With Chuseok (추석, 秋夕), the Korean mid-autumn harvest festival, just around the corner, a series of discounts at tourist sites and accommodations will add more entertainment and fun to one of the nation’s biggest holidays of the year.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has designated the period spanning Sept. 10 to 18, including the Chuseok holiday that falls on Sept. 14, 15 and 16, as the “Hangawi Culture & Travel Week,” nine days, inclusive, when people can enjoy popular tourist attractions and other facilities across the nation for free or at a discount.Hangawi (한가위) is the classical name for the mid-autumn Chuseok festival.
On Sept. 15 during the long Chuseok holiday, Seoul’s four major Joseon palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung — will be open free-of-charge. Pictured is a group of tourists in traditional Hanbok garb strolling through Changgyeonggung Palace.
On Sept. 15, a number of cultural properties will welcome visitors for free. The list includes Seoul’s four major Joseon palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung — the Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs. Beyond Seoul, they include the Suwon Fortress, the Joseon royal tombs in Paju, both in Gyeonggi-do Province, the Gochangeupseong Fortress in Jeollabuk-do Province, and the Andong Hahoe Folk Village and the Dosanseowon Confucian academy, both in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
Those who show up wearing traditional Hanbok attire will enjoy even more benefits. The Agua Planet aquarium and 63 Art, both located at the 63 Building, will grant Hanbok-wearers free admission throughout the week. Amusement parks nationwide, including Gyeongju World, Seoul Land and Lotte World, too, will admit any Hanbok-clad visitor at between 30 percent and 40 percent off the admission fee.
For those who want to spend the five-day holiday in a rural or fishing village, opt to travel during the “Hangawi Culture & Travel Week,” as fees for hands-on experiences with farming, fishing and gathering shellfish, as well as for accommodations, are up to 20 percent off during the week.
Exhibitions and galleries will be available for free or at a discount, too. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul and the Daegu Art Museum will be open for free from Sept. 14 to 18. There will be more chances for a free-of-charge entrance at the Tongyeong City Museum, from Sept. 14 to 18, at the Gimcheon Museum of Art and at the Suwon Museum, both from Sept. 10 to 18.
A total of 41 recreational forests across the nation will give free admission to a limited number of tourists. In addition, about 100 accommodation facilities listed on Goodstay (http://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/kor/goodstay3/index.jsp), a website run by the culture ministry that lists reliable and affordable accommodations, will be available at a 20 percent discount.
More information about what can be enjoyed during the “Hangawi Culture & Travel Week,” such as discounts, dates and contact numbers, can be found at the website below with services in English, Japanese, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Thai.
http://korean.visitkorea.or.kr
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Jeon Han, Korea.net Photographer
jiae5853@korea.kr
