What Do Koreans Actually Do On Chuseok(추석)?

So every Korean is talking about 추석(Chuseok). They say it’s the Korean version of Thanksgiving. But what do Koreans actually do on Chuseok? Do they gather around and eat turkey? Nope! Let’s find out.

For many Koreans, Chuseok starts with a trip to their hometown. Families visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the area and pay respects. This is called 성묘(seongmyo). It’s a moment of family union and remembrance.

At home or at the graves, families prepare a large table full of arranged food, from rice to fruits, meat, 전(jeon), and 송편(songpyeon). Each dish carries a meaning and even follows a specific order.

In front of the table family members bow, honoring their ancestors. This is called 차례(charye). After the bowing ceremony, everyone shares the food together.

Again, this is about remembrance, gratitude, and togetherness.

After the rituals, it’s family time! Families enjoy 송편(songpyeon), 전(jeon), and 한과(hangwa), a traditional sweet. Once everyone’s full, the play begins.

One traditional game is 윷놀이(yutnori). It’s a board game of luck and strategy. Instead of dice, players throw four wooden sticks(윷) which have a front side and a back side. Depending on how they land, you can move your marker(말) in a certain distance. Teams take turns racing their markers around the board, shouting and laughing as they send others back to start. It’s a perfect game for a family holiday.

Chuseok always falls on the full moon of the 8th lunar month. At night people make wishes to the moon for health, happiness, and good harvest. In the past, villages held moon-viewing gatherings called 달맞이(dalmaji), climbing hills to greet the rising moon together.

Chuseok isn’t just about a long holidy. It’s about gathering and remembering family, sharing food, and giving thanks.

That said, things are changing. As you may have noticed, preparing for Chuseok is a huge burden. These days, many families simplify the rituals, skipping seongmyo or charye. Instead families simply get together for a nice meal, or even travel during the long holiday instead.