[Places to Visit in Seoul for Chuseok] Where to Go This Holiday? The Top 8 Chuseok Cultural Events in the City

The Bitmorak Festival, Gwanghwamun Square’s signature seasonal event, is being held to celebrate Chuseok. Amid the cityscape turning crimson, visitors can enjoy lively stage performances and traditional art performances. In addition to events like writing heartfelt postcards for family or loved ones and having family mottos calligraphed, there will be a variety of traditional game experience zones featuring games such as yutnori and jegichagi.

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the Chuseok atmosphere, visit Namsangol Hanok Village and the Seoul Namsan Gugak Hall. The World Pansori Festival held here features two days of pansori and traditional music performances that capture the profound beauty of Korean traditional music. Against the backdrop of a quaint hanok courtyard, you can experience firsthand the grandeur and resonance of pansori, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

For more detailed information about the performances, please visit here.

At the National Folk Museum of Korea, located within Gyeongbokgung Palace, the “Chuseok Together” event—a representative holiday celebration that reflects on the meaning of Chuseok—will take place. The museum’s courtyard will be filled with a wealth of attractions, including hands-on experiences of seasonal customs such as making songpyeon, unique folk craft workshops, and lively performances of Ganggangsullae and Pungmul Pangut. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the essence of Korean folk culture all in one place and share the festive spirit of Chuseok with family and loved ones.

At the Hanseong Baekje Museum, located within Olympic Park, the “Chuseok Grand Festival” will be held, allowing visitors to experience both the history of Baekje and the charm of the holiday. The museum’s plaza and lobby will be filled with attractions, including Baekje cultural experiences, traditional folk games, traditional crafts and food tastings, as well as performances of traditional Korean music and folk percussion. It is the perfect place for the whole family to fully enjoy the abundance of the holiday and experience the elegance of traditional culture while immersed in the historical spirit of Baekje.

When you think of Chuseok, traditional games like ssireum (Korean wrestling), jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), and ganggangsullae naturally come to mind.

The Seoul Museum of Everyday Life, located in Nowon-gu, is hosting the “Chuseok Together” event for children and families. In the museum’s outdoor courtyard and lobby, visitors can enjoy nostalgic traditional games to their heart’s content, including spinning tops, tuho (arrow throwing), jegi-chagi, and rolling hoops. Returning to the essence of the holiday, the museum offers a variety of folk experience programs that provide new experiences for children and evoke nostalgia for adults.

Held as part of the “Car-Free Jamsugyo Stroll Festival,” this event offers the chance to enjoy not only traditional Korean folk performances but also folk dance performances from various countries around the world. You can feel the festive excitement of the holiday while enjoying the cool Han River breeze and the Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain.

Let’s not forget the star of Chuseok: the full moon!

A special nighttime program to admire the full moon will take place around Nanji Pond in Peace Park within World Cup Park. With explanations from a professional astronomy guide, you can observe the surface of the Chuseok full moon and autumn constellations firsthand through high-performance astronomical telescopes. It’s the perfect setting to make a wish while gazing at both the moonlight reflecting on the pond and the full moon in the night sky.

During the Chuseok holiday, Seoul’s Four Great Palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung), Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty will be open to the public free of charge without any closures. You can fully enjoy the autumn ambiance while strolling along the lush forest paths of these serene palaces. Even Jongmyo Shrine, which normally operates on a reservation-only basis, will be open for free exploration during the holiday, making it the perfect spot for a festive stroll.