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What Is Chuseok in Korea? 3 Days of Songpyeon and Traffic

KOCIS songpyeon (4995507732) (what is chuseok in korea)

What is Chuseok in Korea: a 3-day harvest holiday held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, under the year’s fullest moon. Families travel to their hometowns, honor their ancestors, visit graves and eat half-moon rice cakes called songpyeon. If you’re visiting, expect sold-out trains, quieter Seoul streets and some shuttered shops.

Best Time to Visit Korea: 2 Sweet Spots, 4 Seasons Decoded

A street musician in Seoul under a blossom cherry tree, April, 2016 (best time to visit korea)

The best time to visit Korea comes in 2 windows: early April to mid-May, and late September to early November. Both give you mild, mostly dry days, clear skies for walking and the two big color shows: cherry blossoms in spring, red and gold maples in autumn. If you can only pick one, pick autumn. The weather holds steadier and the air is usually cleaner.