Chakraborty, Sangita

Junior Editor, GSIS Newsletter

When autumn slowly arrived in Korea, one of the country’s most beloved holidays came and went just a few weeks ago: Chuseok (추석). Often called the Korean Thanksgiving, it marks a time when families gathered to give thanks for the harvest and honour their ancestors.

Now, even as the season continues, the spirit of Chuseok still lingers. The holiday generally lasts for three days, but this year’s whole week break felt especially luxurious, giving many people a rare chance to rest, travel, and reconnect. Highways, train stations, and bus terminals filled with people returning to their hometowns—it’s one of the busiest and most heartfelt times of the year.

Once home, families prepare for charye (차례), the ancestral memorial ritual. Tables are beautifully arranged with rice, fruits, meat, and songpyeon (송편)—half-moon shaped rice cakes filled with sesame seeds or sweet red bean paste. It’s said that making pretty songpyeon brings good fortune for the year ahead.

No Chuseok is complete without food. Families share generous feasts of jeon (savoury pancakes), galbijjim (braised short ribs), and other traditional dishes that celebrate abundance and gratitude. After eating, people enjoy traditional games and dances such as ganggangsullae, the moonlight circle dance, and ssireum, Korean wrestling. Some also wear hanbok and join vibrant local festivals that fill towns with colour and music.

Chuseok takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the full moon shines brightest—a symbol of harmony, unity, and hope for the coming year.

Even foreign students feel the Chuseok spirit all around them. While many Koreans travel home, international students often gather with their “found families,” sharing homemade meals, laughter, and late-night conversations that bring a sense of home away from home. These small get-togethers, whether in dorm kitchens or nearby parks, capture the same feeling of warmth and connection that Chuseok is known for.

Many local communities also host cultural events where students can make songpyeon, try on hanbok, or play traditional games. Even for those far from family, joining these activities helps them feel the comfort and gratitude that Chuseok embodies.

More than anything, Chuseok reminds everyone to pause and be thankful—for family, friends, health, and shared experiences. Whether watching the moon rise over Seoul or enjoying a simple rice cake with friends, the holiday invites us to appreciate the beauty of connection and the joy of the present moment.

From all of us in the Newsletter Team, we hope you had a wonderful Chuseok!