KREI survey of 1,000 households nationwide finds share planning rites fell 13.1 percentage points in a year

Half of those still observing the tradition are simplifying their offering tables; 65.3% plan no rites at all

Share planning to place imported fruit on offering tables nears 4 in 10

Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

The scene of families gathering to prepare a chuseok offering table is fading fast. Fewer than 3 in 10 households plan to hold ancestral rites this chuseok — down sharply from more than 40 percent just a year ago to 27 percent this year. Even among households that still observe the tradition, half are simplifying their spreads, and nearly 4 in 10 plan to include imported fruit on their offering tables.

According to a report published Sunday by the Korea Rural Economic Institute titled "2026 Chuseok Peak Season: Fruit Purchase Behavior and Supply Outlook," 27.3 percent of households said they plan to hold ancestral rites this chuseok, down 13.1 percentage points from 40.4 percent last year.

The survey was conducted from Aug. 21 to Aug. 26 among 1,000 household consumers nationwide.

The share of households with no plans to hold rites stood at 65.3 percent — more than double the share planning to observe them. Another 7.4 percent said they had not yet decided. The Korea Rural Economic Institute said the trend of fewer households holding rites at all has become more pronounced compared with last year.

Among those who do plan to hold rites, the spread is getting simpler. Of the 273 households that said they would observe the tradition, 50.9 percent chose "simplified in keeping with traditional customs" as their approach to food preparation, while only 20.1 percent said they would follow traditional customs in full. Another 13.2 percent said they would focus on food their family enjoys, and 8.8 percent said they would mix home-prepared dishes with store-bought products. The simplification trend mirrors last year's results, when 58.4 percent also chose the simplified traditional approach — the highest share then as well. As fewer households hold rites, those that do are increasingly paring back the spread.

Chuseok rite plans and food preparation methods (Korea Rural Economic Institute)

Planned rites in 2025: 40.4% Planned rites in 2026: 27.3% No plans for rites in 2026: 65.3% Undecided: 7.4% Simplified in keeping with traditional customs: 50.9% Prepared according to full traditional customs: 20.1% Focused on food the family enjoys: 13.2% Mix of home-prepared and store-bought: 8.8%

The location of rites showed little change. Just over half of respondents — 51.3 percent — said they would hold rites at the family home of the head of household, followed by their own home at 21.2 percent, a relative's home at 18.7 percent, and a grave site or clan facility at 7.7 percent. Last year, the family home of the head of household was also the most common venue at 50.0 percent.

The fruit placed on offering tables is also shifting. While domestic apples and pears remain the centerpiece, 38.8 percent of respondents said they plan to include imported fruit on their offering tables — up from last year. The most common timing for fruit purchases was two to four days before chuseok, cited by 55.7 percent of respondents.

The institute said the survey showed a marked decline in the number of households preparing offering tables compared with last year, and that even among households still holding rites, the trend toward simpler spreads was clearly evident.


adastra@heraldcorp.com