Bumper-to-bumper traffic clogs one side of a highway to the port city of Busan in Seoul’s Seocho Ward on Sept. 21, 2018, as the annual rush began of travelers heading to their hometowns and resort areas for the Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving. Chuseok falls on Sept. 24 this year. Transportation authorities say more than 36.54 million people are expected to commute between Sept. 21-26. (Yonhap)
South Korean soldiers dispatched to Lebanon as U.N. peace-keeping forces hold a joint memorial service for their ancestors on the Chuseok holiday on Oct. 4, 2017, in this photo provided by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Yonhap)
Bumper-to-bumper traffic clogs one side of a highway to the port city of Busan in Seoul’s Seocho Ward, on Sept. 29, 2017, as many holidaymakers hit the road to take advantage of up to 10 consecutive days off, including Chuseok, the Korean harvest holiday, which falls on Oct. 4 this year. (Yonhap)
People wait to leave Seoul Station in downtown Seoul on Sept. 17, 2016 as the Chuseok holiday draws to a close. Chuseok, the Korean thanksgiving which fell on Sept. 15 this year, is the season for family reunions, with Koreans traditionally offering a ritual feast to their ancestors. [Yonhap]
In this aerial photo taken on Sept. 13, 2016, hundreds of cars are backed up at a service station exit in Anseong, south of Seoul, along a highway linking Seoul to the port city of Busan, as South Korea’s annual exodus for the Chuseok fall holiday begins. Chuseok, which falls on Sept. 15 this year, is the season for family reunions, with Koreans traditionally offering a ritual feast to their ancestors on Aug. 15 of the lunar calendar. Almost 37.52 million people are expected to travel to their home towns during the holiday. (Yonhap)
There can’t be a worse traffic jam on the planet every year than what happens during Chuseok in South Korea:
More than 18 million people are expected to travel across the country to return to their hometowns for the Chuseok long weekend, traffic authorities said Tuesday.
According to the Korea Expressway Corp. and Korea Transport Institute, 500,000 vehicles had departed Seoul using expressways on Tuesday alone.
Monday’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake has not affected the annual holiday migration, as no major damage was reported on expressways nationwide, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
On the return trip after Chuseok ceremonies are finished Thursday morning, less congestion is expected as travelers have three days to choose from for the return trip, from Friday to Sunday. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but here is a power tip for those new to Korea. The Chuseok timeframe is the best time to go and visit Seoul. There will be absolutely no crowds at all the various sites.
A traditional market in Seongnam, southeast of Seoul, is crowded with people on Sept. 9, 2016, who shop ahead of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving that falls on Sept. 15 this year. (Yonhap)
This aerial photo shows an expressway running parallel to fields of ripe rice in the southwestern city of Jeongeup on Sept. 29, 2015, the last day of the Chuseok holiday that started on Sept. 26. Chuseok, which fell on Sept. 27 this year, is the season for family reunions, with Koreans traditionally offering a ritual feast to their ancestors on Aug. 15 of the lunar calendar. (Yonhap)
In this aerial photo, bumper-to-bumper traffic in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, clogs one side of a highway linking Seoul to the southwestern port city of Mokpo on Sept. 25, 2015, as South Korea’s annual exodus for the Chuseok fall holiday begins. Chuseok, which falls on Sept. 27 this year, is the season for family reunions, with Koreans traditionally offering a ritual feast to their ancestors on Aug. 15 of the lunar calendar.(Yonhap)
