Korean Public Holidays
South Korea's public holidays for this year and next, including substitute holidays. Check lockers, pharmacies and shops if your trip falls on one.
2026 22 holidays (incl. substitute days)
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 | New Year's Day |
| Mon, Feb 16 | Seollal holiday (Lunar New Year) |
| Tue, Feb 17 | Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) |
| Wed, Feb 18 | Seollal holiday (Lunar New Year) |
| Sun, Mar 1 | Independence Movement Day |
| Mon, Mar 2 | Substitute holiday (Independence Movement Day) ↺ |
| Fri, May 1 | Labor Day |
| Tue, May 5 | Children's Day |
| Sun, May 24 | Buddha's Birthday |
| Mon, May 25 | Substitute holiday (Buddha's Birthday) ↺ |
| Wed, Jun 3 | Local Election Day |
| Sat, Jun 6 | Memorial Day |
| Fri, Jul 17 | Constitution Day |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Liberation Day |
| Mon, Aug 17 | Substitute holiday (Liberation Day) ↺ |
| Thu, Sep 24 | Chuseok holiday (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Fri, Sep 25 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Chuseok holiday (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Sat, Oct 3 | National Foundation Day |
| Mon, Oct 5 | Substitute holiday (National Foundation Day) ↺ |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Hangeul Day |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
2027 24 holidays (incl. substitute days)
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year's Day |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Seollal holiday (Lunar New Year) |
| Sun, Feb 7 | Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) |
| Mon, Feb 8 | Seollal holiday (Lunar New Year) |
| Tue, Feb 9 | Substitute holiday (Seollal) ↺ |
| Mon, Mar 1 | Independence Movement Day |
| Sat, May 1 | Labor Day |
| Mon, May 3 | Substitute holiday (Labor Day) ↺ |
| Wed, May 5 | Children's Day |
| Thu, May 13 | Buddha's Birthday |
| Sun, Jun 6 | Memorial Day |
| Sat, Jul 17 | Constitution Day |
| Mon, Jul 19 | Substitute holiday (Constitution Day) ↺ |
| Sun, Aug 15 | Liberation Day |
| Mon, Aug 16 | Substitute holiday (Liberation Day) ↺ |
| Tue, Sep 14 | Chuseok holiday (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Wed, Sep 15 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Thu, Sep 16 | Chuseok holiday (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Sun, Oct 3 | National Foundation Day |
| Mon, Oct 4 | Substitute holiday (National Foundation Day) ↺ |
| Sat, Oct 9 | Hangeul Day |
| Mon, Oct 11 | Substitute holiday (Hangeul Day) ↺ |
| Sat, Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
| Mon, Dec 27 | Substitute holiday (Christmas Day) ↺ |
↺ Substitute holiday: a day off given when a holiday falls on a weekend or another holiday
Good to know on holidays
- Subway station lockers are open until midnight on public holidays. Find lockers →
- Many pharmacies close on public holidays — check holiday opening hours first. Find pharmacies & ER →
- Banks are closed on public holidays. For currency exchange, check which exchange shops are open. Compare exchange rates →
- On Seollal and Chuseok many restaurants and shops close, and airports, trains and highways get crowded around the holidays.
Sources: Public Holidays Act and Regulations on Holidays of Government Offices (Presidential Decree No. 36290, effective 1 May 2026 — Labor Day and Constitution Day added), KASI lunar calendar. Checked 2026-10-01. Dates for 2027 are calculated from these rules; temporary holidays will be added when announced. Korean Law Information Center ↗