Chuseok Celebration: Seoul

With the upcoming Chuseok holidays, millions of Koreans will brave massive traffic jams to return to their hometowns, where they meet with old friends and take part in traditional ceremonies.

Those who stay in Seoul can still enjoy the holiday.

With shops that close early or don't even open at all, some Korean may feel that there is almost nothing to do over the Chuseok holidays except l watch boring reruns of old Chuseok movies.

But, Korea Herald notes a number of activities, including...

A concert is planned to celebrate the opening of the second annual Gukak Festival, an event organized by the Korean Culture and Arts Foundation, Kayageum master Hwang Byung-ki, a female Kayageum ensemble Yeoul and a fusion band Vinalogue will perform together with acid jazz trio Clazziquai. A Kayageum is a traditional Korean 12-stringed instrument.

Together, they bring a traditional spin to well-known Western music, from Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" to F. Schubert's "Trout".

The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts will stage a special "Hangawinal Dalbaragi" performance, 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, which combines pansori and mask plays based on folk tales. Pansori is a traditional Korean art form combining storytelling and music. For the performance, Arirang Nang Nang, an all female band of Korean traditional music, will collaborate with Ecuadorian folk music band Sysai Korea.

The celebration will be concluded with Ganggangsullae, a traditional dance, in which a large number of women form a circle under the full moon. Legend has it that during the 16th century Japanese invasion (1592-1598), young men needed to fight were in short supply along the southern coasts so women clad in soldier's uniforms were deployed, creating a faux show of strength that scared away the enemy.

The National Folk Museum of Korea, inside Kyeongbok Palace, downtown Seoul, will present open air folk performances on Sept. 17-19. Various performances including a traditional martial arts show and a Gangryeong Mask Play will be available free of charge.

Namsangol Hanok Village (02-2266-6923) in downtown Seoul will present its special Chusok package on Sept. 17-19. Various traditional liquors and snacks will also be available to enhance enjoyment of a wide range of traditional music and dance performances.

On Sept. 17, Dongchun Circus, the nation's oldest and the most popular acrobatic troupe will perform at the village, which will be followed by a concert of "DoodRock," a percussion performance, the following day.

The Korean National Tourism Organization (02-7299-600) will host a Special Korean Traditional Culture Week festival at its Tourist Information Center, downtown Seoul, from Sept. 17 to 19. During the festival, foreign visitors can enjoy a wide range of traditional Korean games, including jegi chagi (shuttlecock kicking) and yutnori (a kind of traditional board game played with four sticks) for free.

Volunteer interpreters wearing colorful hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) will help visitors. In addition, an English-subtitled Korean movie "A Family" will be shown at 2 p.m. everyday throughout the festival.