Millions of South Koreans are hitting the road for the Chusok holidays.

The annual exodus of home-bound travelers began early Friday, causing severe traffic jams on the nation's major highways and byways. Authorities predict more than 40 million Koreans will visit their homes during the five-day Chusok holiday period, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving in the U.S.

At Seoul Station, people overbundled with gifts boarded trains, including the KTX bullet train, until late into the night. This year marks the first Chuseok holiday since the high-speed train went into service in April.

This year's Chuseok falls on Monday through Wednesday, but the public will enjoy an extended five-day holiday as the traditional harvest festival follows the weekend.

On Chuseok, South Koreans hold memorial services for their ancestors, visit their grave sites and eat traditional food with family members.