Only half of workers get five days off for Chuseok

Although Chuseok lasts for five days this year, only half of Korean office workers are taking all five days off, a poll showed Friday.

In a survey of 1,006 office workers by job information portal Saramin, 52.6 percent said they are taking off the five days from Wednesday to Sunday, followed by 17.3 percent taking just three days off and 7.1 percent who are off for four days.

About six percent said they were not planning to rest even one day during Korea’s largest traditional holiday period.

The length of time off varied according to company size. Employees at large companies get an average of five days, whereas those at small and medium-size counterparts get an average four days off.

When asked if they planned to visit their parents’ home, 62.7 percent answered yes. Of them, 74.8 percent were married, compared to 57.2 percent comprising mostly singles.

Some 43 percent of respondents said they would visit their parents’ homes on Wednesday, the first day of the break, followed by 27.7 percent visiting on Tuesday. On Thursday, the actual day of Chuseok, 19.5 percent will visit their parents’ home.

One quarter of poll participants will return to their own home the same day, and 23.1 percent will return Friday.

BY SONG KYOUNG-SON [song.kyoungson@joongang.co.kr]