This year’s Korean Mid-Autumn Festival (Chuseok), which falls between September 16 and 18, has been eagerly prepared by the people of the land of Kimchi for many days in advance. The bustling atmosphere of the festival has enveloped the entire country as people are busy planning short trips. Large and small airports are forecast to welcome a record number of tourists during this occasion, showing the strong attraction of Chuseok to the Korean people.
From September 13 to September 18, Incheon Airport is expected to handle an average of 201,000 passengers per day, totaling 1.204 million passengers over the six days. If this forecast is correct, this will be the highest ever in terms of the number of passengers using the airport during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
South Korea is preparing to accommodate a large number of tourists during the Chuseok holiday.
This is expected to be about 7% higher than the average daily figure of 187,000 recorded during Chuseok in 2017, an increase of 11.6% compared to Chuseok in 2023 and an increase of 11.8% compared to 2019 - the time before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The busiest day is expected to be September 18, with 213,000 visitors. September 14 is expected to be the day the airport sees the highest number of outbound visitors, with 121,000.
Other South Korean airports are also preparing for a busy holiday season. According to the Korea Airport Corporation, one airport expects to handle about 1.47 million travelers (1.12 million domestic and 350,000 international) during the holiday.
This year's Korean Mid-Autumn Festival (Chuseok), which falls around September 16-18, has made people in the land of Kimchi eagerly prepare for it many days in advance.
To meet the increased travel demand, Incheon International Airport Corporation has urged passengers to use public transportation and smart services. In addition, to ensure a smooth travel experience during the holiday season, 14 airports across Korea will provide free parking for domestic travelers during the holiday season.
To celebrate Chuseok, Seoul has prepared a rich and diverse festival program. From September 16 to 18, the streets around Cheonggye Stream will become a vibrant street art stage. Residents and visitors will be immersed in the festival atmosphere with special performances such as traditional plays, folk dances, street magic and many other attractive circus acts. This promises to be an opportunity for everyone to experience the beauty of traditional Korean culture together.
