It's going to be difficult to contact friends and family or do any business with Korea from today to next Sunday, as the country goes on a two-week hiatus for back-to-back holidays.

Korea Foundation Day is observed on Oct. 3 and Chuseok, Korea's equivalent of Thanksgiving, is celebrated Oct. 4 to 6. Most people will take off tomorrow to get a head start on the long holiday period.

It is very unusual to have the holidays in the same week, as it is this year. Usually celebrated in mid- or late-September, Chuseok this year falls in the first week of October. Flights out of Korea are booked solid for this period as people take advantage of the holiday break.

Tuesday marks Gae Cheon Juhl, or Korean Foundation Day. Korea was founded in 2333 B.C., more than 4,300 years ago, by the mythical god-king Tan-gun, who founded the Choson Kingdom in 2333 B.C.

Hwan-woong was God and ruler of Heaven. His son, Hwan-in, desired to live on earth so Hwan-woong sent Hwan-in — along with 3,000 companions such as the elements, wind, rain and cloud — to provide happiness to humans. They descended to the peak of mountain Taebaek, situated between North Korea and Manchuria. Hwan-in named and designated the area as Shinshi, or City of God. There, Hwan-in taught humans good, evil, ethics, morals, arts, agriculture and medicine.

On Foundation Day, Koreans hang the Korean flag, tae guk gi, at their residences.

Chuseok, also known as Harvest Moon Festival, Hangawi or Jungchujeol, is one of Korea's major holidays. Held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Chuseok dates back to the Silla era, around 50 B.C.

This holiday is so important that you often see it in Korean dramas. During Chuseok, network anchors do the news dressed in hanbok (traditional Korean dress). Families get together to celebrate the annual harvest and give thanks to ancestors for another year of good crops. There are Chuseok games, foods and customs.

During the three-day holiday, people are in a mad rush to get to the countryside or to the designated home for a get-together with extended family.

The celebration actually starts before the holiday. Women are busy buying food to prepare the traditional feast. Vendors are busy getting gifts for the shopping frenzy. Women take out of storage their favorite hanbok.

Mass transit jams throughout South Korea as people try to get to their hometowns. A trip that usually takes five hours will take as many as 20 hours.

Usually, the home of the first son in the family tree is where extended families gather.

On Chuseok morning, a feast is prepared (Charae). A large table is precisely set. For example, there are usually five rows of food set and the direction of the table is as important.

Family members, starting with the eldest son, take turns approaching the table and bowing in thanks to ancestors. There are many Christians in Korea and it is common to see Christian families practice this part of the Chuseok without the bowing. Next, the table is set for Chuseok breakfast.

One of the most common foods associated with Chuseok is songpyeon, a crescent-shaped rice cake. It is made with newly harvested rice flour that is kneaded into dumplings and stuffed with beans or sesame seeds. Songpyeon is cooked with pine needles to keep the rice cakes from sticking to each other and to give off a great scent. Women often say that a woman who makes pretty songpyeon will have a beautiful daughter. Looking at the beautiful Korean women on TV these days, it seems everyone has mastered the art of making songpyeon. In truth, now that many women work, they buy their songpyeon.

Chuseok is a reminder that families are connected and respect for one another is a bond that passes from generation to generation. Chuseok emphasize the importance of family.

Jeff Chung is the general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, contact him at 521-8066 or jeff chung@kbfd.com.

MICHILL WANTS TO BREAK UP ON 'SISTERS'

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 23 AND 24

Tonight at 7: Dukchill's things are delivered to Yang-pal's house, but she never shows up. Meanwhile, Dukchill is at an employment agency trying to find a job. Soopyo finds out Ilhan took out a loan to help Michill.

Tonight at 8: Hanam sees Seolchill drinking and agonizing over Ilhan, and confesses his love for her. Upset over Soopyo's visit, Michill returns the money to Ilhan and tells him she wants to break up with him.

'PLEASE COME BACK, SOON-AE'

EPISODES 11 AND 12

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: When Il-seok's mother is upset over Cho-eun trying to buy food for Il-seok's father's memorial service, Cho-eun and Il-seok ask Soon-ae to help make the food. Soon-ae goes to their home disguised as a maid.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Jae-woong can't forgive Cho-eun for having an affair with a married man. Chan can't accept that Soon-ae is his mom. When Chan refuses to come home from the police station, Il-seok asks Cho-eun to come back to his place and act like Soon-ae.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 51 AND 52

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: When Mother finds Mi-ja at Tae-joon's apartment, she tells them to break up. Hong-jo's mother warms up to Sun-hee.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Mi-ja finds out Tae-joon's mother revealed her bogus pregnancy. Sun-hee's mother-in-law takes her side on the issue of her bad leg. Mi-ja's movie gets terrible reviews.

'IRELAND'

EPISODES 3 AND 4

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Kang-gook goes on a TV program to find Jung-ah's biological parents. Bu-ja sees the program and believes she's found the daughter she gave up for adoption.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Si-yeon prepares Jae-bok's birthday dinner, and promises to buy him a motorcycle. Kang-gook meets with Bu-ja.