Korean Public Holidays

Every date for 2026 and 2027, including substitute holidays — plus what actually closes, which is the part travel guides skip.

Long weekends & holiday breaks in 2026

Consecutive days off including weekends — when Koreans travel, and when prices spike.

Feb 14, 2026 – Feb 18, 20265 daysSeollalhotels →
Feb 28, 2026 – Mar 2, 20263 daysIndependence Movement Dayhotels →
May 23, 2026 – May 25, 20263 daysBuddha's Birthdayhotels →
Jul 17, 2026 – Jul 19, 20263 daysConstitution Dayhotels →
Aug 15, 2026 – Aug 17, 20263 daysLiberation Dayhotels →
Sep 24, 2026 – Sep 27, 20264 daysChuseokhotels →
Oct 3, 2026 – Oct 5, 20263 daysNational Foundation Dayhotels →
Oct 9, 2026 – Oct 11, 20263 daysHangeul Dayhotels →
Dec 25, 2026 – Dec 27, 20263 daysChristmas Dayhotels →

All public holidays in 2026

Jan 1, 2026ThuNew Year's Day신정Busy
Feb 16, 2026MonSeollal설날 연휴Major closures
Feb 17, 2026TueSeollal설날Major closures
Feb 18, 2026WedSeollal설날 연휴Major closures
Mar 1, 2026SunIndependence Movement Day삼일절Mostly normal
Mar 2, 2026MonIndependence Movement Day (substitute)대체공휴일 (삼일절)substituteMostly normal
May 5, 2026TueChildren's Day어린이날Busy
May 24, 2026SunBuddha's Birthday부처님오신날Mostly normal
May 25, 2026MonBuddha's Birthday (substitute)대체공휴일 (부처님오신날)substituteMostly normal
Jun 3, 2026WedLocal Election Day지방선거일Mostly normal
Jun 6, 2026SatMemorial Day현충일Mostly normal
Jul 17, 2026FriConstitution Day제헌절Mostly normal
Aug 15, 2026SatLiberation Day광복절Mostly normal
Aug 17, 2026MonLiberation Day (substitute)대체공휴일 (광복절)substituteMostly normal
Sep 24, 2026ThuChuseok추석 연휴Major closures
Sep 25, 2026FriChuseok추석Major closures
Sep 26, 2026SatChuseok추석 연휴Major closures
Oct 3, 2026SatNational Foundation Day개천절Mostly normal
Oct 5, 2026MonNational Foundation Day (substitute)대체공휴일 (개천절)substituteMostly normal
Oct 9, 2026FriHangeul Day한글날Mostly normal
Dec 25, 2026FriChristmas Day성탄절Busy

If your trip overlaps Seollal or Chuseok

These two are not ordinary holidays. Millions of Koreans travel to their hometowns, intercity trains and buses sell out weeks ahead, and a large share of small restaurants and shops simply close for three days. Palaces and major museums usually stay open (and are often free), but plan on department stores and neighbourhood businesses being shut.

Check hotel availability for those dates

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Why Korean holiday dates move every year

Three of Korea's holidays follow the lunar calendar: Seollal (lunar new year), Buddha's Birthday (lunar 4/8) and Chuseok (lunar 8/15). Their Gregorian dates shift by weeks from year to year — Chuseok fell in late September in 2026 but lands in mid-September in 2027. This is why a holiday list copied from an old blog post is worse than useless.

The other moving piece is the substitute holidaysystem. Korea doesn't want holidays swallowed by weekends, so eligible ones roll forward to the next working day. That is why a single holiday on a Saturday can turn into a three-day weekend — and why the total number of days off differs each year.

Two things foreign calendars commonly get wrong, and which the table above handles: Memorial Day gets no substitute holiday even when it falls on a Sunday, and Constitution Day became a public holiday again in 2026 after eighteen years as a working day.

Planning around these dates? Budget your trip →

FAQ

What is a substitute holiday (대체공휴일)?
If certain holidays land on a weekend, the next working day becomes a day off instead. It applies to Seollal, Chuseok, Children's Day, Independence Movement Day, Buddha's Birthday, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, Christmas and — since 2026 — Constitution Day. It does not apply to New Year's Day or Memorial Day.
Is Constitution Day a holiday again?
Yes. July 17 was dropped as a day off in 2008 and restored by presidential decree in 2026, with substitute-holiday rules attached. Many international holiday calendars still list it as a normal working day, so double-check anything you read elsewhere.
Does everything close during Chuseok and Seollal?
Not everything, but enough to matter. Small restaurants, neighbourhood shops and many businesses close for the three-day period, and intercity transport sells out weeks in advance. Palaces, major museums and large tourist attractions generally stay open — several are free on those days.
Are shops closed on other Korean holidays?
Mostly no. Outside Seollal and Chuseok, Korean holidays work like a Sunday: department stores, cafés, convenience stores and attractions run normally, and it's actually a good day to be a tourist. Banks and government offices close.