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Latest update August 2026
Chuseok (추석) is one of Korea’s most important holidays and was originally established to celebrate the new harvest. It falls around September/October, the time when the fruits of labour in the fields are harvested, and the date each year varies according to the lunar calendar. It is a kind of thanksgiving for the food received, combined with a tribute to ancestors who have passed, to whom a feast is offered.
But what exactly do Koreans eat during Chuseok?
From savory jeon to the famous songpyeon, Chuseok meals feature a variety of traditional Korean dishes. While the exact dishes vary from family to family, here are 7 foods commonly associated with Chuseok celebrations.
What kind of food is eaten during Chuseok?
Because Chuseok is traditionally a harvest festival, seasonal ingredients such as rice, fruit and vegetables (learn Korean words on vegetables here) play an important role in the holiday.
Food is also an important part of charye (차례), an ancestral memorial ritual practiced by some Korean families. Traditionally, various foods and drinks are arranged on a ceremonial table as offerings to ancestors.
Today, however, Chuseok meals vary widely depending on the family, region and individual preferences. Not every family prepares the same dishes or performs ancestral rituals.
So, what are some of the most well-known foods you might see during Chuseok?
What are the most popular Chuseok foods?
1. Japchae (잡채)
Among the first courses, one particularly eaten during Chuseok is japchae (잡채). It is a dish made with potato starch-based noodles stir-fried with vegetables and, depending on the variant, also egg and meat, then seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. Given the vegetable-based seasoning, it remains in theme with the holiday food for Chuseok!
2. Jeon and fritters (전)
Jeon (전) or buchimgae (부침개) is also known as a Korean pancake, but it is actually more of a batter mixed with different ingredients and deep-fried in a pan with a little oil. In terms of appearance, it is very similar to an omelette and can be of various types. The most classic one is called pajeon (파전), and the main ingredient included in the batter is spring onion, which is called pa (파) in Korean.
In addition to that, there are a number of other popular types of jeons, such as:
- kimchijeon (김치전), which is made from kimchi (김치)
- gamjajeon (감자전), which is made from potato (감자, gamja)
- haemulpajeon (해물파전), i.e. seafood (해물, haemul)
- modeum jeon (모듬전), i.e. simple battered vegetables
These ‘fritters’ can never be missed as an important food for Chuseok. Besides these, during Chuseok, many families also eat donggeurangttaeng (동그랑땡), which is a kind of Korean flat meatball cooked in the same way as jeon.
3. Suyuk (수육)
It’s true that it’s the harvest festival, but that doesn’t mean there can’t also be dishes made with different ingredients. Each family chooses to serve their choice of food for Chuseok, and one of the most common meat dishes during Chuseok is suyuk (수육), or boiled meat. Usually pork or beef.
The term comes from the Chinese su (수), meaning water, and yuk (육), meaning meat. It can also be eaten cold and is often eaten with kimchi or ssamjang (쌈장), a sauce made from soybean paste, chilli and garlic. The fact that it is also sometimes served cold is because diners only start to eat after the ancestor ritual is completed.
4. Salmeun Jogi (삶은 조기)
As for fish, one of the most traditional and simple dishes to prepare is salmeun jogi (삶은 조기), which is boiled corvina.
The reason why Salmeun Jogi is a must-prepare food for Chuseok is that Corvina symbolises abundance and prosperity. In Korean culture, meat and fish are included in festive meals to represent a bountiful harvest and good fortune for the coming year.
Moreover, Fish like Corvina are considered to be of good quality which aligns with the spirit of Chuseok, which celebrates the harvest!
5. Songpyeon (송편)
Finally, we come to desserts. The typical Chuseok dessert is undoubtedly the songpyeon (송편), crescent-shaped rice-flour sweets with various kinds of fillings: they can be filled with honey and sesame, red bean jam (팥, pat), chestnut paste and more.
The color can also vary depending on what is added to the dough along with the rice flour: for white songpyeons, nothing is added; for green songpyeons, mugwort powder (쑥, ssuk) is usually added; for pink songpyeons, blueberry juice… The list is endless!
6. Baesuk (배숙)
Baesuk (배숙) is a traditional Korean dessert made by steaming pears stuffed with honey and spices like Ginger, Jujube or Cinnamon.
Usually served warm towards the end of the meal, to aid digestion and, or as a comforting treat during colder weather.
7. Gangjeong (강정)
In addition to these, many families also serve gangjeong (강정), puffed rice sweets made from glutinous rice flour, covered with honey and bean powder, sesame or others. They too come in various colours and are typical sweets for different festivals, not just Chuseok.
What Chuseok food vocabulary should you know?
If you’re studying Korean, these words are useful when talking about Chuseok and Korean food:
| Hangul | Transliteration | English |
| 추석 | Chuseok | Chuseok / Korean harvest holiday |
| 음식 | Eumsik | Food |
| 차례 | Charye | Ancestral memorial ritual |
| 송편 | Songpyeon | Chuseok rice cake |
| 잡채 | Japchae | Stir-fried glass noodles |
| 생선 | Saengseon | Fish |
| 수육 | Suyuk | Boiled meat |
| 조기 | Jogi | Yellow croaker |
| 떡 | Tteok | Rice cake |
| 과일 | Gwail | Fruit |
FAQ about food for Chuseok
1. What is the most famous food eaten during Chuseok?
Songpyeon (송편) is probably the food most strongly associated with Chuseok. These crescent-shaped rice cakes are traditionally made and enjoyed during the holiday.
2. What do Koreans eat for Chuseok dinner?
There isn’t one fixed Chuseok dinner menu. Families may prepare dishes such as jeon, japchae, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and songpyeon, depending on their family traditions.
3. Do all Korean families eat the same Chuseok foods?
No. Chuseok food varies between families and regions. Some families prepare elaborate traditional meals, while others may have a simpler meal or enjoy foods they personally like.
4. What is the Chuseok rice cake called?
The traditional Chuseok rice cake is called songpyeon (송편). It is usually shaped like a small half-moon and can have different fillings.
5. Can foreigners try Chuseok food in Korea?
Yes! Many Korean restaurants, markets and cultural events offer traditional Korean foods around Chuseok. You may also find songpyeon and other seasonal foods in supermarkets and bakeries during the holiday period.
While every family has its own traditions, trying Chuseok foods is a great way to experience and learn more about Korean culture. Want to learn more about Korean culture and life in Korea? Keep following our blog and do not hesitate to contact us about living and studying in Korea.
