September is the trickiest month for planning your Korea trip. Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) falls in September, and during that week, train tickets, bus tickets, and accommodations sell out all at once.
On top of that, Korea's entire train system is changing in September 2026. Starting September 1st, SRT merges into KTX, which means different apps, different fares, and different booking procedures. Following old guides will leave you confused.
Below, we've organized what's officially confirmed as of 2026-08 and what's not yet announced.
Chuseok 2026 falls on September 24-26
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Chuseok Day | 9/25 (Fri) |
| Official Holiday | 9/24 (Thu) ~ 9/26 (Sat), 3 days |
| Substitute Holiday | None |
| Actual long weekend | 9/24 (Thu) ~ 9/27 (Sun), 4 days |
| Special transport period | 9/23 (Wed) ~ 9/27 (Sun) |
You might wonder why there's no substitute holiday. By law, Lunar New Year and Chuseok only get substitute holidays when they overlap with Sunday. In 2026, the last day of the holiday falls on Saturday (9/26), which doesn't qualify for a substitute since Saturday isn't a public holiday anyway.
So Chuseok 2026 is one of the shorter ones in recent years. Compared to 2025's 10-day Chuseok, it's significantly reduced. Because it's shorter, travel gets concentrated on specific dates, making ticket competition potentially even fiercer.
SRT merges into KTX starting September 1st
This is the biggest change in September 2026. Korea's high-speed rail has been split between KTX (Korail) and SRT (SR Corporation), but starting September 1st, Korail operates everything under one system.
- The SRT name disappears. Existing SRT trains become 'KTX-Sancheon'. The physical trains and colors stay the same.
- Apps merge into one. The old 'Korail Talk' becomes 'Korail+' (launched 2026-08-03). You can no longer book through the SRT app.
- Fares decrease. High-speed rail fares align with the old SRT pricing, resulting in an average 10% reduction compared to old KTX fares.
- More seats available. Both frequency and seat capacity increase.
- SR members need to migrate. To transfer your existing SRT usage history and discount coupons, you need to convert to Korail integrated membership.
There's good news for international travelers. The Korail+ app supports 7 languages (English, Japanese, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian). You can change languages via the 'A·가' icon in the top right corner of the home screen.
Any guides online that say "download the SRT app separately" become obsolete in September. You only need Korail+.
Chuseok Train & Bus Ticket Booking Schedule
Chuseok tickets can't be purchased anytime like usual. Specific routes open on specific dates. Everything is online only (app/website) — no ticket counters or travel agencies sell them.
| Date | Time | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 9/3 (Thu)·9/4 (Fri) | 09:00~15:00 | Priority booking (65+, disabled, pregnant, etc.) |
| 9/7 (Mon) | 07:00~13:00 | All regular trains (ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Maeum, Mugunghwa) |
| 9/8 (Tue) | 07:00~13:00 | Gyeongjeon, Gangneung, Donghae, Jungang, Jungbunaeryuk line KTX |
| 9/9 (Wed) | 07:00~13:00 | Honam, Jeolla line KTX |
| 9/10 (Thu) | 07:00~13:00 | Suseo Station departure/arrival KTX (former SRT routes) |
| 9/11 (Fri) | 07:00~13:00 | Gyeongbu line KTX |
Here's what's easy to miss:
- You must have Korail integrated membership before booking. If you only had SR membership, convert before September 3rd.
- After login, you have a 3-minute time limit. Decide your dates, number of passengers, and seat preferences beforehand.
- Payment starts September 12 (Sat) at midnight, and auto-cancels if unpaid by September 15. Priority booking tickets have until September 18 to pay.
- Therefore, a massive wave of cancelled tickets releases around September 16. If you miss the first booking round, target this window.
Bus schedules are separate from trains. However, as of 2026-08-25, both express and intercity bus special Chuseok booking dates haven't been officially announced yet. For reference, 2025 Chuseok opened in early September at 10 AM. Once announced, the target period will likely be the holiday window 9/23 (Wed)~9/27 (Sun), and booking happens through Kobus or the T-money GO app. Don't wait for the dates — check both channels' announcements directly — holiday bus tickets flood within hours of opening, and finding out one day late means it's already too late.
This is where international travelers often get stuck. Many booking sites require Korean bank accounts or mobile phone verification, and foreign cards sometimes get rejected at checkout. If payment fails within the 3-minute limit, you're done. Having an app that lets you book both KTX and express buses with just your passport and foreign card — no phone verification — and pre-registering your card gives you a competitive edge. The full holiday booking process is detailed in our Holiday Train Booking Guide.
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Seoul International Fireworks Festival is September 5th
The 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival is September 5 (Sat) at Yeouido Hangang Park. The preview is September 4 (Fri). Korea, USA, and UK participate.
Last year (2025) it was in late September, but for 2026 they moved it up about 3 more weeks earlier to accommodate the Chuseok holiday period and foreign visitor demand. Before that, the festival used to be held in early October. Note that many English-language travel blogs still list it as "early October," so don't trust those dates — double-check before you plan around it.
- General viewing areas are free. You can watch from both Yeouido (Line 5 Yeouinaru Station) and Ichon Hangang Park (Line 4/Gyeongui-Jungang Line Ichon Station).
- All of Nodeul Island becomes a paid viewing zone. Prices range from 110,000 to 220,000 KRW depending on section, with a 5-ticket limit per person.
- Live streaming is also available online.
September Events with Foreign Language Support
| Event | Period | Location | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour | 9/10~10/17 Thu~Sun | Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul | 30,000 KRW |
| Gyeongbokgung Night Tour | 9/2~10/2 (Closed Mon·Tue) | Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul | 3,000 KRW |
| Frieze Seoul · Kiaf | 9/2~9/5 · 9/2~9/6 | COEX, Seoul | Paid |
| Gwangju Biennale | 9/5~11/15 | Gwangju | Adult 20,000 KRW |
| Andong Mask Dance Festival | 9/24~10/4 | Andong, Gyeongbuk | Festival ground free |
| Muju Firefly Festival | 9/4~9/12 | Muju, Jeonbuk | Free |
Two especially useful tips for international visitors:
First, Gyeongbokgung night tours can be purchased on-site with just your passport. While online booking is competitive, international visitors with passports can buy same-day tickets at the Gwanghwamun ticket booth (300 tickets/day, 2 per person limit). Admission is 3,000 KRW and free if wearing hanbok. Operating hours 19:00~21:30 (last entry 20:30), closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Second, Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour has dedicated sessions for international visitors. In September, these are 9/20 (Sun) and 9/27 (Sun), conducted in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Booking is separate from Korean sessions — use Creatrip (creatrip.com). Notably, 9/27 is the last day of Chuseok weekend, so it's a great option if you're in Seoul during the holiday.
Andong Mask Dance Festival overlaps with Chuseok. The 9/24 opening day is the first day of the holiday, when KTX and accommodation are most expensive. Festival admission is free and they have a separate English website (en.maskdance.com). The festival grounds are right across from Andong Station, so access is convenient.
Free Things in September
- Seoul Outdoor Library (~11/1, Fri·Sat·Sun) — Outdoor desks and books set up at Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggyecheon. Free, no reservation needed. City Hall, Gwanghwamun, and Jonggak stations.
- Seoul Taekwondo Regular Performance (9/5·6, 9/19·20 at 14:00·16:00) — Cheonwugak Stage at Namsangol Hanok Village. Free, and being a physical performance, no language barrier. Chungmuro Station.
- Car-Free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival (Sundays starting 9/6) — The bridge roadway becomes pedestrian-only. Banpo Hangang Park, Express Bus Terminal Station.
- Seoul Street Arts Festival (9/19 Sat~9/20 Sun) — Starting 2026, the venue moved from downtown plazas to the Han River. Ttukseom Hangang Park and Seoul Forest area. Don't go to Seoul Plaza based on old information.
- Muju Firefly Festival (9/4~9/12, Muju, Jeonbuk) — Festival grounds free, with English, Chinese, and Vietnamese support. No KTX service, so about 2.5 hours by express bus from Seoul.
What's Open and Closed During the Holiday
What's actually open or closed during the Chuseok holiday (9/24~26) is probably your biggest practical question.
| Category | Chuseok Day (9/25) |
|---|---|
| Subway·Buses·Convenience stores | Normal operation |
| Palaces·Jongmyo·Royal tombs | Open |
| Banks·Government offices·Post offices | Closed all holiday (ATMs and mobile banking normal) |
| National Museum·Folk Museum·Palace Museum | Closed |
| Department stores·Costco | Closed |
| Large supermarkets | Select locations only, shortened hours |
Palaces being open is the key point of this holiday. While the three major museums close on Chuseok day, palaces remain open. They also don't overlap with regular closure days (Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo close Tuesdays; Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung close Mondays). However, palaces close 9/28 (Mon) and 9/29 (Tue) right after the holiday, so avoid those dates.
Free palace admission hasn't been announced yet. The Korea Heritage Service has traditionally offered free admission to the four major palaces, Jongmyo, and royal tombs during holiday weekends, but as of August 2026, there's no official announcement for Chuseok 2026. Previous years announced this 4-10 days before the holiday, so check again in mid-September.
If you need medical care, use the Emergency Medical Portal (e-gen.or.kr) or call 129 (Health and Welfare Call Center) to find hospitals and pharmacies open during the holiday.
Things not yet announced: Seoul public transit extended hours, highway toll exemption expansion, individual store/department store operating hours, and Incheon Airport special measures will all be announced in mid-September. Don't rely on previous years' information. Transit extensions especially vary year to year — they extended service for Lunar New Year 2026 but didn't for Chuseok 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can I book with the SRT app? No. Starting September 1, 2026, KTX and SRT merge, so the SRT app no longer works for booking. Use the 'Korail+' app, which supports 7 languages. Former SRT trains are now called 'KTX-Sancheon'. If you were an SR member, convert to integrated membership first.
Q2. When is Chuseok 2026? Is there a substitute holiday? Chuseok day is September 25 (Fri), the official holiday is September 24 (Thu)~26 (Sat), 3 days. There's no substitute holiday. The last day falls on Saturday, which doesn't qualify for a substitute.
Q3. I couldn't get Chuseok train tickets. Are there any options? Yes. Since payment deadline is September 15, cancelled tickets flood around September 16. Check again then. Also check express buses. Express bus booking opens at 10 AM on August 25.
Q4. Can I visit palaces during the holiday? Yes. All three days 9/24~26 are open. They don't overlap with regular closure days. However, National Museum of Korea, National Folk Museum, and National Palace Museum close on Chuseok day, and palaces close 9/28 (Mon) and 9/29 (Tue) right after the holiday. Check mid-September announcements for free admission confirmation.
Q5. When is the Seoul International Fireworks Festival? September 5 (Sat) at Yeouido Hangang Park. Preview is September 4 (Fri). Unlike previous years' early October timing, 2026 moved it earlier. General viewing areas are free; paid Nodeul Island zones range from 110,000 to 220,000 KRW.
Note: This article provides general information. Schedules, prices, and locations are current as of 2026-08 and may change due to organizer or government decisions. Before visiting, confirm details through official channels: festival websites, Korail (korail.com), Korea Tourism Organization (visitkorea.or.kr), Korea Heritage Service, etc. LACHA is not involved in organizing or operating festivals and is not responsible for outcomes resulting from schedule changes.
