Chuseok 2026 in Seoul: What Closes and Opens, 24–27 Sept

Chuseok 2026 falls on Friday 25 September, with the holiday running Thursday 24 through Sunday 27 September — four days.

Visitors who come to Seoul in this window tend to leave with one of two verdicts. Either “the city was empty and wonderful” or “everywhere I wanted to eat was shut.” The difference is not luck. It is whether you knew in advance what closes and what opens.

Chuseok is Korea’s harvest holiday, closest in spirit to Thanksgiving. People travel to their family homes and independent shops pull down the shutters. Yet on those same days, palaces that normally charge admission open free of charge. Plan it as four days when things close and things open at the same time, and it works in your favour.

1. The 2026 dates, and the mood of the city

Seoul empties over the holiday as people head to their family hometowns. Which means the roads and the metro inside the city are quieter than usual. What jams is the expressway network, the KTX, and the airport.

The calmest moment is Friday the 25th in the morning. The worst is Sunday the 27th in the afternoon, when everyone comes back. If your flight home is on the 27th, leave for the airport an hour earlier than you otherwise would.

2. What closes: banks, big stores, independents

Banks are shut for the entire holiday. If you need to change money, do it by Wednesday 23 September — the day before the holiday starts. ATMs work, but they will not exchange foreign currency. Airport exchange counters stay open, though the rate is usually worse than in the city.

Hypermarkets and department stores customarily close on Chuseok day itself (the 25th). E-Mart, Homeplus and the major department stores have all treated it as a closing day. Individual branches vary year to year, so check the official site if a specific store matters to you.

Independent restaurants close in large numbers on the day and around it. Traditional markets such as Gwangjang thin out as stallholders travel home. If you are carrying a list of places to eat, write off the 25th and move them to the 24th or 26th.

3. What opens: four days of free palaces

This is the real advantage of being in Seoul at Chuseok. Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung — the four grand palaces — along with Jongmyo Shrine, are customarily opened free of charge across the Chuseok holiday, as are the Joseon royal tombs. Places that normally cost 3,000 won admit anyone for those four days.

The official 2026 announcement is expected in mid-September, and the exact days and hours differ slightly year to year. Check the Korea Heritage Service notice once September begins. Our guide to building a palace-centred four-day trip covers the rest.

Also open: convenience stores (24 hours), the metro and buses (normal service), the Myeongdong, Hongdae and Dongdaemun shopping districts, the large café chains, department store food halls (except on the day itself), and the airport. Outdoor spaces like Namsan and Seoul Forest are unaffected.

4. Eating: where to actually go

For meals on Chuseok day itself, think in three categories and you will not go hungry: hotel restaurants, chains, and the tourist districts. Places in Myeongdong and Hongdae serve visitors year-round and mostly stay open. The neighbourhood restaurants locals use go quiet.

There are also things you can only find now. Songpyeon, the half-moon rice cake, appears in markets, supermarkets and bakeries; so does jeon, the savoury pancake. Rather than mourn the closed doors, go and look at what is on the shelves this week.

Restaurant etiquette does not change over the holiday, though busy places may ask you to share a table.

5. Medical: clinics and pharmacies

This is the one that catches people out. Most ordinary clinics and pharmacies close for the holiday. Emergency rooms run 24 hours, and each district designates on-duty hospitals and pharmacies.

Two ways to find them. Call 129, the emergency medical information centre, or Seoul’s 120 Dasan call centre. Both offer foreign-language support. Visitors can also use 1330, the Korea Tourism Organization’s interpretation line.

If you take regular medication, sort it out before the holiday starts. Reading what Korean pharmacies actually sell in advance makes the decision faster on the day.

6. Travel: the KTX and the airport

Leaving Seoul over this holiday is a bad idea. KTX reserved seats go early to people travelling home, and expressway journeys run close to double the usual time. If Busan or Gyeongju was on the list, move those dates outside the holiday or keep this trip to Seoul.

Getting around the city, conversely, gets easier. Metro and buses run normally, the roads are clear and taxis are easy to find. Your transport card works exactly as usual.

The airport is the exception. On the 24th and the 27th, international departures collide with domestic holiday traffic. Work backwards from three and a half hours before departure, not three.

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid Seoul during Chuseok?

No need. The city is quieter than usual and the palaces open free. Just plan your money exchange and your meals in advance, because banks close and many independent shops shut.

How do I change money?

Do it at a bank or a city exchange office by Wednesday 23 September. The 24th is already the first day of the holiday, and banks are shut. Airport counters stay open through the holiday, but the rate is generally worse than in town.

Where can I eat on Chuseok day itself?

Hotel restaurants, the big chains, and the visitor-facing districts of Myeongdong, Hongdae and Dongdaemun mostly stay open. Convenience stores run 24 hours.

Is the free palace opening guaranteed?

It has been the practice every year, but the exact days and hours vary. The Korea Heritage Service is expected to announce the 2026 arrangement in mid-September, so confirm before you lock in your plans.

What if I get ill during the holiday?

Emergency rooms operate 24 hours. For on-duty clinics and pharmacies, call 129 (emergency medical information) or Seoul’s 120 line. Visitors can also call 1330 for help in English.