Living in Korea · Chuseok (추석)
Chuseok (추석), also called Hangawi, is Korea’s harvest festival and one of the two biggest holidays of the year — the closest thing the calendar has to Thanksgiving. For an English teacher it means a few days off, a country on the move, and a good chance to see Korean family traditions up close. This guide covers the dates, what actually happens, and what it means for your job. Written by OK Recruiting, a Korea-based teacher recruiter (since 2006).
Chuseok 2026
Friday, September 25, 2026
- Official holiday: Thu Sept 24 – Sat Sept 26 (day before · Chuseok · day after)
- Substitute holiday: none in 2026 (the Saturday overlap doesn’t trigger one for Chuseok)
- Your actual break: Thu–Sun, Sept 24–27 — four days off on a Mon–Fri schedule
Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, so the Gregorian date shifts every year (mid-September to early October).
| Year | Chuseok day | Official holiday | Typical break |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fri, Sept 25 | Thu Sept 24 – Sat Sept 26 | 4 days (Thu–Sun) |
| 2027 | Wed, Sept 15 | Tue Sept 14 – Thu Sept 16 | Take Fri off → 6-day break |
What Chuseok Is (and what “Hangawi” means)
Chuseok (秋夕) literally means “autumn evening.” Its older native name, Hangawi, means “the great middle” — han (great) + gawi (the middle of the 8th lunar month), i.e. the harvest full moon. It’s a time to thank ancestors for the year’s harvest, so it’s family-and-ancestor centered rather than pilgrim-themed. Families travel back to their hometowns, hold a memorial rite, share food, and gather under the fullest moon of the year.
Traditions You’ll See
Charye (차례)
A memorial rite held on Chuseok morning at the family elder’s home, with a table of newly harvested rice, fruit, and songpyeon set out to honor ancestors.
Beolcho & Seongmyo
In the weeks before Chuseok, families trim the grass around ancestral graves (beolcho); during the holiday they visit to pay respects (seongmyo).
Ganggangsullae UNESCO 2009
A women’s circle dance performed under the full moon in southwestern Korea, inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.
Games & hanbok
Folk games like ssireum (Korean wrestling) and yutnori (a board game with wooden sticks), often with families in colorful hanbok.
Chuseok Food
Songpyeon (송편)
Half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sesame, sweet beans, or chestnut, steamed over a layer of pine needles — the “song” (松) in the name means pine. The half-moon shape symbolizes a brighter future.
Jeon (전)
Savory pan-fried fritters — vegetables, fish, or meat in a light egg-and-flour batter. The smell of jeon frying is pure Chuseok.
Hangwa (한과)
Traditional confections made from grain flour, honey, and nuts — the classic holiday sweet, often given as a gift set.
Harvest fruit
Freshly harvested Korean pears, apples, and persimmons appear everywhere, and premium fruit gift boxes are a common Chuseok present.
What It Means for Your Teaching Job
The three official Chuseok days are national public holidays, so public schools close and virtually every hagwon does too. It’s paid time off — you shouldn’t lose salary for the holiday itself.
Where academies differ is the edges: some hagwons attach an extra day or two and give you a longer run, while others reopen the moment the official holiday ends. A few schedule make-up classes around the break. None of this is standardized, so confirm your exact days — and any make-up classes — with your employer in advance rather than assuming.
Surviving the Travel Exodus
Chuseok triggers one of the world’s largest seasonal migrations — in recent years over 30 million trips are made during the holiday period, most by car. Highways crawl, and KTX and express-bus tickets sell out within the booking window.
- Booking home: if you’re travelling, reserve KTX/bus tickets the moment sales open (Korail releases Chuseok reserved seats on set dates about a month ahead). Otherwise you’ll be standing or driving.
- The quiet alternative: Seoul empties out during Chuseok. Palaces and many museums open with free admission and special programs, traffic disappears, and the city is unusually calm — a genuinely good time to stay put and explore.
- Flying out: international flights are popular and peak-priced over Chuseok; book well ahead if you want to leave the country.
What’s Open, What’s Closed
Usually open
- Convenience stores (24/7)
- Most chain restaurants & cafés
- Palaces, museums, major attractions (often free programs)
- Emergency rooms & on-duty clinics/pharmacies (find via the E-Gen portal)
Usually closed
- Banks, government & post offices (all 3 days)
- Many small shops, local restaurants & clinics
- Some large marts close on Chuseok day itself
- Regular pharmacies (use an on-duty 지킴이 pharmacy)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chuseok in 2026?
Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25, 2026. The official holiday runs Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26. Because the third day lands on a Saturday, no substitute holiday applies, so most teachers get four consecutive days off, Thursday through Sunday.
Do English teachers in Korea get time off for Chuseok?
Yes. The three official Chuseok days are national public holidays, so public schools close and virtually all hagwons do too. Some hagwons add extra days around the holiday while others reopen immediately, so confirm your academy’s exact schedule with your employer in advance.
What is Chuseok?
Chuseok, also called Hangawi, is Korea’s harvest festival, held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month under the full moon. Families gather to honor ancestors with a memorial rite called charye, tend family graves, and share foods like songpyeon rice cakes. It is often compared to Thanksgiving.
Is it a good time to travel in Korea during Chuseok?
It depends on timing. Over 30 million trips are made during the holiday period, so highways, trains, and buses are packed and prices spike on peak days. Book KTX and bus tickets the moment reservations open, or stay in the city — Seoul is unusually quiet, and palaces and museums often run free holiday programs.
What is open and closed during Chuseok?
Banks, government offices, and post offices close for all three official days, and many small shops, restaurants, and clinics also shut. Convenience stores stay open, as do most chain restaurants, major tourist attractions, and palaces. For urgent medical care, emergency rooms operate normally and the E-Gen portal lists on-duty clinics and pharmacies.
When is Chuseok in 2027?
In 2027 Chuseok falls on Wednesday, September 15, with the official holiday running Tuesday, September 14 through Thursday, September 16. Taking Friday, September 17 as a single day of annual leave turns it into a six-day break.
Thinking about teaching in Korea?
OK Recruiting places native English teachers in verified schools across Korea — 100% free, with full E-2 visa guidance. Since 2006.
Note: Holiday dates and closures are current as of 2026; the exact Gregorian date of Chuseok changes each year. Always confirm your own school’s schedule and travel bookings in advance.
