Chuseok traditions shift as MZ Generation embraces digital connections, overseas travel

Chuseok is undergoing a marked cultural shift among Korea’s so-called MZ Generation, who are increasingly opting to spend the holiday alone, send digital gifts, or travel abroad — departing from longstanding traditions of family gatherings and ancestral rites. The MZ Generation — a term that encompasses both millennials and Gen Z — is largely concentrated in Seoul and the greater capital region for work or study. Digitally fluent and globally minded, many prefer international travel over domestic getaways. This shift reflects how, for many in the MZ Generation, Chuseok is no longer synonymous with returning to their hometowns — a tradition that typically sees millions of Koreans travel across the country to reunite with family. In a recent nationwide poll conducted by research and analysis firm PMI, 36.1 percent of 3,000 adult respondents said they planned to spend this year’s Chuseok holiday resting at home, edging out the 33.5 percent who intended to visit family. The survey was conducted among people aged 20 to 69, and those opting to stay home alone were primarily in theiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times