Three dramas for a very Korean Chuseok

Chuseok, one of South Korea's most important national holidays, is right around the corner.

Often called Korean Thanksgiving, this four-day celebration is traditionally spent celebrating abundance and honoring ancestors. Yet behind the idyllic images of warm family reunions and delicious shared meals lies a more complex reality often marked by underlying family tensions and heavy domestic burdens placed on women.

For those unfamiliar with these cultural layers, here are some K-dramas that capture both the warmth and the complicated dynamics of Chuseok and may help you understand this uniquely Korean experience.

TvN's "Reply" franchise easily tops the list of shows guaranteed a prime spot on Korean television during Chuseok. This family-centric series embodies the true heart of the holiday: family, homecoming, and jeong, the Korean word for an unspoken bond of warmth, affection and mutual attachment.

Spanning three installments, "Reply 1997," "Reply 1994," and "Reply 1988," the franchise follows tight-knit groups of friends and their families across different eras, capturing Korean life from the late 1980s through the late 1990s.

For anyone curious about what truly shapes Chuseok, the series offers a compelling window into the timeless customs and evolving social dynamics that define the Korean soul.

Cultural importance aside, the series is also simply delightful to watch, making it the perfect holiday binge. Part of the fun is spotting now-A-list actors in their breakout roles. A prime example is "Reply 1988," the most critically acclaimed entry, which showcases future megastars like Park Bo-gum and Ryu Jun-yeol as young childhood friends growing up in a cozy Seoul neighborhood long before they became global household names.

Chuseok is about far more than ancestral rites or a festive feast; it is about gathering multiple generations under one roof, navigating dynamic personalities and conflicting expectations, and, above all, sharing meals as a family.

Few shows capture this spirit better than this legendary sitcom. Centered on a single household and the eccentric lives connected to it, the series goes beyond depicting holiday traditions to bring the true heart of holiday to life. With its signature humor, it blends the affection, obligation, bickering and togetherness that define the Korean holiday experience.

Step into the chaotic, endearing world of the Lee Soon-jae family as they embody everything Chuseok is meant to celebrate: homecoming, bonding, abundant food and familial love.

While the first two recommendations celebrate the warmth of Chuseok, "No, Thank You" takes a different approach. This Kakao TV original tackles a topic many are hesitant to discuss openly: the grueling domestic labor demanded of women during the holidays.

The series follows Min Sa-rin (Park Ha-sun), a newly married daughter-in-law striving to meet the heavy expectations of her in-laws. Since family gatherings often magnify these tensions, Chuseok becomes the ultimate hurdle for her -- a reality captured vividly in an episode dedicated entirely to the holiday.

By offering an unvarnished look at Sa-rin’s struggle against patriarchal norms and the unequal burdens of holiday prep, "No, Thank You" exposes the invisible sacrifices that keep traditional gatherings running — presenting a sharp reflection of what many modern Korean women experience today.