Chuseok, often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the most significant traditional holidays in Korea. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, and in 2026 the holiday period runs from September 24 to September 26.

During Chuseok, families travel to their hometowns to perform ancestral rites (charye) and visit family graves (seongmyo). Traditional foods such as songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) are prepared and shared. The holiday emphasizes gratitude for the harvest and respect for ancestors.

Chuseok is an official national public holiday, and most schools, banks, and government offices are closed. Major cities experience large-scale travel movement as people return to their family homes.

For international readers, Chuseok is comparable to Thanksgiving in North America in terms of family gatherings and harvest celebration, but it is deeply rooted in Korea’s Confucian traditions and ancestral rituals.

Holiday Information

Name: Chuseok Holiday
Date: September 24–26, 2026
Type: National Public Holiday (Traditional Festival)
Public Holiday: Yes
Theme: Harvest, Family Reunion, Ancestral Respect
Observed By: Republic of Korea