"Let's Not Go Far This Holiday Season"…'Slow Chuseok Travel' Departing from Suwon

Does travel during the Chuseok holiday have to mean enduring hellish traffic jams on the highway? It's also a good idea to turn your attention to 'nearby outings' where you can comfortably spend time with family gathered in one place after performing ancestral rites.

A full day trip is worthwhile just meeting Joseon history at Yeongneung in Yeoju, about an hour's drive from Suwon, and feeling the holiday spirit at Seoul's grand palaces and hanok villages. Even without going far, 'slow travel'—quietly walking along Suwon Fortress's walls while capturing autumn scenery—is also an excellent choice.

The Korean Tourism Organization has recommended domestic travel destinations and cultural experience programs suitable for families during the Chuseok holiday. From historical sites to art museums, forest trails, and children's experience events, there are diverse courses tailored to different generations' tastes. For this year's Chuseok, plan a trip that places more weight on 'who you spent time with and what moments you shared' rather than 'how far you traveled.'

Meeting King Sejong…Yeongneung in Yeoju, One Hour from Suwon

For a history trip with family, Yeongneung (英陵·寧陵) in Yeoju is unquestionably the top choice.

Yeoju has two royal tombs with the same Korean name but different Chinese characters standing side by side. Yeongneung (英陵), where the 4th Joseon king Sejong and Queen Soheon rest, and Yeongneung (寧陵), the tomb of the 17th king Hyojong and Queen Inseon. Royal tombs are not merely historical sites but cultural spaces where Joseon royal funeral culture and the finest architectural and landscape techniques of the time are concentrated.

In particular, for parents with elementary and middle school children, it becomes a meaningful opportunity to directly confirm in person the achievements of King Sejong that they have learned from textbooks. A course that slowly walks through the lush forest paths surrounding the royal tombs and then visits the King Sejong Museum of History and Culture satisfies both history studies and autumn outings at the same time.

The National Heritage Administration will open Joseon royal tombs free of charge during the Chuseok holiday (September 24-27). Based on travel from Suwon, it has minimal travel burden and is perfect for a one-day family trip.

Autumn Charm of Seoul's Grand Palaces, Namsan Gol Hanok Village Chuseok Festival

If you plan a route toward Seoul, a visit to the grand palaces is recommended.

During the holiday period, four major palaces—Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung—and Jongmyo Shrine will open free of charge (except Changdeokgung's rear garden). For families that have postponed their visits, it's an ideal opportunity to enjoy a leisurely palace stroll.

If you want to feel traditional holiday culture firsthand, Namsan Gol Hanok Village is the answer. The '2026 Namsan Gol Chuseok Festival' will be held from September 25 to 27. There are abundant programs that everyone from children to elders can enjoy together, including traditional performances, holiday food experiences, and craft-making activities. This can help your children remember Chuseok not as a simple holiday, but as a day of living traditional culture.

Hands-On Experiences for Children, Art Museums and the Rest Nature Provides

If you have young children, hands-on experience travel is effective. The National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju presents a children's program called 'Full Moon Asia.' Various attractions including augmented reality (AR) play, puppet theater, and circus performances are prepared. While the distance makes it difficult to visit as a day trip from Suwon, it's worth visiting if you're planning an extended trip in the southern region.

For families with keen interest in culture and arts, the National Museum of Modern Art, Cheongju branch in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, is noteworthy. Remodeled from an old tobacco manufacturing plant, it operates an 'open, visible storage'—a collection storage interior that opens to visitors. It provides a unique experience of observing firsthand the preservation and management process of artworks.

If you seek rest in nature, the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, or the National Deogyusan Natural Recreation Forest in Muju, North Jeolla Province, are also recommended. However, given the travel distance involved, it's wise to plan your itinerary with flexibility, taking road conditions during the holiday into account.

"The Answer Lies in the Closest Place"…A Walk Around Suwon Fortress Wall

It's also worthwhile to revisit our neighborhood heritage sites that we've overlooked due to familiarity.

Suwon has Suwon Fortress, where King Jeongjo's reformist aspirations are inscribed. After visiting Hwaseong Haenggung (the temporary royal palace) and the Suwon Fortress Museum, a walk along the fortress wall completes an excellent half-day historical excursion. If you first tour the construction process of Hwaseong and Jeongjo's philosophy at the museum before walking the fortress walls, the historical context becomes much more vivid.

The landscape around Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion at sunset adds to the autumn atmosphere. Walking while gazing at the fortress's night scenery blending with the Suwon Stream waters soothes a weary heart from busy daily life. If you prefer more open space, you can also enjoy a leisurely walk at Gwanggyo Lake Park.

The value of travel is not proportional to the distance traveled. Rather than spending energy on the road by going far away, the time spent making eye contact and walking together in a nearby place fulfills the true meaning of the holiday. Why not slow down and walk together through nearby heritage sites and paths this Chuseok?

For detailed Chuseok travel content information, visit the Republic of Korea All Corners website (korean.visitkorea.or.kr) and mobile app.