Chuseok — Korea’s major harvest festival and one of the two most important national holidays of the year — falls on 25 September 2026, with the official public holiday period running from 24 to 26 September. If your visit to South Korea overlaps with this window, there are practical implications worth knowing about in advance.
What Chuseok Means in Practice for Visitors
Chuseok is a family reunion holiday. The majority of Koreans travel to their home regions or ancestral villages, which creates one of the country’s busiest domestic transport periods of the year. At the same time, many urban businesses, shops, restaurants, and tourist-facing services in cities like Seoul either reduce hours or close entirely for the full three-day period.
The practical effect for visitors depends on where you are:
- Transport: KTX (high-speed rail) tickets sell out weeks in advance. If you need to travel between cities on 24–26 September, book as soon as possible. Intercity buses are similarly congested.
- Shops and restaurants: Smaller, independent businesses frequently close for Chuseok. Larger convenience chains (CU, GS25), department stores, and tourist-district restaurants typically remain open, though hours may vary.
- Tourist sites: Major sites — palaces, museums, Bukhansan — are generally open and can actually feel less crowded than usual, as domestic tourists leave the cities. Admission is often free on certain public holidays; check individual site policies closer to the date.
Transport Booking in September
Chuseok falls within a busy month for Korea travel generally. September sits in the autumn shoulder season, which also happens to be peak foliage-viewing period (late October into November) for many travellers planning back-to-back trips. Check our guide to best time to visit South Korea for full seasonal context.
For KTX tickets around Chuseok, Korail opens reservations approximately one month in advance. Tickets for travel on 23–27 September will likely open for sale in late August. Travellers who have not yet booked should check the Korail website or the Let’s Korail app immediately.
Is It Worth Visiting During Chuseok?
For most international visitors, yes — with preparation. The crowds at popular sites thin out rather than peak, autumn weather across Korea is excellent, and there is genuine cultural value in observing a major holiday period: traditional performances, hanbok dress, and ancestral ceremonies are visible at some heritage sites.
The main risks are transport friction and business closures. Plan for these in advance, keep your options flexible, and make sure any meals you care about are at restaurants confirmed to be open. Seoul remains highly walkable and the metro runs throughout the holiday period, which reduces dependence on intercity trains for city-based travellers.