Chuseok, What's Open and Closed

One of the most significant holidays in Korea is Chuseok, a Korean version of Thanksgiving. Chuseok is usually celebrated for a total of three days, the day before and after the actual holiday. Many places are closed during this holiday period. The following is information on which businesses will be opened and which will be closed during the Chuseok holidays.

Tourist Sites that Will be Opened During Chuseok

- The Independence Hall of Korea
  TEL: +82-41-560-0114 (Korean); Closed on Mondays, but open if the holiday is a Monday

- Korean Folk Village
  TEL: +82-41-286-2111 (Korean); Open all year round

- Namsangol Hanok Village
  TEL: +82-2-2264-4412 (Korean); Closed on Tuesdays, but open if the holiday is a Tuesday

- The War Memorial of Korea
  TEL: +82-2-709-3139 (Korean, English); Closed on Mondays (If open on a Monday that is a holiday, the following Tuesday will be closed.), but open on the holiday Monday

- 63 City Building
  TEL: +82-2-789-5679 (Korean, English, Japanese); Open all year round

- Namsan Cable Car
  TEL: +82-2-753-2403 (Korean); Open all year round

- Hangang River Boat Cruise
  TEL: +82-2-3271-6900 (Korean); Open all year round

- COEX Aquarium
  TEL: +82-2-6002-6200 (Korean); Open all year round

- Gyeongbokgung Palace
  TEL: +82-2-732-1932 (Korean); Closed on Tuesdays, but open on holidays (if the holiday is on a Tuesday, the palace is open).

- Changdeokgung Palace
  TEL: +82-2-762-9513 (Korean); Closed on Mondays, but open on holidays (if the holiday is on a Monday, the palace is open).

- Changgyeonggung Palace
  TEL: +82-2-762-4868 (Korean); Closed on Tuesdays, but open on holidays (if the holiday is on Tuesday, the palace is open).

- Deoksugung Palace
  TEL: +82-2-771-9952 (Korean, English); Closed on Mondays, but open on holidays (if the holiday is on a Monday, the palace is open).

- Jongmyo Royal Shrine
  TEL: +82-2-765-0195 (Korean); Closed on Tuesdays, but open on holidays (if holiday is on a Tuesday, the Shrine is open)

- Lotte World
  TEL: +82-2-411-4921(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese); Open all year round

- Lotte World Folk Museum
  TEL: +82-2-411-4761 (Korean); Open all year round

- Seoul Land
  TEL: +82-2-504-0011 (Korean, English); Open all year round

- Everland
  TEL: +82-31-320-5000 (Korean, English); Open all year round

Tourist Sites that Will be Closed During Chuseok

- Seodaemun Prison History Hall
  TEL: +82-2-360-8586 (Korean, English, Japanese); Closed on Mondays, Closed on Chuseok, but open the day before and after

- Insa-dong
  TEL: +82-2-734-0222 (Korean, English, Japanese); Most shops are closed on Chuseok itself, while other days are may vary depending on shops,

Cultural Places that will be Opened During Chuseok
- The National Theater of Korea
  TEL: +82-2-2280-4114 (Korean, English); Open all year round but no performances during the Chuseok holidays.

- Nanta Theater
  TEL: +82-2-739-8288 (Korean, Japanese); Open all year round

- Korea House
  TEL: +82-2-2266-9101~3 (Korean, English); Open all year round

- Chongdong Theater
  TEL: +82-2-751-1500 (Korean, English, Japanese); Closed on Mondays but open on holidays (Open if the holiday is a Monday0

- The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
  TEL: +82-2-2188-6000 (Korean); Closed Jan. 1, Closed on Mondays but open on holidays (so if holiday is a Monday, museum is open)

- Seoul Arts Center
  TEL: +82-2-580-1300 (Korean); The Exhibition Hall is closed every last Monday of every month.
  Open on holidays.

- The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
  TEL: +82-2-580-3300 (Korean, English); Open over the holiday.  The performances will be held on the day before and after, but not on Chuseok.

Shopping Places Opened During Chuseok

- COEX Mall
  TEL: +82-2-6000-0114 (Korean, English); Open all year round

- Itaewon
  TEL: +82-2-797-7319 (Korean); About 70% of shops are open for business during the holidays.

- Myeongdong Street
  TEL: +82-2-774-3238 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese); May vary depending on shops, but most shops are open for business during the holidays.

- Cerestar
  TEL: +82-2-2048-4800 (Korean, English); Open Chuseok Eve

- Lotte Department Store
  TEL: +82-2-771-2500 (Korean); Closed Chuseok Day

- Hyundai Department Store
  TEL: +82-2-3449-5200 (Korean, English); Open Chuseok Eve

- The Galleria
  TEL: +82-2-3449-4016 (Korean); Open on Sept. 13 during the holidays

- Techno Mart
  TEL: +82-2-3424-0114 (Korean);

- Kim's Club
  TEL: +82-2-530-5149 (Korean); Closed on Chuseok Day, but open the days before and after.

Shopping Places Closed During Chuseok

- Namdaemun Market
  TEL: +82-2-752-1913 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese); Closed on Sundays, Closed for the holidays

- Yongsan Electronics Shopping Mall
  TEL: +82-2-701-8200 (Korean); Closed for the holidays


Not Known if Open or Closed

- Dongdaemun Market
  TEL: +82-2-2262-0114 (Korean); To be determined

- Shinsegae Department Store
  TEL: +82-2-727-1234 (Korean); To be determined

- New Core Department Store
  TEL: +82-2-530-5000 (Korean); To be determined

- Myeongdong Migliore
  TEL: +82-2-2124-0001 (Korean); To be determined

- Dongdaemun Migliore
  TEL: +82-2-3393-0001 (Korean); To be determined

- Doosan Tower
  TEL: +82-2-3398-2386 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese); To be determined

Restaurants

Many Koreans restaurants will be closed during the Chuseok holiday. if not for all 3 days, than on the day of Chuseok. However, hotel restaurants, franchise restaurants such as Bennigans, Outback Steakhouse, and Vips, as well as some restaurants in the downtown area such as Itaewon, Insa-dong and Gangnam will be open during the holidays.

Bookstores that are Opened During Choseok

- Youngpoong Bookstore Jongno
  TEL: +82-2-399-5591 (Korean); Open all year round, Open from 13:00 on Chuseok Day

- Youngpoong Bookstore Central City
  TEL: +82-2-595-1497 (Korean); Open all year round,

Bookstores that are Closed During Choseok

- Kyobo Book Center
  TEL: +82-2-397-3500 (Korean); Closed Chuseok Day

Info provide by Korea Tourism Organisation


For information on a specific location or more details on the above, contact 02-1330  (1330 from a land line).

Above information based on 2008 Chuseok holiday.