Korea’s biggest fall holiday is just around the corner, and the nation is bustling with preparations. From the central bank circulating freshly minted banknotes to delivery companies handling a surge in gift packages, here’s a glimpse into the vibrant scenes ahead of Chuseok.

Bank of Korea employees handle banknotes issued ahead of the Chuseok holiday on Tuesday. (Yonhap)
Bank of Korea employees handle banknotes issued ahead of the Chuseok holiday on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

One item in high demand during the holidays is freshly minted banknotes, as South Koreans prefer to give new bills when exchanging cash gifts.

To ensure sufficient supply and cash flow, the Bank of Korea released a total of 219.4 billion won ($156.5 million) worth of banknotes to commercial banks, including 174.1 billion won in the most sought-after 50,000 won bills. Fresh notes can be exchanged at the central and commercial banks until Thursday.

Workers make colorful hangwa ahead of Chuseok at the Traditional Hangwa Village in Gangwon Province on Monday. (Yonhap)
Workers make colorful hangwa ahead of Chuseok at the Traditional Hangwa Village in Gangwon Province on Monday. (Yonhap)
Hangwa wrapped in bojagi, or wrapping cloth, are stacked ahead of Chuseok at the Traditional Hangwa Village in Gangwon Province on Monday. <Yonhap>
Hangwa wrapped in bojagi, or wrapping cloth, are stacked ahead of Chuseok at the Traditional Hangwa Village in Gangwon Province on Monday.

In Gangneung, Gangwon Province, confectioners busied themselves with making hangwa, traditional sweets served on festive occasions. The city’s traditional hangwa village is home to more than 40 confectioners who follow time-honored recipes and are usually flooded with nationwide orders ahead of major holidays like Chuseok.

A worker at Seoul Central Post Office in Jung-gu, Seoul, handles fresh food items at the counter as acceptance of perishable goods resumes Tuesday. (Yonhap)
A worker at Seoul Central Post Office in Jung-gu, Seoul, handles fresh food items at the counter as acceptance of perishable goods resumes Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Package deliveries hit their peak around Chuseok due to the tradition of gift-giving, but the nation's postal services were disrupted over the weekend by a fire at the National Information Resources Service in Daejeon.

As services resumed Monday, post offices were busy accepting perishable gifts such as fruit and kimchi on Tuesday.

Traditional markets across the country were also bustling with shoppers on Tuesday, picking up fruits, grains and other items for gifts and ancestral rites.


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