If your trip to Korea falls during Chuseok, you may start wondering whether everything will be closed.
Will restaurants be open? Can you still visit tourist attractions? What about convenience stores, cafés, shopping malls and public transportation?
The answer is not simply yes or no.
Korea does not completely shut down during Chuseok, but you should not expect every business to operate on its normal schedule either.
Some places remain open, some close for one day, and others change their opening hours during the holiday.
Here is what travelers should expect.
1. When is Chuseok in Korea in 2026?
In 2026, the official Chuseok holiday runs from September 24 to September 26, with Chuseok Day falling on September 25.
Chuseok is one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays.
Many Koreans travel to visit family, share meals and spend time together, so daily life can feel different from a normal weekday or weekend.
However, that does not mean tourists need to avoid Korea during Chuseok.
It simply means you should plan a little differently.
If you are planning to travel between Korean cities during the holiday, read my guide to traveling between cities in Korea during Chuseok first.
2. Is everything closed during Chuseok?
No.
This is probably the biggest misunderstanding first-time visitors have about Chuseok.
You will still find places to eat, shop and visit, especially in large cities and major tourist areas.
But Chuseok is also a family holiday, so some independently operated restaurants, cafés and shops may close for part or all of the holiday.
Large businesses and tourist-oriented areas may operate differently from small family-run businesses.
So the safest rule is:
Do not assume everything will be closed, but do not assume normal opening hours either.
If there is one specific restaurant, shop or attraction you absolutely want to visit, check its holiday schedule before going.
3. Are restaurants open during Chuseok?
Many restaurants remain open, but this varies greatly.
Restaurants in areas with many tourists, large commercial districts, hotels and transportation hubs may be easier to find open.
On the other hand, a small independently owned restaurant may close so the owner and staff can spend the holiday with their families.
This is particularly important if you found one famous restaurant online and built your whole meal plan around it.
Do not assume that:
“It appears open on a normal Friday, so it will be open on Chuseok Friday.”
Holiday schedules can be different.
A better approach is to have several restaurant options in the same area.
Before heading to a specific restaurant, I usually check its latest information on Naver Map. If you have never used it, see my guide to using Naver Map in Korea.
Even if an app shows normal business hours, holiday hours may change, so check recent notices or call ahead when the restaurant is especially important to your plans.
4. What about cafés and convenience stores?
For travelers, these are generally easier than finding one particular independent restaurant.
Korea has a very large number of convenience stores and cafés, and many continue operating during major holidays.
However, individual locations can still have different holiday schedules.
A convenience store inside an office building, university or other facility may operate differently from a street-level store in a busy neighborhood.
The same is true for cafés.
A major chain location may stay open while a small neighborhood café closes for the holiday.
So if one place is closed, it usually makes more sense to look for another nearby option rather than assume the entire area is closed.
5. Are department stores, shopping malls and supermarkets open?
This is where travelers should be more careful.
Department stores, large supermarkets and shopping centers may have special Chuseok closing days or reduced hours.
And the exact closing day may differ between businesses and locations.
That means you should not plan something like:
“I’ll definitely spend Chuseok afternoon shopping at this specific department store.”
without checking first.
If shopping is an important part of your trip, check the store’s official website or recent notice before traveling there.
Small shops and stores in tourist districts can also make their own holiday decisions.
So again, Chuseok does not mean “no shopping.”
It means specific shopping plans should be checked in advance.
6. What about traditional markets?
Traditional markets are a little different.
Before Chuseok, markets can become very busy as Koreans buy food, fruit, gifts and ingredients for family gatherings.
That can actually be an interesting time for visitors to see a different side of Korean everyday life.
But on Chuseok Day itself, some individual market stalls may close.
So if you specifically want to experience a traditional market, going before the main holiday can be more interesting than assuming every stall will be operating on Chuseok Day.
This is also why you should distinguish between:
“The market exists and is accessible”
and
“Every individual vendor inside the market is open.”
They are not necessarily the same thing.
7. Are palaces, museums and tourist attractions open?
This depends on the attraction.
Some major cultural attractions may remain open or even offer special holiday programs, while others may close or change their normal schedule.
Museums and public facilities can also have special holiday arrangements.
So I would not write a fixed Chuseok itinerary based only on their normal weekly opening hours.
Instead, check the official website of the attraction shortly before your visit.
This matters especially for places where you need:
- a timed ticket
- advance reservation
- a guided tour
- a special exhibition
- an evening admission
If an attraction offers a special Chuseok event, that can actually make the holiday a particularly interesting time to visit.
8. Does Seoul become empty during Chuseok?
You may hear people say that “everyone leaves Seoul during Chuseok.”
There is some truth behind the idea because many people travel out of the capital to visit family.
But tourists should not interpret this as:
“Seoul becomes an empty city where nothing is open.”
Seoul is a huge city.
Tourist areas, transportation, hotels and many businesses continue functioning.
What you may notice instead is that the atmosphere can be different depending on the neighborhood and time of day.
Some business districts may feel quieter, while popular tourist areas can still be active.
So there is no need to avoid Seoul just because your trip overlaps with Chuseok.
9. Does public transportation still operate?
Yes. Subways and city buses generally continue operating during Chuseok, and taxis are also available.
However, schedules, service frequency and taxi availability can vary depending on the city, route and time of day.
For visitors staying within one city, public transportation is usually much less of a problem than long-distance transportation between cities, where train and bus reservations can be much more difficult.
This distinction is important.
If you are staying in a city and using public transportation, see my guide to using the subway in Korea.
10. Can you still get a taxi during Chuseok?
Taxis still operate during Chuseok.
But availability can vary depending on where you are and when you are traveling.
Late at night, near busy transportation hubs or during periods of high demand, getting a taxi may take longer than usual.
So if you have something time-sensitive, such as getting to an airport or train station, leave extra time.
Do not wait until the last possible minute simply because taxis normally seem easy to find.
If this is your first time using taxis in Korea, my guide to taking a taxi in Korea explains what to expect.
11. What can tourists actually do on Chuseok Day?
This is probably the most useful question.
If I were planning a tourist itinerary for Chuseok Day, I would avoid making the entire day depend on businesses that might close.
Instead, I would build the day around activities with more flexibility.
For example:
- walk through a historic neighborhood
- visit a palace or cultural attraction after confirming its holiday schedule
- explore an outdoor area or park
- visit a tourist district
- enjoy the city at a slower pace
- look for a Chuseok cultural event or traditional experience
- keep several restaurant options rather than one fixed choice
The key is flexibility.
You do not need a completely empty schedule.
You just need fewer plans that fail if one specific business is closed.
12. What if a Korean family invites me for Chuseok?
If a Korean friend or family invites you to join their Chuseok gathering, you do not need to understand every traditional custom before going.
A small gift can be a thoughtful gesture, but there is no need to make it overly complicated.
The most important thing is to follow the host’s lead.
If shoes are removed at the entrance, remove yours as well.
Wait to see where people sit and how the meal is served.
And do not worry if the gathering looks less traditional than the Chuseok scenes you have seen online.
Modern Korean families celebrate the holiday in many different ways.
13. My simple advice for visiting Korea during Chuseok
Do not cancel a Korea trip simply because it falls during Chuseok.
Instead, remember three things:
Check important opening hours.
Have a backup restaurant or activity.
Avoid making every part of your day depend on one fixed reservation or business.
If you stay flexible, Chuseok can actually give you a chance to see a side of Korea that tourists do not experience during an ordinary week.
Planning to visit another Korean city during the holiday? Chuseok transportation requires a little more preparation, so read my guide to traveling between cities in Korea during Chuseok before booking your train, bus or road trip.
For everyday travel in Korea, you may also find my guides to taking a taxi in Korea, using buses in Korea, using trains in Korea, using the subway in Korea, and using Naver Map in Korea helpful.
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