Which full moon is central to traditional Chuseok celebrations?

The full moon of the eighth lunar month is central to traditional Chuseok celebrations.

Chuseok takes place on the fifteenth day of that lunar month, when the moon is traditionally full. The full moon helps explain the festival’s themes of abundance, reunion, and gratitude after the main autumn harvest.

Moonlight also has a visible place in traditional customs. Ganggangsullae, a circle dance performed by women, is especially associated with singing and dancing beneath the Chuseok moon. The festival’s older names likewise point toward mid-autumn and the evening.

This full moon should not be confused with Daeboreum’s first full moon of the lunar year. Daeboreum is a separate Korean festival held much earlier, while Chuseok centers on the eighth lunar month and autumn harvest traditions.