"If You Don't Buy Now, You'll Be Too Late"... Office Workers Rush for Golden Holiday as Flight and Hotel Reservations Heat Up

With Five Days of Annual Leave, an 11-Day Golden Holiday Possible in October

An 'Early Autumn' Booking War Has Already Begun

Office workers are already turning their attention to the fall calendar. This is because multiple opportunities have emerged to plan a "maximum 11-day" golden holiday. While the actual number of public holidays is similar to previous years, the perceived length of time off can vary significantly depending on how annual leave is scheduled. As a result, strategic holiday plans are being shared among office workers, and a full-fledged "early fall" booking war is underway.

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9-Day Chuseok in September, 11-Day Golden Holiday in October

The first period drawing attention is the Chuseok holiday in September. This year, Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25. According to official public holiday regulations, the holiday extends from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26, with Sunday, September 27 providing an additional day off, resulting in a total of four consecutive days. Since the holiday overlaps with a Saturday this year, there will be no substitute holiday, as current regulations only apply to overlaps with Sundays. Nevertheless, if annual leave is taken from September 21 to 23, a total of nine consecutive days off can be achieved.

The October calendar offers an even more extraordinary opportunity for an extended break. National Foundation Day (Saturday, October 3), has a substitute holiday on Monday, October 5, and Hangeul Day (Friday, October 9) closely follows. By taking annual leave on the three days in between—October 6, 7, and 8—workers can secure a nine-day vacation. Furthermore, by adding annual leave for October 1 and 2, it is possible to enjoy an 11-day golden holiday using just five days of annual leave.

From Long-Haul Overseas Travel to City Stays

As news of the golden holiday schedules spreads, the travel market is also seeing a surge in early bookings. Among office workers, there is growing anticipation for extended leave, with sentiments such as "You have to buy airfare tickets right now" and "Europe is definitely doable."

In fact, an analysis of flight ticket search data for the second half of the year shows that demand for overseas bookings during the late September and early October holiday periods has increased by about 35% compared to the same period last year. In particular, long-haul routes to destinations such as Europe and the Americas—where longer vacations are possible—are seeing concentrated demand during the October holiday period.

On October 2nd last year, just before the Chuseok golden holiday, travelers visiting Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 queued up to get their tickets.

In the domestic travel market, there is growing interest in long-term stays in rural or small-town areas away from major cities. Instead of quickly visiting multiple tourist sites, more people are opting to relax and immerse themselves in local culture by staying in one area for an extended period.

Popular autumn foliage destinations such as Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Naejangsan in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, Jeonju Hanok Village, Wolyeonggyo Bridge in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and the Metasequoia Road in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, are all seeing swift increases in accommodation booking rates. There is also high early reservation demand for hotels and guesthouses near major regional cultural event venues, such as the 30th Muju Firefly Festival opening on September 4 and the Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival.

Book Transportation and Accommodations Early

To fully enjoy the golden holidays, it is essential to not only arrange your vacation schedule but also to prepare for transportation and accommodation bookings in advance. In particular, with the train ticket reservation system being overhauled this fall, it is important to familiarize yourself with the new process ahead of time.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and SR officially launched their integrated reservation app "KORAIL Plus" on the 3rd of this month. From 10 a.m. on the 5th, integrated train tickets for travel starting September 1 have been available for purchase via the KORAIL Plus app and the KORAIL website. Reservations for train tickets during the upcoming special Chuseok transportation period will also be handled through this integrated system.

The longer you wait to reserve plane tickets and accommodations, the fewer options you will have. For those planning October vacations, reservations should be made promptly, as demand for long-haul flights and popular lodging is expected to be particularly intense during this period.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.