This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker sketches out for us an overview of Chuseok, this week’s national celebration that has its roots in the autumn harvest.
The Chuseok harvest festival is a highly anticipated extended national holiday which along with the Lunar New Year, or Seollal, holds deep meaning for the Korean people.

[Slug CG] Traditional harvest festival which today is a 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.

Since Chuseok Day falls on Friday, Sept. 13 this year, this means that most people are looking forward to a long weekend, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be busy. For one, there’s plenty of shopping and cooking to do since the ceremonial dishes are rather elaborate.

[Slug CG] Jeju Chuseok dishes differ in ways from mainland

Jeju’s Chuseok cuisine differs from 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.

[Slug CG] Todd Thacker

With all this talk of delicious food, travellers to Jeju during Chuseok may find that many restaurants and cafes are closed for the holiday.

But fear not, the provincial government has compiled a detailed list of restaurants that will be open in the next few days.

[Slug CG] For info during Chuseok, call
Jeju Tourist Information Center: 064-740-6000

You can call the Jeju Tourist Information Center at 064-740-6000 during regular business hours and they will help you find restaurants in your area that will suit you.

Happy holidays!

Todd Thacker, KCTV