Seongmyo is the Korean custom of visiting ancestors’ graves, especially during major family holidays such as Chuseok. Families travel to burial sites to pay respects and maintain the graves.
A related task is beolcho, the cutting and clearing of weeds around a family grave before Chuseok. The two terms are closely connected but are not identical: seongmyo refers to the grave visit and observance, while beolcho specifically describes grave maintenance.
During a seongmyo visit, relatives may clean the site, bow, place offerings, and share a meal or remembrance together. The practice reflects Korean traditions of ancestor veneration and the importance of family lineage. Modern families may visit graves in person, use memorial parks, or adapt the observance to distance and work schedules, but the connection between Chuseok and remembering ancestors remains strong.