The Chuseok holiday brought family gatherings, travel and time at ancestral graves — but it also left behind mountains of waste.

At a cemetery in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, artificial flowers left by visitors who came to pay their respects during Chuseok piled up to be cleared away.

At a public recycling center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, workers sorted through mountains of foam containers used to package food and fresh produce gifts.

Chuseok is one of Korea’s biggest seasons of giving, with people exchanging gifts with family, friends and acquaintances, while families visit ancestral graves to perform rites honoring their ancestors.

A worker sorts through discarded artificial flowers at a cemetery in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday, on the first working day after the four-day Chuseok holiday.
A worker sorts through discarded artificial flowers at a cemetery in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday, on the first working day after the four-day Chuseok holiday.
At a public recycling center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, workers on Monday sort through piles of foam boxes. (Yonhap)
At a public recycling center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, workers on Monday sort through piles of foam boxes. (Yonhap)

milaya@heraldcorp.com