"Vacation Starts Today"…People Traveling Abroad or Joining Clubs Instead of Visiting Hometown

Holidays with Friends and Lovers
Blood-Related Family Culture Weakens

"I'm on annual leave starting today. I came to see a special exhibition with members of the photography club."

Recently, more people are enjoying personal hobbies such as overseas travel or clubs instead of visiting their hometowns during traditional holiday breaks. Analysts suggest that the traditional family concept centered on blood relations is weakening, and new social cultures are emerging.

On the afternoon of the 12th at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Kim Hara (34) said, "I have always been interested in East Asian culture, and when I heard there was a special exhibition during the holiday, I quickly gathered people who were available yesterday and came." She added, "I have a week off starting today, but I have no plans to visit my hometown. Instead, I plan to relax by visiting exhibitions I’ve been interested in and some pretty cafes."

According to a survey conducted by SK Telecom targeting over 1,000 adult men and women, only 42.7% responded that they would 'visit their hometown or family and relatives' during this year's Chuseok holiday, which is less than half. In contrast, 40.3% said they would 'rest at home,' 12.5% said they would 'travel domestically or abroad,' and 3.6% said they would 'engage in self-development, socializing, or leisure activities,' totaling 56.4%. This indicates that a significant number of people enjoy personal time instead of going to their hometowns during the holiday period.

When asked, "Who do you plan to spend time with during the holiday break?" the highest response was "with immediate family" (55.2%), but the proportions for "friends, partners, acquaintances" (9.1%) and "alone" (7.1%) were also notable. The Noryangjin exam district and academies were bustling with people staying home to prepare for employment exams and the college entrance exam even during the holiday.

Kim Yuntae, a sociology professor at Korea University, said, "Putting aside ancestral rites or visiting graves, the traditional extended family structure hardly exists nowadays. With single-person households becoming the norm, even relatives gathering together have largely disappeared. Culturally, it seems that society is influenced by a trend where people with similar tastes or interests are accepted as new forms of family rather than families bound by blood relations."