5 Best Ways to Spend Chuseok in Seoul During COVID-19

If you’re familiar with Korean culture, you must’ve heard of Chuseok. Along with Dano and Seollal, Chuseok is a very significant culture fest. In 2020, the Chuseok holidays are scheduled from 30th September to 2nd October.

In essence, Chuseok means ‘Autumn eve’. It’s a celebration of autumn and the long harvest that comes in the season.

 

 

Since the pandemic, many Koreans can’t participate in the cultural activities, including visiting hanoks, going to cultural events, and inviting loved ones over for feasts.

However, here’s everything you can still do:

1) Make Chuseok Cuisine at Home

 

Usually, people can buy autumn cuisine from different restaurants, vendors, and businesses during the festival. Now, with the pandemic, it’s a good time to try Chuseok recipes at home. 

One of the most popular foods in this season is Songpyeon (pictured below). These are little moon-shaped rice cakes. They’re made with natural food coloring and sesame seed filling.

Other popular foods include Hangwa and Baekseju.

2) Wear Hanboks and Walk Around The City By Your Own

It’s fun to dress for the occasion even if it’s at home. Hanboks, the traditional dress in both North and South Korea, are worn by women, children, and men. 

Since there’s a pandemic going on, it’s better to wear an old hanbok. However, you can buy new hanboks online as well.

Wearing hanboks during this festival is a long-held tradition. Therefore, participating in this holiday usually means dressing in a hanbok.

3) Send Chuseok Gift Sets to Your Loved Ones

The worst part about the pandemic is that you can’t spend time with your loved ones. However, you can still fulfill Chuseok traditions by sending them gifts. 

Traditional gifts include daily necessities such as sugar, meat, soap, etc. These days, though, people can give away anything. 

From wine to olive oil and vinegar, Chuseok gifts are about being grateful for the mundane.

4) Hiking Seoul City Wall

One of the best ways to spend this Chuseok is to become healthy and start hiking. And what better place would it be to do that than the Seoul City Wall. Seoul City Wall was constructed in 1396 to defend Seoul from outside invasion and since then the wall has stood securely to defend the area.

The wall extends around Seoul city for 18.6 kilometers along with the ranges of four prominent mountains-Bukaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan.

 

5) Read a book or start making Youtube Videos

There is no better way to spend time during the quarantine than focusing on the goals that you’ve always wanted to achieve. I know a lot of people want to start a Youtube channel but can’t do so due to a shortage of time. But during these 5 days of Chuseok holidays, this is the best time to start a Youtube Channel. Or at least start reading a book to learn more about life and feel motivated.

 

You can buy pre-packaged gifts at different department stores.

Conclusion

Chuseok is a fun-filled and vibrant festival to enjoy with your family and friends. By understanding the values and traditions it celebrates, you can celebrate the festival without compromising COVID-19 restrictions.

However, you can’t fully immerse yourself in Korean culture without knowing your Korean name. Don’t forget to check out this guide to finding your Korean name.

#globalseoulmate #gsm2020 #visitseoul #koreanthanksgiving #chuseok #chuseokinseoul #seoulite #?????

#MOFA #UnboxingKorea #KoreaAllimi #KoreanCulture #Korea #??? #?????? #???????