Chuseok 2026 Travel Advice
Hi Everyone, I am planning a trip to Korea from 21 September to October 3 this year and would like to visit Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of flexibility around my travel dates so my trip will fall during Chuseok. My current plan is to stay in Seoul for a week to minimise the intercity travel chaos during Chuseok and then go to Gyeongju on 28 September. My thinking is that hopefully, being two days after the official public holidays and the weekend, it would be easier for me to travel. Whilst I've heard domestic travel is challenging during the public holidays themselves, I can't find much information on the few days after Chuseok or when exactly the chaos calms down.
Would you consider my current plan realistic - is domestic travel still impossible around 28 September? If so, would it be easier for me book a flight now from Seoul to Busan to be safe and lock in my travel? Or would that still be difficult with travelling to the airport? I'd be open to staying in Seoul and Busan each a bit longer and potentially do a day trip to Gyeongju from Busan.
If my original plan (Seoul > Gyeongju > Busan) would be achievable, would you still recommend getting the KTX/taxi to Gyeongju or would other modes of transport be easier over this period? Just trying to be as prepared as possible!!
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!