Holidays in South Korea: which resort to choose? Holidays in South Korea: features, climate and recommendations for tourists South Korea beach holidays.

22.02.2024

South Korea is washed by several seas at once. Its coastline touches the Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the East China Waters. Such a diversity of seas raises many questions about beach holidays in the republic. It’s worth understanding everything in more detail.

Yellow Sea of South Korea

Such a sea is called a semi-closed system. The Yellow Sea is quite shallow and is part of the Pacific Ocean. The average water depth in the Yellow Sea reaches 44 meters. The area of the water formation is 380 thousand square meters. km.

The capital of Korea, Seoul, is located next to the shores of the Yellow Sea.

The beaches of Jeju Island are also washed by the Yellow Sea.

Sea of Japan South Korea

The area of the Sea of Japan is 1062 square meters. km. The sea is the marginal part of the Pacific Ocean. The average depth of its waters is 1753 meters.

The northern part of the Sea of Japan freezes almost completely in winter.

The salt level in the water in this part of the ocean is 33%. It is on the coast of the Sea of Japan that the largest port of Korea, Busan, is located.

East China Sea of South Korea

This sea is a semi-closed water system. South Korea has a direct connection to this sea through the Korea Strait.

The water in the Korea Strait is heated by the warm Kuroshio undercurrent. The length of the strait is 324 km. There are excellent places for beach holidays on its shores.

Beach holidays in South Korea

The best beach holidays in the republic are worth looking for in the following places:

On Jeju Island;
In the port city of Busan;
In Geoje;
In Mouan;
And to Daegu.

All of the above recreation areas are known for their clean beaches with developed infrastructure. On Jeju Island, the sand in the coastal zone is the cleanest and finest. Busan offers its guests a lot of water activities, and in Geoje it is easy to rent accommodation and explore the local attractions.

If Geoje is famous for its highly organized coastal area, then in Muan you can party all night long in local bars and clubs along the coast. Daegu differs from other Korean resorts in its humid climate and hilly terrain, as well as a relaxed atmosphere suitable for families.

In the summer it is very hot in South Korea, so tourists and residents of the republic try to spend all weekends near the water. No one denies themselves the pleasure of swimming in the warm Yellow Sea, or swimming in the warm part of the Sea of Japan near its many islands. The Korea Strait is also popular with tourists. Despite its proximity to large cities, the coastal waters of the strait are rich in a variety of marine life, which are enjoyed by divers and scuba divers from all over the world.

Looks good for residents of the Far East: the flight does not take much time and the air ticket does not cost too much money. However, in the Land of Morning Freshness there are enough tourists from the European part, because in addition to sunbathing and swimming in the warm sea, you can more than gain exotic impressions here. Picturesque nature and historical sights, unique customs and interesting cuisine - Korea can be a fascinating route, with enough room to fulfill a wide variety of desires.

Where to go to sunbathe?

Known to everyone with its popular seaside resorts, it is not the only place where guests are offered a beach holiday in South Korea. The country, located on a peninsula, is surrounded on three sides by the sea and the beaches on the mainland are no less visited by sunbathing fans:

The longest beach in the east of the peninsula is Gyeongpodae Beach. Its main features are fine clean sand and the signature soup “chhodan sundubu”, which is prepared in local coastal restaurants. Sand, according to beach regulars, cures rheumatism, and the basis of the soup is specially purified sea water.
The name of Jeongdongjin Beach translates as “dawn meeting park.” The views of the sea in the morning here are truly fantastic. If you're planning a honeymoon in South Korea, you'll find Jeongdongjin the most romantic.
The beach within the city is convenient for those who do not want to spend a lot of time on the road from civilization to the resort. During the beach season there are too many local sunbathers, but on weekdays in late August and September you can relax quite comfortably on Hyundai Beach. An important advantage of its location is its proximity to the Busan Aquarium.
One of the beaches near the city is covered with black pebbles. It's called Chujong and it is recommended to everyone who has joint problems.
The most youthful and hipster is the Gwangalli resort in the Busan area. There are many discos and night clubs open here.

Weather features of a beach holiday in South Korea

A hot and humid summer is no obstacle to a beach holiday in the Land of Morning Freshness. Already in mid-May, the first sunbathers appear at local resorts, and the swimming season continues until mid-October. The air temperature at the height of summer reaches +35°C, and monsoon rains water the beaches from June to mid-September.
The optimal time for a comfortable beach holiday in Korea is the end of September, the first half of October or the last weeks of May.

Island of Three Plenties

Most of the beach resorts in South Korea are in Jeju. It is called the “island of three abundances” and this piece of land in the strait between the Yellow and Japan seas is worthy of the traveler’s attention. You can get here by plane in just half an hour.
Jeju is of volcanic origin and the abundance of the first is the magnificent stone volcanic reliefs formed by flows of solidified lava. Grottoes and sculptures, lakes and waterfalls will help make a beach holiday in South Korea on Jeju Island educational and eventful.
The beaches on the island are particularly diverse. White coral sand gives way to black, volcanic sand, and the steep and steep entrance to the water becomes gentle and shallow.
When choosing where it is best to sunbathe with the whole family, pay attention to the southeast of the island. There are suitable places for families with children, and the calmest sea is on Pyoseong Beach. Guests will be offered a variety of active entertainment at the Chungmun resort and in the Haepcho hotel area, where dozens of diving centers and beach rental points for windsurfing and snorkeling equipment are open. On the shore you can book boat tours to the open sea. During boat trips, passengers can go fishing and dive from the yacht.

The most romantic record holder

The fishing village of Jeongdongjin is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the closest railway station to the sea: after getting off the train, local passengers literally step into the sea wave. There is a marine park on the hills closest to the village, and the beach itself is covered with perfect white sand. Wooden steps lead to the top of the hill on which an old masted ship rests, the sculpture park symbolizes the harmony of man and nature, and the most devoted fans of the local beach holiday are couples in love. The rising sun is always present in their photos.

Real English holidays

Today, many Far Eastern parents are glad that they don’t have to go to England, America or Australia to learn good English. It is much closer and cheaper to send a child to South Korea, where highly qualified native-speaking teachers come and teaching is set to a very high level. In the Land of Morning Freshness there is active... [... ]

Children's holidays by country

Adventure plans for adults and children for the approaching summer Lying lazily on the beach, sipping cold beer, running around the shops, leisurely strolling along the streets, squares and embankments, hanging out in nightclubs - adults like this type of vacation. Children are not happy about this. What do they need? So that everything boils and seethes around... [... ]

Reviews

Based on my experience, I will say that it is better to go to Seoul with children in late spring or summer to see and stroll through flowering gardens and enjoy water parks. Of course, traveling with or without children is an individual matter. But this is a city of zoos, Disneylands, parks and water parks. So we decided...

Alexandra, 10.04.2019

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Irina Vasilievna, Yana and Olga Vasilievna for the organization, for the help, for everything, for everything!!! Our family is grateful for such support!!! God bless you and give you all the best!!!

Somewhat isolated geographical location South Korea had a positive impact on the preservation of the original culture, the general atmosphere of order and natural beauty of this region. The Republic of Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and is separated from its only land neighbor - North Korea- an “impenetrable” demilitarized zone. You can get to South Korea from other countries only by sea or by air, which significantly affects the number of arriving tourists. Korea has not yet become a country with a massive influx of beach holidaymakers, which means that for the number of visitors that there are now, the peninsula still has a lot of clean air, untrodden meadows, misty mountains and safe, wide natural beaches.

The Korean peninsula is mountainous; there is not much land left for farming, so Koreans very carefully use every piece of flat space. Such frugality creates the image of a toy country, with clean well-kept streets, brand new cars, flat rice fields, restored temples and many small museums, museums of everything: teddy bears, kimchi pickled cabbage, sea shells, traditional tile roofs or, for example, chocolate.

Climate in South Korea temperate, in some places - temperate marine, and on the southernmost island of Jeju-do - tropical marine. The seasons follow each other, as in Russia: hot summer, dry “golden” autumn, snowy winter and colorful sunny spring. Each season has its own holiday.

Ski holidays in Korea

In winter it is ski tours. One of the resorts in South Korea even claimed, and not without reason, to be the capital of the 2014 Olympic Games. All resorts are small, well-equipped: chairlifts, gondolas, snow cannons, piste markings, and excellent hotels - all this is available at every Korean ski resort. The most popular of them: “Yenphen” - considered the largest resort with the best conditions for skiers, “Phoenix Park” - expensive and stylish. “Muju” is a new resort, not crowded with skiers, but also lacks English-speaking staff, “Alps” is heavily loaded with tourists, but has illuminated trails at night. Each of the resorts has trails for both beginners and skiing professionals. Winter is also a time of festivals. For example, the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival in Tebaksan Nature Park and the Trout Fishing Festival in Gawon-do Province are held annually.

Excursion tours to Korea

Spring and autumn are the time for sightseeing tours in South Korea. From mid-March to June is a magnificent time of flowering, and from September to November is “golden autumn”, the best time for educational trips around the country. In South Korea, the most favorable conditions have been created for both independent and organized tourism - a huge number of inscriptions and signs in English, various tourist assistance centers for foreigners, a lot of guidebooks, reasonable prices for excellent hotels - everything for tourists.

Carefully protected architectural monuments - temples, entire ethnic villages, royal palaces and memorials will delight lovers of history and educational recreation. The Royal Palace of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, the traditional village of Hahoe near Andong (where residents consciously limit the influx of “blessings of civilization”, remaining faithful to the traditional way of life), the city of Gyeongju with scattered hills of ancient royal tombs of the Silla dynasty and the most famous Korean Bulguksa Temple - just a small part sights that you can see in a week or ten days.

Huge national parks, where you can easily meet a flock of squirrels or striped chipmunks right on the trail, observation decks in the mountains with stunning views of picturesque valleys, white storks and cranes on green rice fields - all this will undoubtedly delight lovers of wildlife. Chirisan National Park in the west of the country is for lovers of simple one-day mountain treks, Hallyu National Park in the east of the country (not far from Busan) - stone islands dotted with hundreds of dinosaur footprints - for lovers of amusing manifestations of nature and sea cruises. Seoraksan National Park in the northeast of the country - for photographers and lovers of comfort - a gondola lift will take you straight to the top of the mountain, where you can walk at a bird's eye view.

Beach holidays in Korea

Summer for lovers beach holiday- the best time in Korea. For a relaxing holiday in good 5* hotels, Jeju-do Island, the most famous seaside resort in South Korea, is, of course, suitable. In the north of the island there is a little more entertainment (beaches are almost in the city), in the south, in the resort town of Jungmun near the city of Seogwipo - an ideal beach for lovers of a quiet, comfortable holiday. Here, only a few five-star hotels are surrounded by parks and folklore village-museums on the high shore, a wide strip of beach is fenced by a natural bay.

For young people and lovers of a fun, noisy holiday, for those who want to feel “at ease” in Korea, a holiday in Busan or near the city of Sokcho (Namsam resort) on the east coast of Korea is suitable. A separate resort area next to each of these cities has a long strip of sand, the entire length of which is lined with rows of beach shops and restaurants with seafood and other typically Korean cuisine. Busan and Namsam have never left anyone indifferent. Probably no other resort in Korea, or even neighboring China, leaves such emotions.

For lovers of special effects and unusual holidays in South Korea, we recommend taking a group tour to the Demilitarized Zone at the 38th parallel. Here you are offered to walk through one of the three tunnels dug by the North Korean army in the 70s for the passage of troops into South Korean territory, look deep into North Korean territory from an observation tower through binoculars, put a stamp in your passport of an inactive border crossing between the two Koreas, make an excursion to a completely new station at the border station, which still does not send trains to the north...

For children, and indeed for adults, there are a number of theme parks throughout the country: amusement parks Seoul Land and Lotte World (half an hour from the center of Seoul by metro), an open zoo next to Seoul Land, where you can look at animals in open enclosures directly from the cable car chair. Namisom Island is in the middle of a natural lake, an hour and a half drive from Seoul, where live ostriches walk along larch alleys, and movement around the island is possible on electric cars and even electric scooters.

And if you are only in transit in Seoul, shopping in the Insadong, Myeongdong or Tandaemun areas is what you need. High-quality clothing, electronics from leading Korean manufacturers, jewelry made from Korean amethyst, festively decorated Korean soju vodka for souvenirs - one day is definitely not enough.

The Asian Games were held in Korea in 2014, and the Olympics in 2018. Huge amounts of money are being invested in infrastructure construction. This contributes to the emergence of new hotels and tourist sites.

The advantages of South Korea are healing mineral springs and clean sandy beaches, magnificent monuments of ancient dynasties and excellent ski resorts. Modern Seoul, colorful Incheon and the resort islands of Jeju - all about South Korea: visa, map, tours, photos.

Last minute tours to South Korea

The land of morning freshness has long been firmly among the top five most popular holiday destinations among residents of our Far East. Every week, charters filled with Russian tourists rush from the Primorsky Territory to the first-class beach and ski resorts of South Korea with periodic visits to Seoul. The rest of Russia exhales enviously, because for them this is the same expensive exotic as Japan, Australia or the Philippines. However, when choosing a vacation from such countries, you should think 10 times about Korea.

A skyscraper tinted with 24-karat gold, a two-headed turtle, drunken bullfights, 50 varieties of tangerines, old women pearl divers, toilets with remote controls, ubiquitous Wi-Fi and sauerkraut... No, this is not a crazy person’s wish list, but everyday reality this small but amazingly picturesque and diverse country. But don’t be afraid: the 22nd century that has come for them does not mean at all that there will be nothing to do in South Korea for tourists accustomed to more conservative entertainment. The luxurious beaches of Jeju Island, well-equipped slopes of the South Korean Alps, ancient monasteries and pagodas await them.

Regions and resorts of South Korea

The song Gangnam Style is dedicated to Gangnam, the video for which was included in the Guinness Book of Records for an unprecedented number of views and likes on YouTube.

Insadong Street is famous for its antique and handicraft shops, where you can buy anything from ceramic tableware to antique watches. Hongdae is home to art galleries, vintage shops and trendy nightclubs, while Itaewon is a foodie paradise with a string of colorful restaurants. Apgujeong is home to expensive boutiques and department stores, and bustling Myeongdong Street is home to Korea's first Catholic cathedral.

The second largest after the capital is Busan with magnificent beaches. They are sandy, well-groomed and very picturesque, the most popular is Haeundae with classic resort entertainment and a large aquarium. For an excursion, it is better to go to the Geumjeong-gu area, where the impressive Pomosa temple complex is located, for shopping - to central Busanjingu, and for wellness - to Dongnae-gu with its famous spas.

Time difference from Moscow

6 hours

with Kaliningrad

with Samara

with Yekaterinburg

with Omsk

with Krasnoyarsk

with Irkutsk

with Yakutsk

with Vladivostok

from Severo-Kurilsk

with Kamchatka

Climate of South Korea

Most of the country is located in a temperate climate zone, where the seasons are clearly felt. Spring and autumn are quite short and warm, with the most sunny days occurring from March to May. Summers are hot and humid, temperatures can reach up to +35 °C. The monsoon season ("chanma") usually begins in late June and continues until mid-to-late July. August is hot and humid. Autumn in late September brings continental winds and clear, dry weather, making it the most pleasant time of the year. Winters are cold (up to −10 °C) and dry, with periodic precipitation in the form of snow or rain. The best time to visit the country is from late April to October. The ski season in Korea opens at the end of November and lasts until April.

Maps of South Korea

Visa and customs

Russian citizens do not require a visa to enter South Korea for up to 60 days. But it’s still worth taking out a health insurance policy for the entire duration of the trip in advance.

The import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited; cash over 10,000 USD must be declared. Amounts allowed for export do not exceed those specified in the declaration, which must be kept before leaving the country. The limit on the import and export of local currency is 8,000,000 KRW. Upon departure, unspent funds can be exchanged for dollars, but only if you have a receipt from a local bank confirming the previous exchange for won. If there is none, a maximum of 100 USD will be exchanged at the border. Prices on the page are as of November 2018.

Jewelry, expensive watches, photographic equipment, fur, firearms, knives and expensive foreign-made items are also subject to declaration. Persons over 19 years of age are allowed to import duty-free one liter bottle of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 60 ml of perfume, gifts worth up to 400 USD.

Coins, seeds, fresh fruit, walnuts, soil, potted plants, as well as pornography, political materials and any printed, audio or video products from communist countries are prohibited from being imported.

Pets require an international veterinary certificate issued no earlier than 30 days before entering South Korea and a certificate of vaccination against rabies.

The export of antiques, precious metals and archaeological finds without special permission is prohibited.

Tax free

In South Korea, there is a Tax-free system: for purchases over 30,000 KRW, 10% VAT is returned. If the store is marked with the Global Blue logo, just ask for a special form at the checkout, enter your personal data and stamp it at customs upon departure, presenting the purchased goods in undamaged packaging.

Tax-free return counters are located at the capital's Incheon and Gimpo airports, as well as at Daegu Airport. If the tax amount does not exceed 3,000,000 KRW (in Gimpo - 177,000 KRW), cash will be issued directly at the counter. Otherwise, you will have to send stamped Tax-free receipts to the Global Blue office by mail and wait for the funds to be credited to your bank card.

How to get to South Korea

Shopping

Traditional souvenirs: embroidery, porcelain, textiles and macrame, jewelry, paintings, masks, wood and shell products, dolls in traditional costumes, fans. The country sells very beautiful lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl (boxes, snuff boxes, etc.). Korea is the only country in the world where women have been engaged in pulling shells and other valuable things from the bottom of the sea into the light of day for centuries. “Hene”, or “women of the sea” are stocky and broad-shouldered mules, who sink to the bottom of the sea every day in any weather without any scuba gear. As you might guess, absolute matriarchy reigns in the families of these ladies: fragile Korean men have no chance of withstanding the psychological pressure from their powerful swimmer lovers.

Korea is the only country in the world where women have been engaged in pulling shells and other valuable things from the bottom of the sea for centuries.

Korean ceramics are a very elegant gift. When purchasing it, you should consider color, sound (we made no typos) and workmanship. If ceramics have a transparent, smooth surface and clear sound, it is considered high quality. We should not forget about ginseng. It can be bought in different forms: tea, tinctures and extracts, dried, dried in honey, ginseng in syrup, in alcohol, there is even ginseng chocolate and lollipops.

Another worthy souvenir from Korea is the traditional hanbok costume. It can be purchased at Dongdaemun, Gwangjang, Namdaemun and Insadong markets. These markets are good for their reasonable prices, and at Insadong, in addition, you can choose the most fashionable hanbok designs.

It is worth paying attention to Korean antiques: interior items, calligraphy, ceramics, books, etc. The largest accumulation of valuable goods is observed at the Changanpyong Market in Seoul. But you should remember that it is prohibited to export items older than 50 years from the country.

Large department stores are open from 10:30 to 20:00, small shops open earlier and close later on any day of the week. Seoul and other large cities in Korea have the widest shopping opportunities: many arcades, department stores, duty-free stores, specialized shopping areas, and finally, markets (where most purchases are made).

South Korea

Cuisine and restaurants of South Korea

In Korea, there are 4 national cuisines: Korean, Chinese, Japanese and European. In all settlements of the country there are many restaurants, canteens and snack bars of various profiles. Japanese restaurants are the most expensive and prestigious. Chinese dishes are simpler; dishes there are divided into two categories: “sixa” and “yeri”. “Siksa” are relatively cheap (3000-6000 KRW) and easy to prepare, “yeri” are noticeably more expensive (10,000-40,000 KRW), complex in composition, prepared only in large portions - enough for at least two.

A European restaurant in Korea is a place where a middle-income person goes when he wants to eat something unusual. The menu in most of these eateries is not very diverse: the main and often the only dish is “tonkas”, a type of schnitzel baked in a thin layer of dough.

In Korea, they eat a lot of rice: they make chhalteok bread, pabi porridge, spicy pilaf with vegetables “bibimbap”, kimbap rolls and other delicacies from it. The side dish most often served with them is “kimchi” - all kinds of pickled, salted and pickled, hotly seasoned vegetables. The most popular soups are soy “sundubu-jige” with shellfish and egg, spicy “hemultkhan” with seafood, rich “kalbitkhan” with beef ribs and hot soup “maeungtang”.

The main extreme of Korean cuisine is posinthan dog meat soup. True, now it is prepared extremely rarely - the indignation of the West has yielded results.

Meat treats include marinated bulgogi beef in sesame oil and soy sauce, grilled kalbi beef ribs, takkalbi chicken stew and mandu dumplings. Seafood dishes are also held in high esteem: raw fish “hwe”, fried “sangseong gui”, stew “hyemul jongol”, flatbread “pajeon”, squid “ogino bokgeum” and octopus “nakji”.

Fruits are usually served for dessert, and instead of tea they drink a variety of decoctions and tinctures. The most popular drinks with a high degree of alcohol are rice wine "makkori" and rice liquor "soju".

The cheapest food is sold on the streets: flatbreads for 500-1000 KRW, dumplings for 2000-3000 KRW, octopus buns for 2000 KRW, shrimp in batter for 4000 KRW - tasty, satisfying and safe. Simple cafes are also inexpensive for locals: 5,000-10,000 KRW for lunch for two. A burger in Western fast food will cost 9,000 KRW, coffee in a coffee shop - 4,000-5,000 KRW. Dinner with alcohol in a good restaurant - 30,000-50,000 KRW per person.

Korean restaurants are the most universal and democratic: both in terms of prices and in terms of the audience. The man and designer Artemy Lebedev advises doubting tourists: if you want to dine in a guaranteed good restaurant, look for an official sign with a white flower on the facade of the establishment, where it says: Good Restaurant.

Guides in South Korea

Entertainment and attractions

Multifaceted South Korea is an incredible mix of ancient sights and modern monuments. It’s better to start getting acquainted with them in Seoul - the impressions will definitely last for a long time.

The most spectacular architectural structures are the royal residences in the traditional Korean style, united in the “Five Great Palaces” group. The largest is Changdeokgung with “live” 3D paintings.

The oldest Confucian temple in Korea is Seoul's 14th-century Jongmyo, dedicated to the memory of the kings of the Joseon Dynasty.

Another iconic location is the Demilitarized Zone, a sad monument to the division of the peninsula. Its most obvious symbol is a sculptural group depicting two families, personifying the South and the North and trying to connect the halves of a large ball. The main points of the excursion are Unification Park, an underground tunnel and an empty border station.

Thermal springs and water parks of South Korea

Koreans care about their own health and like to combine business with pleasure. Proof of this is the unique water parks, where there are baths at healing thermal springs and all kinds of attractions. For example, Sorak Waterpia (office site in English) at the foot of the Seoraksan Mountains is famous for its 49-degree water with alkaline components and negative ions, useful for arthritis, geriatric and neuralgic diseases. And after soaking in the hot tubs, you can have fun on steep slides, rushing waterfalls, playgrounds and wave pools.

The pride of the Danyang Aquaworld water park (office site in English) is the outdoor baths with magnificent views of the mountains. There is a separate swimming pool for children, special spas and saunas for couples, and baths with mineralized water, hydromassage and other procedures for those who want to improve their health.

The Asan Spavis water park (Chungcheongnam-do province) offers relaxation in saunas with yellow clay and aroma baths with jasmine.

The famous “SpaPlus” (office site in English) has been opened in Incheon, where traditional Korean saunas (amethyst, jade, oxygen, clay, coal) and unusual pools (herbal, fruit, pine and even wine) are equipped. In the Bugok Hawaiian Island Park (Gyeongsangnam-do province) you can relax in caves, and in Greenland (Gwangju) you can relax in baths with healing fish.

Holidays and Events

Holidays in South Korea are celebrated noisily and brightly. On the 8th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar, they congratulate Buddha on his birthday: they hang paper lanterns symbolizing enlightenment, decorate houses with flowers, and organize theatrical processions. And they always water the Buddha figurines with sweet flower tea, which washes away all the bad things that have happened over the year.

Seollal, the Korean New Year in late January - mid-February, has not yet become an official holiday, but is celebrated with love and respect for traditions. Families gather together and hold the “sebe” ceremony: young people in national costumes bow to older relatives as a sign of honor, and they, in turn, reward their descendants with money.

Traditional New Year's dishes are tteok glutinous rice cakes and tteokguk soup with these dumplings.

On August 1, the Busan Sea Festival starts: a week of general fun on the city beaches. Concerts, exhibitions, sports competitions, master classes, free rowing, diving and kayaking lessons - there are interesting activities for everyone. On April 5, trees are planted, on October 3, the birth of the state is remembered, and on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar (usually in September-October), celebrations are held in the royal palaces of Seoul in honor of the Chuseok harvest festival.