje Museum hosts its Chuseok festival from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The official Seoul program includes performances, hands-on activities and traditional games.
I also put together several free Seoul routes combining public spaces, exhibitions and cultural stops.
See my free Seoul routes →If you want to travel from Seoul to Busan, Gyeongju, Jeonju or another city around Chuseok, this is where I would become much more careful.
Chuseok is one of Korea’s biggest family travel periods.
Stay in Seoul during the core Chuseok period.
Move to your regional destination before the main holiday rush and return later.
What I would not do is build a tight itinerary around the assumption that an intercity ticket will simply be available at the last minute.
No. Seoul’s subway and bus network does not simply shut down for Chuseok.
But special holiday operating plans, extended service and late-night arrangements can change each year.
Check again shortly before your trip.
Probably the easiest option for a first-time visitor.
This would be my first choice if traditional Seoul is part of the reason you are visiting.
Good for cafes, nightlife and a younger atmosphere. But if Chuseok culture is your priority, I would personally choose Myeongdong or Jongno first.
Seoul Light DDP works well if you want to finish the day around Dongdaemun instead of staying in the traditional neighborhoods.
Read my Seoul Light DDP guide →Check whether it posted a holiday closure.
Check the official website.
Do not leave intercity transport until the last minute.
Confirm date, time and whether a specific activity requires booking.
Know the nearest commercial area or convenience store.
Check current holiday service information on the day.
The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline provides telephone and real-time chat travel assistance for visitors in Korea.
From overseas: +82-2-1330
During a holiday, having one pre-booked activity can sometimes make the day easier. I would still keep most of the itinerary flexible and book only something you genuinely want to do.
Browse Seoul Activities on Klook →Chuseok does not mean:
It means:
Some small businesses close.
Regional travel becomes more difficult.
But you also get holiday-specific events, traditional culture and a side of Seoul that does not exist during an ordinary week.
If I were visiting Seoul for the first time during Chuseok, I would not fight the holiday.
I would build the trip around it.
Stay somewhere convenient.
Keep restaurants flexible.
Plan regional transport early.
Spend the day around palaces, hanok neighborhoods and public cultural events.
Chuseok events and schedules →
Korea public holiday information →
Chuseok customs and food →
Palace admission information →
Official museum website →
Official traveler assistance →
Comments
Post a Comment