Chuseok day itself is Friday 25 September; with Sunday 27 it makes a four-day break, and Monday 28 September is not a substitute holiday. Chuseok 2027 falls on Wednesday 15 September, with the holiday running Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 September.
The pattern below — banks and official exchange counters shut, family-run markets and restaurants resting on the core days, convenience stores and chains open as usual — is a useful guide for 2027 too. We’ll update this page when 2027 opening information is published.
- Banks and official exchange counters close completely from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September.
- What rests is everything family-run.
- Convenience stores never blink — 24 hours, all week.
Who this is for
- Anyone in Seoul 23–28 September wondering what, exactly, will be shut
- People who need to know the last day they can change money
- Anyone who’d rather enjoy a Seoul the crowds have left
From 24 to 27 September 2026, Korea enters Chuseok—its biggest holiday of the year. Two opposite rumours circulate about visiting Seoul that week: “everything is shut, there’s nothing to do,” and “the city is gloriously empty, it’s the best time to come.” Both are exactly half right.
What separates a great Chuseok trip from a frustrating one is a simple map of what closes and what doesn’t. The short version: banks stop completely for four days, family-run shops and traditional markets rest, while convenience stores, chains and the royal palaces keep running—and the palaces customarily open for free.
“So what do I need to do, and by when?” This guide turns Chuseok week (23–28 September) into that map. It starts with the one deadline that matters most—let’s get into it.
Contents
1. The deadline first: change money by Tuesday… no — Wednesday 23 September
2. What closes: markets, family restaurants, and department stores on the day
3. What opens — and what becomes free
4. Walking the emptied city
5. Frequently asked questions
1. Miss This and It Hurts! The Deadline First: Change Money by Wednesday 23 September
✔ Wednesday 23 September is the last banking day
Banks and official exchange counters close completely from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026. ATMs keep working, but over-the-counter exchange stops. If your itinerary needs cash, Wednesday 23 September is the last banking day. Some private exchange booths in Myeongdong stay open through the holiday, but the hours turn unpredictable.
For the card-and-cash fundamentals, see our foreign cards and ATM guide. ATM fees are flat per withdrawal—consolidate before the holiday.
✔ Got this far? Then this is your next move. “Chuseok Trains in Korea 2026” is the step after.
2. Everything Family-Run Rests? What Closes: Markets, Family Restaurants, and Department Stores on the Day
| Date | Day | What Seoul looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | Thu | First day — peak outbound travel |
| Sep 25 | Fri | Chuseok day — most closures |
| Sep 26 | Sat | Mid-holiday — attractions reopening |
| Sep 27 | Sun | Normal Sunday — mostly back to usual |
✔ What rests is everything family-run
Traditional markets (Gwangjang, Namdaemun) and independent restaurants largely close on the core holiday days. Department stores customarily shut entirely on Chuseok day itself (25 September) and run shortened hours around it. Push market food and shopping to either side of the holiday.
The trap that catches travellers is medical: neighbourhood clinics close. But duty pharmacies and emergency rooms always operate somewhere—find them in real time at e-gen.or.kr, or call 129 (health line) or 120 (Seoul’s line, with foreign-language support).
3. Gyeongbokgung for Free! What Opens—and What Becomes Free
✔ The biggest gift to travellers is here
Convenience stores never blink—24 hours, all week. Chain cafés, fast food, cinemas and hotels run normally. And then: Seoul’s royal palaces have customarily opened free through the holiday, with traditional performances and events. Gyeongbokgung, normally ₩3,000, becomes free for everyone—hanbok or not (confirm 2026 details in the official notice closer to the date).
The jjimjilbang stays open and the delivery apps keep riding. On the night the markets rest, dinner has a very Korean plan B: fried chicken to your hotel room.
4. Standing Outside the Traffic? Walking the Emptied City
✔ Stay in Seoul and you’re outside the traffic entirely
Millions leave Seoul for their hometowns, so the city centre on the core days is emptier than normal. Trains run on holiday schedules, the palaces and river parks breathe, and the only crowds are at the train stations and on the outbound expressways.
So the blueprint writes itself: finish money-changing and market eating by the 23rd, run the holiday on free palaces + the Han River + a jjimjilbang + delivery dinners, and return to normal Seoul on the 28th. Treat Chuseok not as the city that closed but as the city that went quiet, and it becomes a lucky week to be here.
In short
• Money deadline: 23 September (Wed). Banks close completely 24–27
• Markets and family restaurants rest on core days; department stores close on the 25th
• Convenience stores, chains and cinemas run normally; palaces customarily open free with events
• Medicine: find duty pharmacies at e-gen.or.kr, or call 129 / 120
• Downtown Seoul actually empties out — travelers who stay win the week
Frequently asked questions
Do trains and buses run during Chuseok?
Yes — on holiday schedules. City transport is fully normal; the crush is on intercity rail and expressways.
Will all restaurants be closed?
No. Independent places largely rest, but chains, hotel restaurants and fast food stay open, and delivery apps run as usual.
Are the palaces really free?
It has been the custom for years: free entry through the holiday, with traditional performances. Confirm the 2026 schedule in the official notice before you go.
I forgot to change money — now what?
Global ATMs next to convenience stores run through the holiday. The machine fee is flat per withdrawal, so take out one larger amount.
What if I get sick?
Emergency rooms run 24/7. For minor issues, find a duty pharmacy at e-gen.or.kr or call 129 (health) or 120 (Seoul, foreign-language support).
Information current as of 17 August 2026. Confirm free-entry and closure details in official notices closer to the holiday. Sources: past Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and Seoul City announcements, national emergency medical portal. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.
This article is based on the official information below. Rules can change, so please check the original before you travel.
· Korea Tourism Organization official site
Information as of 2026-09-02 (official listings and Google Maps as shown at publication). Updated when things change.