시대에 따라 달라지는 추석 풍경... 2020년은?<br /><br />The Korean thanksgiving, Chuseok dates back centuries.<br />So you can imagine, how this traditional holiday has changed drastically over time. To check out the more recent modifications, let's turn to our Kim Yeon-seung.<br />Despite the hardships after the Korean War in the 1950s, people still put in the extra effort to make Chuseok special.<br />They bought fresh produce from markets to prepare traditional Chuseok dishes and dressed their children in their best clothes.<br />People also gathered at movie theaters, looking for entertainment.<br />In the 70s, people flocked to the capital city thanks to rapid industrialization and urbanization.<br />This was when Chuseok became the time of year when people rushed back to their hometowns to see family and follow ancestral traditions.<br />Seoul Station would be packed with people making this journey.<br />In the 90s, as car ownership in Korea skyrocketed, Chuseok became known as the 'mass migration period,' with almost half of the country's population hitting the road to visit their hometowns.<br />While this may look like a parking lot, it's actually a stretch of highway in 1992, jammed with cars all hoping to make it home in time for the holiday.<br />In the 21st century, people started heading further afield during Chuseok.<br />With overseas travel becoming more commonplace and with the Chuseok holiday being extended to five days, people often traveled abroad with family.<br />This year, things will be different once again.<br />The government has put down heavy restrictions on traveling, in fear of coronavirus outbreaks.<br />So rather than visiting relatives or flying abroad, people are using online platforms to carry out Chuseok traditions from the comfort of their homes.<br />Memorial parks are launching services that allow users to virtually follow the ancestral ritual,... without the risk of spreading the virus.<br />In just a few decades, Chuseok has gone through several transformations, but if there's one thing time won't change,... it's that Chuseok is a time for family and warmth.<br />Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News<br />
