Chuseok is one of South Korea’s two major family holidays alongside Seollal.
Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year, while Chuseok is the major autumn harvest festival. Both holidays bring families together, involve travel across the country, and include ceremonies, special foods, and respect for ancestors.
The two celebrations have different seasonal meanings. Seollal marks the beginning of the traditional lunar year and is associated with customs such as wearing hanbok, performing sebae bows, and eating tteokguk. Chuseok centers on the autumn harvest, family reunions, ancestral observances, and seasonal foods.
Dano is another traditional Korean festival, but it is not the principal family holiday paired with Chuseok in modern descriptions. The pairing of Seollal and Chuseok reflects their importance in South Korea’s public and family calendars.