Jeju: A to Z (What is Chuseok?)
This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker gives us a bit more information about a topic that’s dominating the news these days ? the Chuseok harvest festival, one of the major national holidays of Korea.






[Report]
The Chuseok harvest festival is big news, and for some very good reasons. Along with the Lunar New Year, or Seollal, Chuseok has always meant a great deal to the Korean people.

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Originally a harvest festival, now a welcome national holiday

In addition to marking the end of the summer growing season, it’s a welcome break from work and school, affording families the opportunity to gather and catch up on the events of their busy lives.

This year most people will get up to 10 consecutive days off, but that doesn’t mean people won’t be busy. For one, there’s plenty of cooking to do since the ceremonial dishes are rather elaborate and require a lot preparation.

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Jeju dishes differ in many ways from mainland Chuseok fare

Jeju’s Chuseok fare differs from that of other parts of Korea in a number of interesting ways. This includes the songpyeon rice cakes, which here are shaped not as half moons like on the mainland, but full moons. Jeju mountain bracken, or gosari, too, appears prominently in Chuseok dishes like jeon, a kind of savory pancake side-dish.

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Todd Thacker

Though family plays a central role in the celebration, things are changing. Nuclear families with more disposable income are opting now to take the time off and travel overseas together. And busy family members are turning to catering services during Chuseok ? something unheard of even a decade or two ago.

All in all, this beloved national holiday is a well-earned break from our hectic modern lives. Happy Chuseok, everyone!

Todd Thacker KCTV