Enjoy Chuseok at National Museums: From Korean Traditional Music and Rice Cake Pounding to Making Janggu Drums

Chuseok Holiday Programs at 13 National Museums Nationwide, Sept. 22-30
Rich Array of Performances, Hands-On Activities, and Special Exhibitions at Major Museums, Including Seoul, Chuncheon, Jeju, and Gongju

During the Chuseok holiday, national museums across the country will be hosting cultural events for families, ranging from Korean traditional music performances and rice cake making to folk games and exhibition-related experiences.

Children visiting the National Jeju Museum are experiencing traditional games. The National Jeju Museum will operate the "Chuseok Traditional Folk Games Festival," where visitors can enjoy games such as Yutnori, Tuho, Jegichagi, and spinning tops from the 24th to the 27th during the Chuseok holiday, excluding Chuseok day itself. National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea announced on the 18th that 13 national museums across the country will be running Chuseok cultural events according to their own schedules from the 22nd to the 30th. These events have been prepared so that visitors can enjoy both the holiday and Korean cultural heritage through performances, traditional games, and hands-on programs.

At the National Museum of Korea, the "The Art Spot" series will be held in the Open Yard from the 24th to the 27th, except on Chuseok day (the 25th). Every day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., performances will feature the Gyeol Korean Traditional Orchestra, Samulgwangdae, SoriON, Yeonhee Company Yuhee, Yeonhee Performer Group Cheorat, folk singer Kim Junsu, and The Second Moon, among others.

Regional museums will offer hands-on activities for the holiday. The National Chuncheon Museum will host traditional games and rice cake pounding on the 26th, sharing freshly made Injeolmi with visitors. At the National Jeju Museum, visitors can enjoy Yutnori, Tuho, Jegichagi, and spinning top games. The National Cheongju Museum will organize "Chuseok Hanmadang," combining a farmers' music festival, the traditional play "The Flatulent Daughter-in-Law," folk games, and wish postcard writing.

At the National Gongju Museum, the "Gugwanmyeonggwan Master Performance," a traditional outdoor play featuring nine masters, will be held on the 26th, along with a workshop to build a janggu drum with LEGO bricks. The National Iksan Museum will present activities such as writing Chuseok wishes, large-scale Yutnori and Tuho games, and photo certification events. The National Gwangju Museum will offer a special experience program linked to its special exhibition "Earthenware: Clay Vessels That Contain Us."

At the National Jeonju Museum, visitors can experience samulnori, traditional daily tools, and folk games, while the National Naju Museum will feature generational games such as Tuho, spinning tops, Ssangnyuk, Gonnu, rubber band games, and collaborative Jegichagi. The National Daegu Museum will offer activities including traditional folk painting slap-match cards, Jakho-do bag charms, character kites, and mother-of-pearl so-ban making, with performances scheduled for the 26th and 27th as well.

During the Chuseok holiday period, the National Gyeongju Museum will hold a special exhibition titled "Hwangnyongsa, Enshrining the Buddha's Relics_Hwangnyong Bongbul," featuring about 390 relic tiles and relic adornments excavated from the foundation stones of the wooden pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple. Additionally, a digital viewing program for families called "Dorandoran Walking Tour of Wolji Pond" will also be offered. National Museum of Korea

There are also programs that allow for a deeper exploration of exhibitions and cultural heritage. The National Gyeongju Museum will host a special exhibition, "Hwangnyongsa, Enshrining the Buddha's Relics_Hwangnyong Bongbul," displaying about 390 relic tiles and artifact adornments excavated from the foundation stones of the Hwangnyongsa wooden pagoda, and will also offer a digital appreciation program for families called "Dorandoran Walking Tour of Wolji Pond." The National Jinju Museum will provide experiences themed around the Imjin War, such as traditional armor, archery, firearms, and military musical instruments, while the National Gimhae Museum will offer games such as hoop rolling, Tuho, Jegichagi, stone flicking, and slap-match card games.

All national museums across the country will be closed on Chuseok day, the 25th. Some programs are operated on a first-come, first-served basis on site, and schedules may be subject to change depending on weather conditions, so visitors should check each museum's website for detailed schedules before visiting.

Yoo Hong-jun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, said, "To celebrate Chuseok, we have prepared a variety of events at national museums nationwide so that families can enjoy our traditional culture together," and added, "We hope you will spend a memorable holiday at the museum, discovering cultural heritage and sharing memories across generations."

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