Korea has around 17 public holiday dates a year, plus substitute holidays when some of them fall on a weekend. The two big ones, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest festival), are three-day holidays that follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move every year. From 2026, Labor Day (1 May) and Constitution Day (17 July) are public holidays again.
Key facts
| Biggest holidays | Seollal (설날) and Chuseok (추석), 3 days each |
| New from 2026 | Labor Day (노동절, 1 May) and Constitution Day (제헌절, 17 July) |
| Substitute holidays | The next weekday off when certain holidays fall on a weekend or another holiday |
| Private employers | Workplaces with 5 or more employees must give public holidays as paid days off |
| Holiday work pay | At least 150% of normal wage for up to 8 hours, 200% beyond 8 hours |
2026 public holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thu | New Year’s Day (신정) |
| 16 to 18 February | Mon to Wed | Seollal (설날), Lunar New Year |
| 1 March | Sun | Independence Movement Day (3·1절) |
| 2 March | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 1 May | Fri | Labor Day (노동절) |
| 5 May | Tue | Children’s Day (어린이날) |
| 24 May | Sun | Buddha’s Birthday (부처님오신날) |
| 25 May | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 3 June | Wed | Local election day (지방선거) |
| 6 June | Sat | Memorial Day (현충일), no substitute |
| 17 July | Fri | Constitution Day (제헌절) |
| 15 August | Sat | Liberation Day (광복절) |
| 17 August | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 24 to 26 September | Thu to Sat | Chuseok (추석) |
| 3 October | Sat | National Foundation Day (개천절) |
| 5 October | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 9 October | Fri | Hangul Day (한글날) |
| 25 December | Fri | Christmas (기독탄신일) |
2027 public holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Fri | New Year’s Day |
| 6 to 8 February | Sat to Mon | Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day is Sun 7 Feb) |
| 9 February | Tue | Substitute holiday |
| 1 March | Mon | Independence Movement Day |
| 1 May | Sat | Labor Day |
| 3 May | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 5 May | Wed | Children’s Day |
| 13 May | Thu | Buddha’s Birthday |
| 6 June | Sun | Memorial Day, no substitute |
| 17 July | Sat | Constitution Day |
| 19 July | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 15 August | Sun | Liberation Day |
| 16 August | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 14 to 16 September | Tue to Thu | Chuseok |
| 3 October | Sun | National Foundation Day |
| 4 October | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 9 October | Sat | Hangul Day |
| 11 October | Mon | Substitute holiday |
| 25 December | Sat | Christmas |
| 27 December | Mon | Substitute holiday |
The government can also declare a one-off temporary holiday (임시공휴일), usually announced a few weeks ahead. Check the news before booking time off.
How substitute holidays work
- Seollal, Chuseok: a substitute day is added only if a holiday day falls on a Sunday or on another holiday. A Saturday does not count, which is why Chuseok 2026 (Thursday to Saturday) has no substitute.
- National days, Children’s Day, Buddha’s Birthday, Christmas, Labor Day, Constitution Day: a substitute is added if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
- New Year’s Day and Memorial Day: no substitute.
Do foreign workers get these days off?
Under the Labor Standards Act, employers with 5 or more employees must give all public holidays, including substitute holidays and election days, as paid days off. This applies to foreign workers in the same way. If you work on a holiday, you are owed holiday pay of at least 150% (200% for hours beyond 8). Employers with fewer than 5 employees do not have to follow the holiday rule, though Labor Day has long been a paid day off for all employees. See Labor Law Basics and the annual leave guide.
What happens on each holiday
Seollal (설날). Families gather, often at the oldest son’s home. Many hold an ancestral rite (차례) in the morning, then younger people bow deeply to elders (세배) and receive New Year money (세뱃돈). Everyone eats rice cake soup (떡국). Greeting: “새해 복 많이 받으세요.” Roads and trains are packed on the days before and after.
Chuseok (추석). The harvest festival on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Families visit ancestral graves (성묘), hold ancestral rites and make half-moon rice cakes (송편). Gift sets of fruit, meat, oil or spam are exchanged, and many employers give a bonus or gift. Greeting: “즐거운 추석 보내세요.”
Independence Movement Day (3·1절). Marks the 1919 independence protests against Japanese rule. National flags (태극기) are hung and ceremonies held.
Labor Day (노동절). Formerly “Workers’ Day” (근로자의 날) and a paid day off only for private employees. From 2026 it is a full public holiday, including for public servants and teachers.
Children’s Day (어린이날). Parents take children to parks, zoos and amusement parks, which are very crowded. Parents’ Day (8 May) and Teachers’ Day (15 May) follow but are not days off.
Buddha’s Birthday (부처님오신날). Temples hang colorful lanterns and many offer free meals to visitors. The Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul is held around this time; see the festival calendar.
Memorial Day (현충일). Honors those who died for the country. At 10:00 a siren sounds for one minute of silence, and flags are flown at half-mast.
Constitution Day (제헌절). Marks the first constitution in 1948. It was a working day from 2008 to 2025 and became a holiday again in 2026.
Liberation Day (광복절). Celebrates liberation from Japanese rule in 1945. Flags are displayed and many museums hold events.
National Foundation Day (개천절) and Hangul Day (한글날). The mythical founding of Korea and the creation of the Korean alphabet. Both come in October, often creating long weekends.
Christmas. A public holiday, but more of a couples’ and friends’ day than a family one. Restaurants are booked out.
Practical tips for holidays
- Trains: Seollal and Chuseok train tickets go on a special advance sale and sell out fast. Book the day sales open on Korail or SRT.
- Offices: government offices, immigration offices and banks close. Plan visa and bank errands around the holidays.
- Shops and clinics: many small shops and clinics close on Seollal and Chuseok day itself. Find holiday clinics and pharmacies on e-gen.or.kr or by calling 129. Large supermarkets and convenience stores usually stay open.
- Deliveries: parcel services pause around Seollal and Chuseok, so order early.
Common questions
Do I need to give gifts at Chuseok?
Not as a foreigner, but a small gift to a landlord, mentor or Korean in-laws is appreciated.
Are election days always holidays?
Days of regular national and local elections are public holidays. The next scheduled one after 3 June 2026 is the parliamentary election in April 2028.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.