Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dairyairy]

It does seem like more and more places are staying open during Chuseok and that many Koreans are staying closer to home.


http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2977759&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1

[Julius]

Urbanization. The link to the rural past is fading.

This trend will only increase the longer families have lived in Seoul. Why drive for ten hours to see relatives your parents left behind 30 years ago?

To be honest I welcome anything that reduces the mass-swarming on public holidays.

[Sister Ray]

Jongno was gridlocked all day yesterday. I think I preferred it when they all used to evacuate to the sticks for a few days.

[sligo]

It took 5 hours for my father in law to drive from Seoul to Cheongju (normal 80 mins by bus) Everyone with a car was out yesterday!

[12ax7]

[transmogrifier]

My first experience in Chuseok traffic - 3 hours from the north of Seoul to the south, when it usually takes 1 (I was told; I've never been there before).

Luckily my in-laws are all a super-friendly bunch and the food was good. But I'm going by subway next time.

[waynehead]

I love semi-deserted Seoul at Chuseok, but it does seem like more and more stuff is staying open to cater to people who stay put. The coffee shops and whatnot around Jongno were almost all open yesterday, for example (although I think they were opening a few hours later than usual).

[dairyairy]

On Thursday, the high point of the holiday, Itaewon was packed with muslims but also with curious Korean families. Odd mix.
Myeong Dong was also very crowded; even more so than usual. Sure, some were probably Japanese and Chinese tourists, but there were many Korean families, and much more was open than closed.

The holiday isn't what it once was.

[jvalmer]

Took the KTX from Seoul down to my provincial town on Saturday. It was empty, enjoyed putting my bags on the seat next to me. Maybe 4 people in my car, and another 8 in the car next to it.

Anyways, traditionally Koreans didn't considered a place their hometown unless their family has been there for 3 generations. And I believe before the Korean War Seoul had a population of only 2 million.

Dare I say, that we are getting close to that 3rd generation of Seoulites ready to pop out babies in the next couple decades. So, when the current crop of grandparents start dying off, many newbie Seoulites will stop travelling to the provincial hinterlands. But then again, if someones' spouse is from outside of Seoul, they maybe obliged to do some travelling. But I do see a massive reduction of people travelling during Seolla/Chuseok in the next few generations.

But demographics is a funny thing and things can change fast, like how Korea has changed fast. Maybe massive amounts of people will start going to small cities to enjoy a 'slower' pace of life.

[andrewchon]

Nahhh, home (고향 birth place) is where your ancestral burial place is.

[Weigookin74]

[NohopeSeriously]

Sure. I may be born in Seoul. This doesn't change the fact that my original homeland is Chuncheong-do.