On September 5, 2026, Seoul announced free parking at 61 public parking lots for the Chuseok holiday.
Contents
- Chuseok 2026 Korea travel: Seoul waives parking fees at 61 public lots
- Chuseok 2026 dates: Sep 24–26, 2026
- What closes, what stays open
- Booking trains and getting around
- Visitor checklist for the holiday
- Verify hours before you go
Chuseok 2026 Korea travel: Seoul waives parking fees at 61 public lots
Seoul City announced the waiver on September 5, 2026, about three weeks before the holiday.
The free period covers the full holiday stretch from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26.
The waiver applies to municipal public parking lots only.
Private and commercial lots are not included, so mall and paid private parking can still be charged.
For travelers with a rental car, this is the single biggest cost cut of the announcement.
| Holiday dates | Thu Sep 24 – Sat Sep 26, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Chuseok day | Friday, September 25, 2026 |
| Seoul public parking | Free at 61 public lots during the holiday |
| Banks and government offices | Closed during the holiday |
| Subway and buses | Reduced holiday schedules |
| Tourist help line | 1330, 24/7 multilingual support |
Chuseok 2026 dates: Sep 24–26, 2026
Chuseok 2026 falls on Friday, September 25.
The holiday runs three consecutive days, from September 24 through September 26.
That makes it a long weekend, and the whole country moves at the same time.
Expressways see peak outbound traffic on the first holiday morning and return traffic on the last evening.
Adding roughly 30 minutes of slack to each day’s plan covers most of that delay.
Airports and intercity trains are busiest on the day before Chuseok and the last day of the holiday.
What closes, what stays open
Banks and government offices close during the holiday, so branch visits need to happen before September 24 or after September 26.
Some private shops close as well, and family-run restaurants are the most likely to shut for the holiday.
On the other side, chain restaurants, hotel dining, and stores in tourist districts mostly stay open.
Seoul’s subway and buses run on reduced holiday schedules, so check a route app for the holiday timetable.
In recent years the city has kept major palaces open through Chuseok, and paid attractions such as Lotte World and N Seoul Tower typically open too.
Booking trains and getting around
Korail opens holiday train reservations about one month ahead, and peak-day seats sell out within hours.
Intercity buses face similar demand.
For anyone moving between cities, booking well before September 24 is the difference between a seat and a standby list.
Drivers should expect the highway peaks described above and travel off-peak when possible.
Visitor checklist for the holiday
Confirm opening days and reservation requirements for each stop before the holiday begins.
Keep a backup indoor option for each day, since some venues close without notice.
Save day-by-day locations in a map app while data and Wi-Fi are easy to find.
For help in your own language, the Korea Travel Hotline 1330 runs 24/7 with interpretation support, including on national holidays.
Police and ambulance services run normally: 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.
Verify hours before you go
Operating hours, reservations, and holiday schedules change often, and search snippets can lag behind.
Cross-checking each venue against its official page or VisitKorea before heading out is the reliable habit.
The items most prone to change are exactly the ones you should double-check.
👉 official 2026 holiday notice
👉 planning a day-by-day itinerary
👉 Korail holiday train reservations
Sources
- Paid attractions generally open on Chuseok (koreaherald.com)
- General guidance: verify operating info in real time; offici (twojstory.com)
- Prior years free palace admission; 2026 notice unconfirmed (english.visitkorea.or.kr)
Quick tips for Chuseok 2026
- Rental-car drivers save the most: 61 Seoul public lots are free Sep 24–26.
- Private and mall parking lots still charge during the holiday.
- Banks close Sep 24–26; finish branch visits before the 24th.
- Expect holiday crowds on trains and expressways; book early.
- Dial 1330 any time for multilingual travel help.
FAQ
Q. Is on-street parking in Seoul free during Chuseok 2026?
The confirmed waiver covers 61 municipal public parking lots from September 24 to 26. Whether on-street parking is included has not been made clear in the announcement, so treat on-street spots as paid until Seoul’s official notice says otherwise.
Q. Are restaurants open during Chuseok 2026 in Seoul?
There is no single 2026 list. Chain restaurants, hotel dining, and shops in tourist districts have mostly stayed open in past holidays, while family-run restaurants are the most likely to close. Check each restaurant’s notice before visiting.
Q. Are the royal palaces open on Chuseok 2026?
In recent years Seoul’s major palaces have stayed open through the holiday, sometimes with free admission. The official 2026 Chuseok schedule has not been published yet, so confirm on the palace or Heritage Service site closer to the date.
Save this guide and check the official VisitKorea and Korail pages before Sep 24 to lock in your Chuseok 2026 Korea travel plan.
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