• By kimcheebookings
• 2016-09-122021-09-09
• Changdeokgung Changgyeonggung Chuseok Deoksugung entertainment Gyeonghuigung Songpyeon
• With 0 comments

There is an important holiday that is just around the corner in South Korea. Many people are going to go back home to see their families and take a little break. Also, schools and offices are going to be closed. So what is the name of this important holiday; it is none other than Chuseok.

 Chuseok

With the United States having Thanksgiving, here in South Korea it is Chuseok (추석). This is an important holiday, and for this year, it will be on September 14th – 18th. Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday that is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon.

 Foods eaten during Chuseok

When Korean people go back home, they are going to eat some delicious food. One of them is Songpyeon, which is a traditional dish that is made of glutinous rice. They are half-moon-shaped rice cakes that contain different kinds of sweet or semi-sweet fillings, such as sesame seeds and honey, sweet red bean paste, and chestnut paste steamed over a layer of pine needles.

 Places that are open during Chuseok

Wondering if there will be any places open during Chuseok, I can definitely say there will be. There are going to be museums, parks, and the five major palaces that will be open to the public for free. Yes, you read that right, there will be no entrance fees for any of these places that I mention. Also, baseball game tickets and national parks will be available for people to purchase at a discounted price.

 Palaces

The five major palaces which are Gyeongbokgung (경복궁), Changdeokgung (창독궁), Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung (덕수), and Gyeonghuigung. These five palaces will be open to the public and with no entrance fees.  So make sure you go and visit these five marvelous palaces.

Royal tombs and Jongmyo Shrine

Looking to see a beautiful shrine during Chuseok, then you will want to visit Jongmyo, which will be free to the public on September 15^th. Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine that is dedicated to the perpetuation of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Josean Dynasty. This is an historical shrine because completion of the Jongmyo Shrine was in 1935 by the orders of King Taejo.  For the royal tombs that will be open for the public on September 15^th, you are more than welcome to visit the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The location of the royal tomb is Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Yeongwol in Gangwon-do.

Entertainment

With all the events that will take place during the afternoon, there will also be places such as amusement parks and movie theaters that will provide offers and discounted tickets during the Chuseok holiday. If you are looking to see a hit movie such as “Train to Busan,” then this coming holiday is great time to do it. Movie theaters such as CGV and Megabox will have their very own special offers. So check out their websites respectively.