The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard

  • 3

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson apprehended at Incheon Int'l Airport over drug use

  • 5

    Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors

  • 7

    Gold price nears all-time high amid financial jitters

  • 9

    From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race

  • 11

    North Korea unveils tactical nuclear warheads

  • 13

    Civic groups in Gwangju await meeting with Chun Doo-hwan's grandson

  • 15

    Over 1,000 financially vulnerable Koreans apply for new emergency gov't loans

  • 17

    INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'

  • 19

    Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'

  • 2

    Actor Yoo Ah-in once again apologizes for alleged drug use

  • 4

    Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending

  • 6

    'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand

  • 8

    BMW launches new XM

  • 10

    Ramsar wetland in Han River cleaned up for protected birdlife

  • 12

    BTS' Jimin tops Spotify's global chart with 'Like Crazy'

  • 14

    CJ CheilJedang sees chicken as next big seller after frozen dumpling

  • 16

    2024 budget to focus on tackling low birthrate

  • 18

    Suspect identified in Nashville school shooting that killed 3 children, 3 staff

  • 20

    Samsung Pay partners with Hana Financial to issue student IDs

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, March 30, 2023 | 21:27
Internet Changes Rituals for Chuseok
Posted : 2008-09-02 17:32
Updated : 2008-09-02 17:32
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, is coming. Families gather in their hometowns, often enduring hours of traffic congestion on the highways, and offer newly harvested fruits and crops to their ancestors during an ancestral memorial service to thank them for the harvest.

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, is coming. Families gather in their hometowns, often enduring hours of traffic congestion on the highways, and offer newly harvested fruits and crops to their ancestors during an ancestral memorial service to thank them for the harvest.

But such a traditional image of the holiday has been gradually changing in the Internet era. Now, more and more people are simply clicking a mouse to stay connected to the traditions.

Grave weeding services

The Chuseok holidays extend three days this year from Sept. 13 to 15. But weeks prior to the holidays, families have already started their trip to their ancestors' tombs to hold a ritual, in order to avoid traffic jams during the holidays.

Last weekend, most highways were jammed with those trying to pay an early visit to their ancestors.

But even ``smarter'' holidaymakers opt out of congestions by using ``beolcho,'' or grave weeding services.

It is easy to find those that offer such services on the Internet and it only costs between 50,000 won to 100,000 won ($50 to $100) for grave weeding services, depending on the size of the grave. Most of these companies e-mail digital photos of the graves before and after to their customers.

``We have seen a soaring number of customers around this time of year,'' a staff member at a weeding service company said. ``You can save the time and money you would have spent coming all the way down to your hometown.''

According to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, demand for the service has increased 30 percent every year. The federation started the weeding service in the early 1990s through regional networks nationwide.

Holiday food services

Another big ritual for the holiday is ``charye,'' or an ancestral memorial service performed at home early in the morning.

The traditional image would be of family members conducting memorial services by presenting fruit, newly-harvested rice and rice wine on a dining table to the deceased ancestors and making a big bow.

The eldest son's wife usually has to prepare dishes for the ritual as most families gather at the eldest son's house to perform the ceremonies. Due to the heavy preparation work, housewives sometimes suffer from ``holiday sickness'' even before the holiday.

But now with a couple of mouse clicks they can get the food delivered in time for the ceremony.

``It is a whole lot of work for old and young housewives,'' the head of a ritual food service firm said. ``Especially, young people don't know how to prepare traditional dishes.''

The price of ritual dish sets ranges from 150,000 won to 300,000 won, depending on the menu, but it can be cheaper than the total cost housewives spend shopping for roughly 20-30 ingredients, she said. But she admitted that due to the high cost, they mostly use imported ingredients.

But many people are voicing concerns over the ``convenience-focused trend'' in traditions.

``The most important thing is not the formality but the sincerity. Letting others prepare is just neglecting devotion to ancestors,'' Kim Jong-Dae, professor of the Folk Lore Department at ChungAng University, said. ``The holiday is also a time for families to gather and learn about their roots. The changing trend simply shows materialism and expediency.''

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending
2Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days
3[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source? INTERVIEWCan art become stable investment source?
4Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform? Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform?
5Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap
6Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As
7Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month
8Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea
9Top envoy to US tapped as new national security advisor Top envoy to US tapped as new national security advisor
10Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
2From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race
3[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet' INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'
4Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store' Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'
5[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound' INTERVIEWAhn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group