12 hours from Seoul to Busan: Chuseok in the 1990s

Ahead of Chuseok, the nation's greatest traditional holiday, the journey to one's hometown is always a mix of excitement and exhaustion. KBS news footage documenting the 1990s vividly shows the holiday travel scenes of that era—scenes that are quite different from today, yet still strikingly similar.

"Stopped Highways"... Endless Lines of Vehicles and Traffic Wars

In the mid-1990s, highways were nothing short of a "traffic war." According to the recorded footage, the Gyeongbu Expressway was a sea of lights due to the endless procession of travelers heading home. Helicopter footage captured vehicles leaving Seoul crawling at a snail's pace, completely filling four-lane roads. In some sections, the congestion was so severe that people were seen getting out of their cars to rest or making space in the back of cargo trucks to move along.

Those visiting ancestral graves were also busy. To avoid the traffic chaos, some people left for their grave visits about ten days before Chuseok. In an interview within the footage, one visitor explained the reason for moving early, saying, "Last year was so congested that I decided to go a bit early this year." Roads near memorial parks on the outskirts of Seoul also experienced extreme congestion as vehicles visiting graves mixed with those traveling for leisure.

"40,000 Won for a Box of Apples"... Soaring Prices of Ritual Foods and Holiday Burdens

The cost of groceries ahead of the holiday was also a major topic of discussion. Looking at records from September 1993, agricultural prices surged leading up to Chuseok. Due to wholesalers adjusting supply, the prices of fruits like apples had risen by about 30% to 40% compared to the beginning of the month. The footage reported situations where it became difficult to even find a single box of commercial apples even when paying 40,000 won.

The burden of preparing ritual food supplies was also evident. As of 1993, the cost for a family of four to set a memorial service table was projected to reach 104,000 won, an 8% increase from the previous year. Prices for seafood also rose, centered around croaker, adding to the worries of those preparing for the holiday.

From Ticket Wars to Carpooling: Changing Holiday Customs

The battle to secure Chuseok train tickets was also fierce. In the past, it was common to see people waiting for reservations by spending the night in station plazas with mats and sleeping bags. However, after the mid-1990s, as the dedicated bus lane system on highways was implemented and staggered reservation systems became established, crowds no longer gathered in the plazas as intensely as before.

Meanwhile, there were social movements to share the holiday spirit. The "Carpooling Movement for the Journey Home" began in 1989 and saw a significant increase in participants during the 1990s. Conducted with the intention of sharing warmth by traveling with fellow hometown residents rather than driving alone, this movement serves as a testament to the changing consciousness of citizens at the time.