Celebrating American Thanksgiving 2025 in Korea: Stay Closer to Home With This Planning Guide!
- lewishooper1
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Expat celebrations. Finding community dinners and weekend potlucks. We have all the details and events that are happening this Thanksgiving that will bring you closer to home!
The Thanksgiving Feast
One of the biggest parts of celebrating Thanksgiving aside from spending time with family and loved ones, is the food! This year, Thanksgiving will fall on a November 26, a Thursday, so since it's a work day in Korea, you will need to decide if you want to wine and dine out, or whether to cook a feast at home!
Dining out
Dining out is of course the easiest option, however it can come at a price. Many high end international hotels in Seoul will offer Thanksgiving options or at least Western style menus. Especially in large expat communities such as Gangnam and Itaewon.
Living on a military base? Then The Dragon Hill Lodge on the US Army Garrison Yongsan is known for hosting Thanksgiving buffets and meals to go, which during special times of the year are sometimes accessible to non-military personnel, however you will need to check the base rules at the time for more information, but this could be a great option if you are after that traditional Thanksgiving feast fix.
Cooking at home
Cooking at home is for the most part one of the most cost effective ways to enjoy Thanksgiving, however finding a turkey in Korea is the most challenging part, since they are not readily available.
Stores such as Costco might stock some, or perhaps some larger department stores around the holiday season, however it is best to check with them directly.
Delivery services such as Fuel Weekly have been known to offer Thanksgiving meal kits or pre-order turkey deliveries, though it is best to pre-order in advance.
Common ingredients as this time of year such as potatoes and carrots are easily available for a great price at local Korean markets. Though, as you may already know if you are living off base in a Korean home then most Korean homes do not have ovens, and instead a hob, so you will need to plan in advance if the stress of cooking a Thanksgiving meal at home is the best option for you.
Community & Informal Gatherings
Since this year's American Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, many social groups opt to host celebrations on the surrounding weekend. The easiest way to find these "Friendsgiving" events is through online expat social groups on platforms like Facebook, such as "Seoul Expats" or "Americans in Korea", where potluck-style dinners are usually organized during this festive time of year.
International churches in major Korean cities often host large, communal Thanksgiving dinners that are subsidized or free for their local expats. Even, university and school groups may arrange Thanksgiving meals specifically for their foreign students and staff who cannot travel home for the holiday.
How will you be spending Thanksgiving this year? Let the Dojeon team know in the comments below!