Ended · archive | Chuseok 2026 travel guide: holiday dates, museum closures and meals

Plan Chuseok by individual venue, not by a blanket claim that Korea closes or Seoul stays open. Confirm intercity transport first, then match museum branch hours, palace access and meals to each holiday date.

Update, 30 September 2026: the Chuseok 2026 holiday (24–27 September) has ended. The closures and free-admission dates below are kept as a record of how the holiday worked. Chuseok 2027 falls on Wednesday 15 September 2027, with the public holiday on 14–16 September; check each venue's own notice again for that year.

Chuseok 2026: the dates, and what actually closes

Chuseok falls on Friday 25 September 2026; the public holiday is 24–26 September, followed by Sunday 27 September. Plan by venue and date rather than assuming all museums or shops open. The National Museum of Korea closes on 25 September. MMCA Seoul also closes that day; its notice gives free admission on 24, 26 and 27 September. MMCA Gwacheon, Deoksugung and Cheongju announce opening and free admission on all four days, 24–27 September. Department stores, supermarkets, markets and restaurants set their own branch schedules: there is no blanket rule that every supermarket closes on the 25th. Confirm the exact branch and reserve a meal that matters to your itinerary. For medical help, use the official E-Gen directory for open facilities; call 119 in an emergency.

MMCA · 2026 Chuseok opening notice

Planning your visit

Choose one confirmed open venue and one outdoor alternative for each day. Keep 25 September flexible because the National Museum of Korea and MMCA Seoul close. On a palace visit, check the Palace and Tombs Center's holiday notice and separate reservations for special programmes; free admission does not remove safety checks or queues. Book intercity transport against the actual holiday timetable and confirm the last return service. For meals, note two open restaurants near your chosen venue instead of relying on a market as a whole.

Places to consider along your route

Choose the stops that fit your time and interests. This is an editorial selection, not a measured ranking of local visits.

1. Palace holiday opening — Check the Palace and Tombs Center holiday notice and any special-event reservation; free entry does not remove admission queues.
2. Hanbok and special programmes — Hanbok admission benefits, holiday free admission and separately reserved events have different conditions. Renting on an already-free day does not save another entrance fee.
3. National Folk Museum Chuseok program (국립민속박물관) — Distinguish dated folk-game or workshop programmes from ordinary museum access. Free admission does not automatically include a workshop place.
4. Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을) — A hanok site on the Chungmuro side, not the N Seoul Tower entrance. Holiday activities require their own dated programme record.
5. MMCA Seoul and MMCA Deoksugung (국립현대미술관) — MMCA Seoul closes on 25 September 2026; Deoksugung, Gwacheon and Cheongju announce free opening that day.
6. Han River picnic (한강공원) — Choose Yeouido or Ttukseom and check weather, tent zones and the actual convenience store's opening hours. Buy the meal before settling on the lawn and leave time to collect rubbish before returning.
7. Songpyeon run (송편) — For songpyeon, check the chosen rice-cake shop’s opening, ordering, collection date and storage instructions. Shops do not all close on one shared date.
8. A programme confirmed for your date — Use the current venue programme to check dates, reservations and any fee. Do not assume an event takes place every weekend.
9. Lotte World, only if you must (롯데월드) — Check height and health restrictions, closure notices and the current queue before choosing this ride; a paid priority product is optional.

Practical table: dates, transport, money, emergencies