Chuseok Greetings

Words of blessing and greetings sent to family, relatives, and acquaintances for Hangawi, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, and their forms and changes

Chuseok Greetings

Overview

Chuseok greetings (추석인사) collectively refer to the words of blessing and greetings exchanged among family, relatives, and acquaintances for Hangawi (한가위), the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. They originated from seasonal customs of sharing a bountiful harvest and honoring ancestors, and in modern times have become a representative form of holiday communication distributed in large quantities through digital media such as text messages, messengers, and SNS card news. Beyond a simple expression of courtesy, they function as a social ritual that maintains relationships and confirms emotional bonds.

Key Content

Etymology and Forms

'인사(人事)' is a Sino-Korean word meaning courtesy between people, and Chuseok greetings are largely divided into oral greetings and written (text) greetings. Oral greetings center on free well-wishes without a set procedure like New Year's bows, such as "Have a good Chuseok" and "Have a bountiful Hangawi," while written greetings conventionally use a four-part structure of greeting, recent news, requests/reminders, and closing.

Traditional Expressions

Traditionally, along with names such as Hangawi, Gawi, and Jungchujeol, expressions wishing for prosperity, health, and harmony were used. Representative phrases include "Have a bountiful Hangawi," "Have a joyful holiday with your family," "May your heart be as round as songpyeon," and "Happiness as full as the full moon," and materials such as the moon, songpyeon, hanbok, visiting ancestral graves, and ancestral rites are often used as metaphors.

Speech by Relationship

Family/relatives: an intimate style that asks about health and recent news. "Take care of your parents' health, and have a good time with family gathered after a long time."
Workplace colleagues/superiors: includes formality and gratitude. It may add thanks for work cooperation and schedule information after the holiday.
Customers/business partners: centered on official greetings and thank-you phrases in the name of the organization, sent as card news with the company logo.
Acquaintances/friends: short phrases mixed with humor and emojis are preferred.

Changes in Media

The scope has expanded from paper cards and telephone greetings to text messages in the 2000s, KakaoTalk and SNS in the 2010s, and image cards and short-form videos since the 2020s. In this process, some assess that greetings have changed from "personal writing" to standardized content of "selection and copying."

Etiquette and Cautions

Mass sending concentrated during the holiday period may actually be contrary to etiquette, so it is recommended to specify names or choose phrases suited to the relationship. For situations of mourning the deceased, acquaintances battling illness, or occupational groups working during the holiday, it is better to put greetings and gratitude before expressions such as "joyful."

Latest Trends

In 2024–2025, notable trends include ① the spread of customized greetings generated by AI, ② preference for short and plain "one-line greetings," ③ combination with visual elements such as emojis, card news, and moving background images, and ④ an increase in corporate marketing messages linked to holiday specialty products, travel, and lodging. In addition, as long golden holidays such as six-day breaks increase, phrases centered on travel and rest such as "Have a good trip over the holiday" have increased, and under the influence of low birth rates and aging, expressions emphasizing health and well-being are increasing instead of the cliché "with family." On the other hand, fatigue with excessive mass sending is also growing, and voices demanding customized phrases for each recipient are growing alongside it.