Chuseok is one of the largest holidays in Korea. Even though modern-day Korea is not immensely dependent on agriculture, Chuseok is still one of the most important holidays to Koreans since it is one of the rare opportunities for families to unite. Comparable to Joseon’s massive family living all together in one house, Koreans these day prefers living with a small number of family members which decreases the opportunity for grandparents and grandchildren to meet each other. Hence, big traditional holidays like Chuseok find new value and necessity for family union.
Most of the time, grandparents and the elderly live in a region that is far away from their younger families which requires children to ride different kinds of transportation for a prolonged time. To prevent hazardous drowsy driving and provide a resting place for people on long car drives, the Korean government started to develop highway resting places, also known as 휴게소 (hu-gea-so). These days, highway resting places in Korea are not just essential places for necessities but are valued as a part of travel or memory during their car trip.
Photo by Chungnam-do-Cheong Homepage
Some famous and special aspects of Korean highway resting areas are:
Various Convenient Facilities
Almost all Korean resting places have necessary facilities such as clean bathrooms, numerous restaurants and menus, and convenience stores which drivers and passengers can freely use during their car ride. Furthermore, some resting areas such as shower booths and sleeping rooms are prepared for long-distance drivers.
Interesting and Unique Foods
Some foods, such as Walnut Cookies (호두과자, hodu - cookies) and Sotteok Sotteok (소떡소떡, Rice cake with sausage), are famous highway resting place foods that grab the attention of bored and hungry travelers during their ride. Some highway resting places provide unique snacks with local specialties, which supports the activation of the regional economy.
Beautiful Scenery
Highway resting places in some regions went viral with their outstanding natural view that people can access through the big windows or even by just standing outside in the parking lot. Clear and grand views of green mountains or blue seas show the overwhelming power of nature to the people who are exhausted from the stuffiness of the urban population.
Within these attractive elements of highway resting places, visiting rest areas itself has become a cherished part of many Koreans’ car rides. These stops provide a moment of refresher during long rides, allowing families to create new and iconic memories while en route to honoring old traditions. As Korea continues to evolve, these harmonious combinations of historical heritage preservation and new custom adaptation will ensure the beloved maintenance of traditional holidays such as Chuseok.
An, S. (2019, November 28). 천안시, 고속도로 휴게소 2곳 명칭 ‘특산물’ 반영. Chungcheong Herald. https://www.ccherald.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=14126