If you’re studying in South Korea during the fall semester, there’s a sweet break that awaits you: Chuseok weekend! If you haven’t heard of this, you’re not alone. I didn’t know what Chuseok was until a week before when my teachers were canceling class and I started noticing all the “WILL CLOSE FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND” signs on every local establishment.
For locals, Chuseok is a festive holiday for the whole family from far and close to come together and cook traditional meals and give thanks—think of it as the Korean Thanksgiving. But for a foreign student with no family nearby or cooking prospects, I quickly realized it meant Thursday-Tuesday with no school, nothing to do, and an unofficial city-wide shutdown. Although lazing in my dorm sounded tempting, the biggest problem was NO FOOD (don’t worry, most major chains remain open during the holiday). But I hadn’t come all the way to Korea to waste a five-day weekend, and unless I wanted to eat McDonalds for every meal, I needed to find something to do before my stock of instant ramen ran out. Here are some suggestions for things to fill your holiday weekend!
Mall Exploration
One thing that you can count on being open during Chusoek is the malls. We went to the Coex Mall on Thursday and lost ourselves all day. You can get to the massive underground mall by riding subway line 6 from Anam Station towards Bomun, changing to Line 2 at Sindang towards Sangwangsimni, and getting off at Samseong Station. The first thing you must try when arriving is the eggy goodness of Egg Slut, located right outside Line 2 Exit 6. Up next, you can enjoy the gorgeous library, hopefully catch a small performance, enter the large aquarium, or shop at my personal favorite, Kakao Friends Store!
Another fun and popular mall is the Lotte World Mall. Here, you can see the Studio Ghibli collection store, romanticize your life at the Aqua Garden Café (take a sip with a giant fish tank in front of you!), or have some of the richest fruit tarts at Tarr Tarr! You can get to the Lotte World Mall from Anam station by taking Line 6 toward Bomun, switching to Line 2 at Sindang towards Sangwansimi, and getting off at Jamsil Station.
Ganghwado Excursion (why I was sore for a Week)
Ganghwa Island is a small mountainous island near Gimpo that’s known for its many beautiful cafes, dreamy beaches, and challenging hiking. To start the day off with a bit of adventure, my friends and I decided to catch an 8 a.m. taxi to Manisan, the tallest mountain in Ganghwado. But before anything else, we stopped for a quick breakfast, which you will quickly find is not widely available in Seoul. McDonald’s became our favorite and only breakfast stop. The taxi ride to the island was just under two hours and cost about ₩70,000 won (about $52 USD), which we split between four.
After a very bumpy nap in the taxi, it was time for the adventure to begin…except that it was raining. (Note to self: Check the weather before traveling so far for outdoor activities.) Trying to avoid slipping and hiding from the cold, we found shelter at Manisan Café, right off the entrance of the mountain.
After a nice, comforting drink, the sun came out, and we were ready to start our hike. There are two paths you can take to the top of the mountain: one longer, easier path and a faster, so-called “tragic” path. Heed my advice: Do not take the faster path. The “easy” path was the most difficult hike of my life, and it took us two hours to climb. We went down the faster path, which only took us one hour, but it’s a giant, steep torture staircase that will leave your muscles twitching for a whole month if you take it up. Although this hike was definitely a challenge, the experience was fulfilling with friends and even more rewarding when we finally saw the view at the top.
After the hike, we were absolutely starving. So, we ate at the first restaurant that was open right next to the exit. Chamsong Restaurant serves delicious traditional Korean food, which we inhaled in seconds. Next, we took a taxi down to the beach as the sun started to set. Although the beach was too cold to get in, it still made for a beautiful view; the street was lined up with arcade games, cafes, and people throwing mini fireworks.
More Adventures and Tips
Some of the best activities around Seoul are free, so make sure to check them out! My favorites are around the Han River, a view I’ll never get tired of. Make sure to look up if there’s a drone show while you’re in Korea; it’s one of the most breathtaking arrangements that feels like a dream. Get there early to get a picnic space, and don’t expect any of the bakeries in the area to have any picnic sandwiches left! You can also visit Banpo Hangang Park to see the beautiful waterfall show by the river. (Tip: If you get there by bus, end up on a higher level, and can’t seem to find a way down to the park, there’s an entrance that looks like a subway station that will take you to ground level. Took me forever to find!)
Another great option to fill your Chuseok weekend is visiting Everland or Lotte World, two exciting theme parks. But beware that the lines will be especially long, as people travel from everywhere in Korea during the holiday to visit these parks. Lastly, if you aren’t balling on a budget, a weekend trip to Jeju Island would be the perfect way to spend the holiday. You would need to book a hotel and a quick plane ride. Many of my friends went and loved the relaxing views of the beloved island.
