Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hometown Return" in Korean
“Hometown Return” in Korean is 귀성 (pronounced "gwiseong").
귀성
gwiseong
Usage & Context
귀성 is the massive migration of Koreans returning to their hometowns for 설날 and 추석 holidays. The 귀성 rush is one of the largest human migrations in Asia with tens of millions traveling simultaneously. Korean transportation authorities add extra trains and buses during 귀성 season but tickets still sell out within minutes of release.
Example Sentence
설날 귀성 기차표를 미리 예매해 뒀어요.
I booked the Seollal hometown return train ticket in advance.
How to use 귀성 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hometown Return” is 귀성, romanized as gwiseong.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 귀성.
Pronunciation Guide
"Gwi" sounds like "gwee" (as in "queen" without the 'n'). "Seong" is like "sung" (as in "song" but with a softer 'o' sound, closer to "uhng"). The stress is on "gwi".
More Example Sentences
Recounting a difficult holiday journey.
설날 귀성길이 너무 막혀서 힘들었어요.
The Seollal journey back home was so jammed, it was tough.
Describing a busy train station during holidays.
귀성객들로 기차역이 북적였어요.
The train station was bustling with people returning home.
Asking about the timing of holiday travel.
이번 추석 귀성은 언제쯤 시작될까요?
When do you think this Chuseok hometown return rush will start?
Cultural Context
귀성 specifically refers to the mass exodus of people returning to their hometowns for major holidays like Seollal and Chuseok. This phenomenon is a defining characteristic of these holidays, leading to severe traffic jams on highways and fully booked trains and buses. It's a time when families reunite, often traveling long distances to perform ancestral rites and share meals. The term "귀성길" (gwiseong-gil) is commonly used to describe the journey itself, often implying the challenges of holiday travel.
Editorial note
We review entries like 귀성 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
귀성길
the road/journey back home
귀성 전쟁
"hometown return war" (referring to the struggle for tickets/traffic)
귀성객
people returning to their hometowns
Related Expressions
귀경
gwigyeong
return to Seoul/capital (the return journey after 귀성)
역귀성
yeokgwiseong
reverse hometown return (parents traveling to children's homes)
고향
gohyang
hometown
명절
myeongjeol
traditional holiday
More Holidays & Festivals Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Hometown Return and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
