"Chuseok Break Only 4 Days, So Tiring"... Young People Prefer Staying Home Over Gatherings or Travel

Family Gatherings Decline, “Personal Relaxation” on the Rise
Only 30% Plan Charye or Ancestral Rites – a Record Low

With the upcoming four-day Chuseok holiday — shorter than in previous years — more people are choosing to rest at home instead of traveling or visiting their hometowns. This trend is especially pronounced among people in their 20s and 30s, as well as unmarried individuals, who increasingly view the holiday as a time for personal rest rather than family gatherings.

On the 23rd, citizens heading to their hometowns are moving to board the train at Seoul Station. The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article.

According to the Korea Research survey "2026 Chuseok Holiday Gatherings and Schedule Plans" (conducted with 1,000 adults nationwide and released on September 23), the share of respondents who plan to meet family members living separately during Chuseok stands at 63%. This is down by 5 percentage points from last year's Chuseok (68%), and by 7 percentage points from this year's Lunar New Year (70%).

By age, only 52% of those aged 18-29 and those in their 30s plan to meet with their families. By contrast, more than 65% of people aged 40 and older said they would spend time with family during the holiday. Among unmarried respondents, only 49% plan to meet their families, showing a notable gap compared to 73% among married respondents.

Gatherings with relatives, friends, and acquaintances are also on the decline. The proportion of respondents planning to meet relatives is 47%, and those planning to meet friends or acquaintances is 42%. Notably, meetings with friends and acquaintances fell by 10 percentage points compared to last year’s Chuseok.

Travel demands have also seen a significant drop. Only 13% plan domestic or international trips during the holiday, less than half of last year’s Chuseok figure (29%). Among those aged 18-29, just 5% indicated travel plans.

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Traditional holiday customs such as ancestral rites and memorial services are gradually declining as well. The share of respondents intending to hold ancestral rites stands at 30% — the lowest level since the survey began in 2023. The share who consider these rituals necessary is also at 40%, lower than the preference for family gatherings (81%), memorial visits to ancestral graves/weeding (67%), or meeting relatives (57%).

Asked about the meaning of the holiday, 45% responded "harmony with family and relatives," while 43% said "a time for rest and recharge." Those who see the holiday as "no different from any other day off" increased by 5 percentage points to 37% compared to last year. This tendency to view the holiday as personal time rather than a family event is especially apparent among people in their 20s and 30s as well as the unmarried population.

About 26% of respondents said they feel financially burdened by the holiday. This figure rises to 31% for households with an average monthly income below 3 million won.

Korea Research commented, "Rather than filling the holiday with gatherings and appointments, there is a stronger trend toward taking time to rest. The shorter holiday period appears to have influenced this change."

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