Seoul Brings Chuseok Traditions to Life at Namsangol Hanok Village

Traditional Chuseok activities drew children and tourists to Namsangol Hanok Village in central Seoul on Friday, turning the historic setting into a public celebration of one of Korea’s most important holidays.

Visitors wearing hanbok joined games that have long been associated with Korean folk culture. Among them was jegichagi, a game in which participants use their feet to keep a small pouch-like object in the air. Others tried tuho, which challenges players to throw arrows into a narrow container from a set distance.

The activities form part of “Namsan Dalbit Madang,” a three-day festival organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The program runs from Friday through Sunday, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to encounter traditional customs during the Chuseok holiday period.

The gathering highlighted the role of public cultural venues in keeping holiday traditions accessible in a modern city. Rather than limiting Chuseok customs to private family gatherings, the festival places them in an open setting where younger participants and international visitors can experience them directly. The use of hanbok and hands-on games also gives the event a visual and participatory character that is easy to understand across generations.

Namsangol Hanok Village provides a fitting backdrop for the program. Located in central Seoul, the site offers visitors a setting associated with traditional Korean architecture while remaining accessible within the capital. During the festival, that environment serves not only as a heritage attraction but also as a space where customs are practiced rather than simply displayed.

Chuseok is commonly marked by travel, family reunions and remembrance of ancestors. Public events such as the Seoul festival add a community dimension to the holiday, particularly for people spending the break in the capital. They also give tourists a chance to see how traditional recreation remains part of contemporary holiday culture.

With activities continuing through Sunday, the event extends the celebration across the holiday weekend. The scenes of children in traditional dress kicking jegi and aiming tuho arrows show how familiar customs can remain lively when participants are invited to take part. Seoul’s festival therefore presents Chuseok heritage as an active, shared experience in the heart of the city.