WHAT TO DO IN SEOUL OVER CHUSEOK

What is Chuseok? 

It is the Korean equivalent to what we know as Thanksgiving and is spread across three days. Korean’s traditionally travel back to their hometown to spend time with their families, eat plentifully and pay respect to their ancestors.Modern Chuseok is a harvest festival, and South Korean families celebrate it by performing a number of rituals centered around the morning of Chuseok.

Chuseok is one of the rare times when you could actually CHOOSE to stay in the city, rather than booking a plane ticket to parts unknown to you.There’s plenty to do this holiday weekend. Actually, Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the best times to STAY in Seoul.

What to do during Chuseok in Seoul?

1. Visit a Traditional Site

The Korean Folk Village in Yongin also has a special Chuseok program.

 Also, Namsangol Hanok Village will have free Chuseok festivities including tteok-making and charye ancestral rites.

You can also visit Jongmyo Shrine, which you can usually only visit with a reservation. It will be totally open to the public during Chuseok.

2. Visit an amusement Park

Everland was Korea's first family park and is still one of its most popular. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket counters at Everland itself, but honestly, no one queues up for tickets anymore. Save time by getting your entrance tickets before even getting there! Get some tickets via KLOOK or TRAZY.

LOTTE WORLD: Located in Jamsil, Seoul. e.g the world's largest indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park called "Magic Island", an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail, shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities, and movie theaters.  From zombie games in VR to live-action zombie invasions, there's plenty to do.

BOOK LOTTE WORLD TICKETS

3. Float around Seoul Sky in Lotte Tower

Lotte World Tower aka Seoul Sky (the observatory), is open 365 days a week. If you are looking for a panoramic view, go no further. It is 123 floors high and offers amazing views of Seoul. Also, visit the staffless CU convenience store and get served by an AI robot at the checkout.

Buy: SEOUL SKY TICKETS

4. Visit Namsan Seoul Tower 

Namsan Seoul Tower was the first tower-type tourism spot in Korea. Seoul's landmark, is located on the peak of Namsan and is a much-loved place for its spectacular night view. This absolutely iconic K-drama location has been featured in many drama.

Book Tickets: Namsan Seoul Tower

5. Visit the Trick Eye Museum

There are multiple Trick Art Museums in the Insadong area, but the Trickeye Museum in Hongdae has upped its game, by adding Augmented Reality to its already eye-bending art.
With a single ticket, you get to enjoy all THREE – amazing 3D optical illusions at Trick Eye Museums, winter wonderland
Ice Museum and Carnival Street filled with mini games!
Instead of merely viewing paintings as one would in a typical art gallery, visitors can interact with paintings using the newly developed Trickeye Camera app to make paintings come alive and become part of the artworks while recording it on video or taking pictures.

visit the trick-eye museum: book tickets

5. Go Hiking in Seoul

Both Bukhansan and Gwanaksan are reachable by subway and bus and may even be showing the first signs of autumn colour during Chuseok.

As far as classic Seoul hikes go, this is it. Bukhansan, situated just north of the city centre, is the highest within Seoul’s city limits, and, thanks to its convenient location, attracts a whopping 5 million hikers per year.

Namsan: a small consolation prize. Located in the heart of the city, just steps from Myeongdong, Namsan is a super convenient hike that you can easily tackle on a time-crunch and if you can't get to Bukhansan. How about booking that evening hike? 

5. Go SHOPPING  - Myeongdong is still Hustling and Bustling...

After 9PM, the streets are filled with food vendors and the stores surrounding the vendors also seem to be open during Chuseok.. Clothing and accessory vendors are there all day long. Dine on spiral potato sticks, egg bread (gyeran ppang) and spicy rice cake (teok bokki).

Most department stores will be closed during Chuseok however don’t let your ears droop because of that! Save your time and your money by buying cosmetics on the Lotte Duty Free website (eng.lottedfs.com). Prices are generally cheaper than stores in the city and you can take advantage of a number of discount coupons. Even if there are sales on in the city many stores now restrict them to membership only customers. When it is time to leave, simply go to the Lotte Duty Free counter at the airport and pick up all your tax-free goodies.

There are the Chuseok ideas and best of all? – much of the population exits the city. Seoul during Chuseok is quiet and serene in a way that it rarely is. And that’s my idea of heaven.

For first time visitors to Seoul

Book an airbnb:  book AirBnB now

It's cheaper than Seoul's expensive hotels.

Give $47

Friends who sign up for Airbnb with this link will get $34 off their home booking. And they get $13 to use toward an experience worth $48 or more.