As the Chuseok holiday approaches, a variety of festivals and performances merging traditional and contemporary culture will be held across Korea, offering unique experiences for locals and visitors alike.

Experience History and Tradition With All Five Senses

The National Museum of Korea in Seoul, which has recently welcomed record numbers of visitors thanks to the Netflix film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," will host the "2025 The Art Spot Series – Museum Edition" from the 5th to the 9th. Note that the museum will be closed on Chuseok Day itself, October 6.

Jointly organized by the National Museum of Korea and the Korea Traditional Performing Arts Foundation, The Art Spot Series aims to expand public access to culture by transforming the museum into a vibrant cultural space. This year's theme is "The Intersection of Tangible and Intangible Heritage," and visitors can look forward to a diverse range of both traditional and modern performances. All shows are free and require no reservations during the four-day run.

Meanwhile, the Gunsan Modern History Museum in North Jeolla Province will host a grand Chuseok celebration. Renowned for highlighting the daily lives and resistance movements of Gunsan during the Japanese occupation, the museum will stage a special play on October 3 and 4 depicting the city’s modern history and culture. Activities will include pungmul (Korean folk percussion), historical performance theater, and hands-on experiences. Admission is free on October 6 (Chuseok) and October 8.

In Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Confucian Land at Andong Culture & Tourism Complex will hold a "Chuseok Special Event," featuring a mobile stamp tour, traditional games, and social media events. Family visitors can also enjoy bubble performances and balloon art from stilt performers. The events will run from October 3 to 9, though the complex will be closed on Chuseok Day. Visitors in traditional hanbok can enter for free throughout the festival.

When Light Illuminates History and the Night Sky

In Suwon, the Suwon Hwaseong Media Art Festival is underway at Hwaseomun, Janganmun, and Jangan Park until October 12. Centered around Hwaseomun as the main stage, the "New Light Spectacle" reveals Suwon's historical and cultural development, screened three times nightly at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. Visitors can enjoy the art installations and media shows until 9:30 p.m. during the holiday.

Jinju in South Gyeongsang will showcase the 2025 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival from October 4 to 19 at Jinju Fortress and along the Nam River. This year’s theme, "River of History, Embracing Peace," blends traditional lantern art with cutting-edge technology to create a truly immersive experience. The festival harks back to the tradition of floating lanterns on the river in memory of the 1592 Jinju Castle Battle led by General Kim Si-min. Visitors can join hands-on programs like hanging wish lanterns, making and floating their own lanterns, and crossing the "Bridge of Love." Over 70,000 lanterns will light up the Jinju sky, and some experiences require reservations.

In Nokdonghang Sea Garden, Goheung, South Jeolla Province, a drone and fireworks show will be held across three days—October 4, 6, and 7—under themes such as "Moonlight Art Museum (Folk Painting Edition)," "Chuseok with the Moon Rabbit," and "Goheung, Autumn Outing." The festival area will also feature spaces for traditional Korean games such as jegi chagi, rolling hoop, and tuho. On Chuseok Day (October 6), an awe-inspiring fireworks-drone show will launch 1,500 drones equipped with pyrotechnics. All events in Goheung are open to the public free of charge.

Feel the Excitement of Live Music

The 2025 Yeongdong World Gugak Expo in North Chungcheong is running from September 12 to October 11 at the Rainbow Healing Tourist Site and Traditional Korean Music Experience Village. Festivalgoers can enjoy a range of performances from court music and folk song to fusion, ensemble, and courtyard theater. Special programs during Chuseok target families and international guests, featuring experiences such as playing the janggu drum, traditional piri-making, natural dyeing, archery, and bookmaking using old methods. More than 300 styles of traditional and fusion hanbok are available for visitors to try on.

On Jeju Island, the K-Culture Dream Music Night will be held at the Grand Plaza (Fountain Square) of Jeju Dream Tower Integrated Resort from October 3 to 5, every evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The three-day event will feature a varied lineup including K-pop, popera, orchestral performances, fusion gugak, and K-pop cover dances. Admission is free for Jeju residents and tourists alike.

Finally, in Gumi, North Gyeongsang, the GIF Gumi Industrial Complex Festival will take place near Bangrim Factory on October 8 and 9, under the slogan "From Industrial Heritage to Cultural Revitalization." The iconic Bangrim Factory will transform into a cultural playground, hosting artists from multiple genres, while its outer walls will display a large-scale media art show titled "Circuit Playground." All programs are free.

Photo Credit: National Museum of Korea, 2025 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, K-Culture Dream Music Night website

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=National Museum of Korea, 2025 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, K-Culture Dream Music Night website