Beolcho is the Korean custom of trimming weeds around family graves before Chuseok.
Families traditionally prepare ancestral burial sites before the holiday by clearing grass, cutting weeds, and tidying the surrounding area. This work reflects respect for ancestors and helps prepare graves for visits during the Chuseok period.
Beolcho is related to, but not identical with, seongmyo. Seongmyo means visiting and tending ancestral graves more generally, whereas beolcho specifically refers to cutting or removing vegetation around them. Keeping those terms separate prevents a common vocabulary mix-up.
The custom also explains why late summer and early autumn can be a busy time for cemetery visits. In modern South Korea, some families still perform the work themselves, while others hire services or visit maintained memorial facilities.