FORMAX
It’s Korea’s Biggest Holiday, Which Means… Rest Area!
September 17, 2021
From September 20th to 22nd is this year’s Chuseok (literally “fall evening” in Korea), one of the largest holidays in South Korea. Similar to Thanksgiving, Chuseok originated from celebrating harvest in the fall, and comes back every 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Because families gather and spend time together on this three-day holiday, it is one of the times in Korea when the road congestion is the heaviest. To give you a glimpse, it would take 10 hours or even more to go from Seoul to Busan by car, when it would take around 4.5 hours at normal times. So for tired drivers to take a break, there are lots of rest areas in South Korea. Ironically, because the tired and weary drivers on the road all try to take a stop at rest areas, they can be some of the spots that have the worst traffic jam.
What did you think the building in the first image of the post when you first saw it? Surprisingly, yes, it’s a rest area in Korea. In South Korea, rest areas are more than just a quick stop to take care of your urgent necessities while driving. Not to mention a gas/ev charging station, restrooms, and a convenience store, rest areas, called “hyugeso (휴게소)” in Korea are kind of like shopping malls where there are coffee shops, franchise restaurants, a food court, and sometimes even clothing stores or a place to take a nap. The rest stops with the highest sales per year range from over 15 million to over 40 million in USD. Of course, not all rest areas are as large, but there are certain things that come to your mind when you think of hyugeso. We introduce to you some of the famous rest areas in Korea.
1. Deokpyeong Eco-Service Area
Located in Icheon-si, on Yeongdong Expressway, which starts from Incheon to Gangneung in Gangwon province, this is one of the largest hyugeso in South Korea that has been boasting the highest annual sale for recent years. Like the name suggests, there are places like a forest road and a park where you can enjoy the nature. Many movies and TV dramas have been shot here.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
2. Haengdam Island Service Area
This is another popular, large-scale rest area, located on Seohaean Expressway, which connects Seoul and Jeolla province. It is also the only rest area to be on an island. There is an observatory where you can watch the famous sunset view, and right next to it is a premium outlet, where you can enjoy shopping. It has established itself as one of the landmarks to stop by when taking a trip to Seohae, which is the “West Sea” in South Korea.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
3. Naerincheon Service Area
This is the hyugeso that was in the first image. Located in Inje County, on Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, it was opened very recently (2017) compared to other service areas. Whereas Haengdam Island Service Area is famous for the ocean view, here you can watch the grandeur mountain view of Gangwon province. It has not only a sleek exterior, but also a modern interior that reminds you of a fancy hall.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
Due to the space limit, we’ve only shown you a very few service areas. Other popular service areas include Anseong Service Area on Gyeongbu Expressway headed to Busan, Cheonan Service Area, and Chilgok Service Area.
You can’t miss out on snacks when stopping at Korea’s service areas. There are snacks sold on the front of the building, which kind of reminds you of a ticket box office. These are snacks that just immediately come to Koreans’ mind as “hyugeso snack”. There are so many that I had a hard time choosing from, but these are the solid ones that any other Korean would agree with. If you have a chance to stop by a service area when you’re in Korea, you must try these!
1. So-tteok so-tteok
Also a popular street food, it first gained huge popularity after a Korean TV-show when a famous comedian was aired eating this at Anseong Service Area. It is a skeward consisting of mini sausages (“so”) and “tteok” (a type of Korean rice cake) sticked alternately, with sauce sprayed on the front.
2. Hodu-gwaja
These are the classic, most representative Korean snack loved all across the country for a long time. Shaped like a walnut, the shell is made from dough that contains walnuts, and the inside is filled with red bean paste and a walnut. It originated in Cheonan, and was first popularized as a train snack.
3. Hatba (Hot bar)
The name is literally “hot bar” read in a Korean way. Also a skewers type of snack, this is usually made from fish cake but comes in lots of variations. Because it is deep fried and also often contains cheese, little bits of sausage, sweet corns and more, it is especially loved by kids. You’ll always see someone walking around holding this at a hyugeso.
4. Algamja
‘Algamja’ literally means ‘egg potato’, because the potatoes are shaped like small round eggs. They are also commonly referred to as “Tong-gamja,’ meaning “whole potato”. These are potatoes with butter and salt sprayed on top offered in a big paper cup. They may seem the most plain of all, but definitely one of the popular classics that everybody loves!
5. Kkwabaegi (Twisted doughnut)
Its name derives from the Korean verb for “twist”. Like many other countries, Koreans also love pastries and doughnuts, but these are the classic ones that the older generations love. Soft and chewy, the sprinkled sugar is the cherry on top.
Other popular snacks include fried sweet potato sticks, manjoo, and grilled squid.
What are rest areas like in your country? Are they a lot different, or are they similar? Are there any popular “rest area snacks” that you must have when you stop by? Let us know and share in the comments! Happy Chuseok, everyone!
What did you think the building in the first image of the post when you first saw it? Surprisingly, yes, it’s a rest area in Korea. In South Korea, rest areas are more than just a quick stop to take care of your urgent necessities while driving. Not to mention a gas/ev charging station, restrooms, and a convenience store, rest areas, called “hyugeso (휴게소)” in Korea are kind of like shopping malls where there are coffee shops, franchise restaurants, a food court, and sometimes even clothing stores or a place to take a nap. The rest stops with the highest sales per year range from over 15 million to over 40 million in USD. Of course, not all rest areas are as large, but there are certain things that come to your mind when you think of hyugeso. We introduce to you some of the famous rest areas in Korea.
1. Deokpyeong Eco-Service Area
Located in Icheon-si, on Yeongdong Expressway, which starts from Incheon to Gangneung in Gangwon province, this is one of the largest hyugeso in South Korea that has been boasting the highest annual sale for recent years. Like the name suggests, there are places like a forest road and a park where you can enjoy the nature. Many movies and TV dramas have been shot here.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
2. Haengdam Island Service Area
This is another popular, large-scale rest area, located on Seohaean Expressway, which connects Seoul and Jeolla province. It is also the only rest area to be on an island. There is an observatory where you can watch the famous sunset view, and right next to it is a premium outlet, where you can enjoy shopping. It has established itself as one of the landmarks to stop by when taking a trip to Seohae, which is the “West Sea” in South Korea.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
3. Naerincheon Service Area
This is the hyugeso that was in the first image. Located in Inje County, on Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, it was opened very recently (2017) compared to other service areas. Whereas Haengdam Island Service Area is famous for the ocean view, here you can watch the grandeur mountain view of Gangwon province. It has not only a sleek exterior, but also a modern interior that reminds you of a fancy hall.
Photo from the official blog of Korea Tourism Organization: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/
Due to the space limit, we’ve only shown you a very few service areas. Other popular service areas include Anseong Service Area on Gyeongbu Expressway headed to Busan, Cheonan Service Area, and Chilgok Service Area.
You can’t miss out on snacks when stopping at Korea’s service areas. There are snacks sold on the front of the building, which kind of reminds you of a ticket box office. These are snacks that just immediately come to Koreans’ mind as “hyugeso snack”. There are so many that I had a hard time choosing from, but these are the solid ones that any other Korean would agree with. If you have a chance to stop by a service area when you’re in Korea, you must try these!
1. So-tteok so-tteok
Also a popular street food, it first gained huge popularity after a Korean TV-show when a famous comedian was aired eating this at Anseong Service Area. It is a skeward consisting of mini sausages (“so”) and “tteok” (a type of Korean rice cake) sticked alternately, with sauce sprayed on the front.
2. Hodu-gwaja
These are the classic, most representative Korean snack loved all across the country for a long time. Shaped like a walnut, the shell is made from dough that contains walnuts, and the inside is filled with red bean paste and a walnut. It originated in Cheonan, and was first popularized as a train snack.
3. Hatba (Hot bar)
The name is literally “hot bar” read in a Korean way. Also a skewers type of snack, this is usually made from fish cake but comes in lots of variations. Because it is deep fried and also often contains cheese, little bits of sausage, sweet corns and more, it is especially loved by kids. You’ll always see someone walking around holding this at a hyugeso.
4. Algamja
‘Algamja’ literally means ‘egg potato’, because the potatoes are shaped like small round eggs. They are also commonly referred to as “Tong-gamja,’ meaning “whole potato”. These are potatoes with butter and salt sprayed on top offered in a big paper cup. They may seem the most plain of all, but definitely one of the popular classics that everybody loves!
5. Kkwabaegi (Twisted doughnut)
Its name derives from the Korean verb for “twist”. Like many other countries, Koreans also love pastries and doughnuts, but these are the classic ones that the older generations love. Soft and chewy, the sprinkled sugar is the cherry on top.
Other popular snacks include fried sweet potato sticks, manjoo, and grilled squid.
What are rest areas like in your country? Are they a lot different, or are they similar? Are there any popular “rest area snacks” that you must have when you stop by? Let us know and share in the comments! Happy Chuseok, everyone!
