Millions of South Koreans are on the move as the country celebrates Chuseok, the mid-autumn harvest festival.
Trains and highways are packed, and airports are reporting record-breaking passenger numbers, with over 32 million people expected to travel during the holiday period.
Traditionally rooted in rice farming, Chuseok remains South Korea’s most significant annual holiday, bringing families together to honour ancestors and share food.
However, this year’s celebrations also carry economic importance, with gift spending rising by more than 26%.
While many families gather at home, over two million South Koreans are opting to travel abroad.
For those separated from loved ones in North Korea, the holiday evokes mixed emotions, symbolising both cherished familial ties and the continued division of the peninsula.
Against this backdrop, President Lee Jae Myung has expressed optimism for national growth, hoping the festival will help bolster the economy.
Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton reports from Seoul, South Korea.
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