한국문화소개 13

[Culture: Chuseok]

Chuseok, often called Korea’s Thanksgiving, is one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea. In the past, many people made great efforts to return to their hometowns or visit their parents during Chuseok. The roads were often extremely crowded, but people still traveled long distances to spend the holiday with their families. Nowadays, however, more families choose to travel together during Chuseok, including trips within Korea or abroad. This has become a new way of celebrating the holiday.

Originally, Chuseok was closely connected with the harvest, ancestors, and agricultural community life. People remembered their ancestors and honored them by offering newly harvested crops and food. Through these rituals, they expressed gratitude not only to their ancestors but also to the land that supported their lives. This connection with the earth, ancestors, and neighbors helped strengthen a sense of community. In traditional farming villages, agricultural work was often shared among community members, and individuals understood themselves as important participants in a larger agricultural community.

Korea’s rapid industrialization, however, transformed this traditional farming system. As more people moved away from rural areas to cities, Chuseok gradually became an important occasion for descendants to return to their parents’ homes or ancestral hometowns. No matter how busy they were or how crowded the roads became, many people still felt a strong obligation to visit family members living in their hometowns. In this sense, Chuseok served as a cultural bridge connecting urbanized descendants with their families, hometowns, and ancestral roots.