Chuseok: Runaway singles

By Kim Hyo-jin

Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving holiday, has become a headache for many single Koreans in their 30s. More and more young people are seeking to travel overseas during the holiday in an attempt to avoid relatives who always ask them the dreaded question: "Why aren't you married yet?"

Millions of Koreans travel to their hometowns across the country during the public holiday to perform traditional rituals to thank ancestors for a bountiful harvest. But another aspect of such visit ― the nosy relatives ―has become too much to bear for some.

"I don't think it's worth spending my precious holiday with family members who constantly tell me off for being single," said a 36-year-old single civil servant surnamed Kim.

"I'm planning to fly overseas at Chuseok instead of seeing relatives. When they see me, they constantly nag me and tell me that if I postpone marriage any longer, I would never get married at all."

In a survey of 425 single people in their 30s by social match-up agency Duo, over 58 percent responded that they are not excited about Chuseok, specifically because of their nosy relatives who constantly pressure them to get married.

"It is pretty hypocritical for my married female relatives to say I should hurry up and get married, when I see them so stressed out preparing foods for the whole family every Chuseok," said Kim.

Once she marries, she would be expected to do the same.

"It makes me wonder if marriage is ever worth it," Kim said.

Another single woman, surnamed Lee, 33, said it is important for her to spend time by herself, instead of seeing family members duringChuseok.

"It won't be easy to travel whatsoever after you get married. You will have to see your husband's family and spend time with them. This might be my last chance to enjoy some ‘me time'," Lee said.

She said she routinely travels overseas every Chuseok, so relatives do not care about her absence at the family gathering anymore. This year will not be an exception. She is preparing to takea vacation in Hawaii.

Because of the increased demand during Chuseok, however, it is nearly impossible to find flight tickets to overseas destinations, unless you buy the tickets early.

"You should plan to get a ticket to any popular destination three or four months earlier," said Han Jae-sung, a branch manager of Seoul-based travel agency Top Travel. He said a 20 to 30 percent premium is added to the original price of a flight ticket duringChuseokowing to the high demand.

A 32-year-old single consultant, surnamed Lee, also said it is fairly common for him and his single friends, who are also in their 30s, to avoid family by traveling overseas at Chuseok.

"Young professional Koreans in their 30s have little personal downtime owing to the long work hours. Chuseok is a rare chance for them to get a break from work," Lee said.

"I think we are now allowed to do so as the family culture changes ― people value the idea of a family reunion less. Missing a family gathering is not considered rude anymore."

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