Hang : Korea Made Simple

If you visit Korea in early fall, you may hear the word Chuseok (추석) everywhere. Train tickets sell out, families travel across the country, supermarkets fill with gift sets, and rice cake shops display colorful trays of songpyeon. Chuseok is often introduced in English as “Korean Thanksgiving.” That comparison is useful, but the two holidays are not exactly the same. Chuseok has its own history, foods, family customs, and traditions rooted in Korean culture. At its heart, Chuseok is about family, the autumn harvest, sharing food, and remembering ancestors. For travelers and foreigners living in Korea, it is also one of the best times to see a side of Korean culture that is easy to miss during an ordinary week. In 2026, Chuseok Day falls on Friday, September 25 , with the official holiday running from September 24 to September 26 . 1. What Is Chuseok and Why Is It Important in Korea? Chuseok is one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays. It is celebrated on the 15th day...

If you are visiting Seoul during Chuseok, you may be wondering whether Gyeongbokgung Palace will be open or whether the entire city shuts down for the holiday. There is good news. Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the best places to visit in Seoul during Chuseok 2026 . Korea’s major royal palaces will offer free daytime admission during the official holiday, giving travelers an easy way to experience Korean architecture and traditional culture. Chuseok Day falls on Friday, September 25, 2026 , with the official holiday running from September 24 to 26. However, holiday travel comes with a few details worth knowing. Daytime admission and the special nighttime opening have different rules, nearby restaurants may change their hours, and some parts of the palace have temporary access restrictions in autumn 2026. Here is what foreign visitors should know before adding Gyeongbokgung to a Chuseok itinerary. 1. Is Gyeongbokgung Palace Open During Chuseok 2026? Yes. Gyeongbokgung Palace is op...

If you visit Korea around Chuseok, one food will appear almost everywhere: songpyeon (송편) . These small, half-moon-shaped rice cakes are filled with ingredients such as sesame seeds, beans, red beans, or chestnuts and are one of Korea’s best-known holiday foods. At first glance, songpyeon may remind some travelers of Japanese mochi, but the ingredients, preparation, fillings, and cultural background are different. Songpyeon is especially connected with Chuseok , Korea’s major autumn harvest holiday. For foreign visitors, songpyeon is easy to try because it is usually mild rather than spicy. However, the colors do not always tell you what is inside, and common fillings can include sesame, soybeans, chestnuts, or honey. Knowing a few basics before you buy a box can make the experience much easier. 1. What Is Songpyeon? Songpyeon is a traditional Korean rice cake made by filling rice-flour dough, shaping it into a small crescent or half-moon, and steaming it. Traditional songpyeo...

Chuseok is one of Korea’s biggest traditional holidays, and it can be a fascinating time to visit the country. Families travel home, traditional foods appear everywhere, and palaces, cultural sites, and local events offer a closer look at Korean holiday culture. At the same time, Chuseok can be confusing for first-time visitors. Intercity trains can sell out, some restaurants close, and attraction hours may change. This 2026 guide explains the dates, customs, food, travel conditions, and practical tips foreign visitors should know before making plans. 1. When Is Chuseok in Korea in 2026? In 2026, Chuseok Day falls on Friday, September 25 . The official Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26 . Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, so its date changes every year on the Gregorian calendar. It is often translated as “Korean Thanksgiving,” but the two holidays have different histories and customs. For tra...

 If you are looking for a comforting Korean meal that feels more like everyday home cooking than a special-occasion dish, kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) is one of the best places to start. Often described in English as kimchi stew , kimchi jjigae is made by simmering well-fermented kimchi with ingredients such as pork, tofu, onions, and green onions. The result is a hot, savory stew with a distinctly spicy and tangy flavor. It is one of the most familiar jjigae dishes in Korea and is commonly eaten with steamed rice and Korean side dishes, or banchan (반찬) . Korea Tourism Organization describes kimchi jjigae as a popular Korean stew traditionally made with aged, sour kimchi and pork.  For travelers, there is one important thing to know: kimchi jjigae can taste quite different from restaurant to restaurant . Some versions are intensely sour and spicy, while others are milder, richer, or meatier. Here is what to expect before ordering your first bowl in Korea. 1. What Is Kimchi Jjigae? Ki...

Walking into a Korean restaurant for the first time can be slightly confusing. You sit down, but nobody immediately comes to take your order. There may be a button on the table. The chopsticks seem to have disappeared. Several small dishes arrive even though you did not order them. And when you finish eating, you may wonder whether you should wait for the bill or walk to the counter. None of this is difficult once you understand how Korean restaurants usually work. Ordering systems vary from traditional family-run restaurants to modern cafés, Korean BBQ restaurants, food courts, and places with touchscreen kiosks. Korea Tourism Organization notes that call buttons, self-service water and side-dish stations, and unmanned ordering machines are all common features of Korean dining today. This guide covers the basics, from entering the restaurant to paying your bill, along with useful Korean phrases for travelers. 1. Entering a Korean Restaurant and Getting a Table In many casual Korean re...

 One of the most enjoyable parts of eating Korean food is making your own ssam (쌈) . At a Korean BBQ restaurant, you may see a basket of lettuce and perilla leaves arrive with the meat. Instead of eating them as a separate salad, Koreans often use the leaves to wrap grilled meat, rice, sauce, garlic, kimchi, and other ingredients into one small bite. But ssam is more than simply putting pork inside lettuce. It is a flexible way of eating that lets you combine rich meat, fresh vegetables, fermented sauces, and side dishes in different ways. Korean tourism sources describe ssam as wrapping rice or other foods in leafy vegetables such as lettuce, perilla, cabbage, or napa cabbage, often with sauces and additional ingredients. If you are visiting Korea for the first time, knowing how ssam works will make Korean BBQ—and many other Korean meals—much easier to enjoy. 1. What Is Ssam in Korean Food? Ssam (쌈) refers to food that is wrapped in an edible leaf or another suitable wrapper and ...