The day preceding Chuseok

📣 Traveler notes

South Korea is a modern nation with an advanced economy and vibrant pop culture. Despite its technological nature, the country strongly preserves its history and traditional sites. Travelers should note that major Korean holidays, such as Chuseok, often require significant travel planning due to mass movements of people.

• Korean public holidays follow the lunar calendar, meaning dates change annually.
• Major holidays (Seollal and Chuseok) cause significant travel disruptions due to mass travel to hometowns.
• Banks and government offices are closed during major holidays.
• Travelers must plan itineraries around major holiday dates.
• Seollal (Lunar New Year) is a multi-day holiday involving family gatherings and ancestral rites.
• Independence Movement Day (March 1) commemorates a historical resistance movement.
• Use metal chopsticks and a spoon (sujeo) for Korean meals; the spoon is used for soups, rice, and porridge. While forks and knives may be used for Western-style dishes, wait for the eldest person to begin eating. Important etiquette includes: Do not stick chopsticks or spoons upright in rice or food; do not lift plates/bowls from the table; and avoid tapping utensils against tableware.