7 To Dos During Chuseok Festival!

Happy Chuseok! If you're in Korea now you'll find the streets and shops in Seoul to be quite deserted. Why? Because Chuseok is a time for Thanksgiving and most of the families will return back to their hometown to gather with their families and have good meals :)

Originally known as Hangawi, this major harvest festival is celebrated with a 3 day holiday; in which the 15th day of the 8th lunar month is the peak! It's similar to Chinese's Mid Autumn Festival! In contrast to what we Chinese do (eat mooncake and play with paper lanterns), there are a few things you should know about Chuseok!

1. Roam the streets of Seoul if you are in Korea
Because it's a major holiday, most people will be back and you'll be happy to see one less crowded Seoul. Try roaming Hongdae during a normal day and during Chuseok - that area will suddenly make you feel as if you are in a "Resident Evil" scene - quiet and lifeless. I spent my Chuseok last year in Hongdae roaming around the streets and was glad to find Family Mart opened to provide us a bowl of ramyeon!

2. Try songpyeon 송편

Osaek Songpyeon - 5 colours represents the harmony of nature

Glutinous rice to me who's a Malaysian Chinese was either "lo ma kai", or "nasi kerabu" or "nasi pulut". It's amazing how people use it in different variations at the Korean made this traditional Korean food from glutinous rice as well. Songpyeons are a variety of "tteok", or so called rice cakes and they are a symbol of the traditional Korean culture. Made into a cute half-moon shape, it carries different fillings in it such as red bean paste or sesame seeds! 

3. Dance to the moon

Traditional dance during Chuseok - Ganggangsullae

Well, not literally. :) Ganggangsullae can be watched at various cultural folk villages. In the olden days, young and old women used to dance in a circle at night under the moonlight in their traditional hanbok. They would hold each other's hands in a circle and the circle rotates. You'll find them singing as well and the dance can last as long as until before day breaks. This 5000 year old Korean dance is mostly performed in the southwestern coastal province of Jeollanam-do. 

4. Play Yutnori 윷놀이!

All of us looking at the sticks. We played this at the Namsamgol Cultural Village.

4 sticks, 1 board, mal (tokens) and 2 partners or 2 groups help you kick start the game! It's a traditional game played with lots of excitement and tension - well at least to me! You need to get your mal from one station to the last station based on your scores. The excitement comes when you are able to cast more than one at a time, or when your mal lands on a station occupied by the opponent's team because you can return kick your opponent back to its starting position!

To get to the Namsamgol Cultural Village:
Take subway Line 3 or 4
Exit 4 at Chungmuro Station
Walk along Hanongmaeul-gil street for 5 minutes

5. Wear hanbok 한복!

BEAST in their hanboks!

This is a festival where people are visiting each other in their pretty traditional Korean dress - hanbok! It's during Chuseok festival when a lot of Kpop artist managers will make sure the artists and artistes have their very own Hanbok pictures to send a Chuseok message to their fans in Korea and all around the world!

The day when we dressed up as the Queen, the King, and the Princess (me!)

6. Watch your Kpop love on Chuseok specials!

KBS Chuseok Special 'Idol Crown Prince' filming

Just like how we always have our Chinese New Year specials, or Hari Raya specials; Koreans have Chuseok specials as well! Two specials that I'll be watching is KBS 'Idol Crown Prince' which has several members from BEAST, 2PM, 2AM, Infinite, SISTAR, KARA, 4Minute, Secret, APink; and who am I going to eye on? Nonetheless than 2PM's Taecyeon! The next is MBC's new special "Miss and Mister Idol Korea" on October 1st featuring 8 girls groups and 8 boy groups including KARA, Secret, 4Minute, 2PM, MBLAQ and more!



7. Say "Have A Great ChuSeok"!