Public holidays
South Korea: 22 public holiday dates in 2026 (22 days off) and 24 in 2027 (24 days off), with 245 working days in 2026 and 246 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Monday 16 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | The day preceding Korean New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 17 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Korean New Year | Yes |
| Wednesday 18 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | The second day of Korean New Year | Yes |
| Sunday 1 March 2026 | 2026-W09 | Independence Movement Day | Yes |
| Monday 2 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | Alternative holiday for Independence Movement Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 24 May 2026 | 2026-W21 | Buddha's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Alternative holiday for Buddha's Birthday | Yes |
| Wednesday 3 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Local Election Day | Yes |
| Saturday 6 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Memorial Day | Yes |
| Friday 17 July 2026 | 2026-W29 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Saturday 15 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Liberation Day | Yes |
| Monday 17 August 2026 | 2026-W34 | Alternative holiday for Liberation Day | Yes |
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | The day preceding Chuseok | Yes |
| Friday 25 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | Chuseok | Yes |
| Saturday 26 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | The second day of Chuseok | Yes |
| Saturday 3 October 2026 | 2026-W40 | National Foundation Day | Yes |
| Monday 5 October 2026 | 2026-W41 | Alternative holiday for National Foundation Day | Yes |
| Friday 9 October 2026 | 2026-W41 | Hangul Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 6 February 2027 | 2027-W05 | The day preceding Korean New Year | Yes |
| Sunday 7 February 2027 | 2027-W05 | Korean New Year | Yes |
| Monday 8 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | The second day of Korean New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | Alternative holiday for Korean New Year | Yes |
| Monday 1 March 2027 | 2027-W09 | Independence Movement Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Alternative holiday for Labor Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 5 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 13 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Buddha's Birthday | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Memorial Day | Yes |
| Saturday 17 July 2027 | 2027-W28 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 19 July 2027 | 2027-W29 | Alternative holiday for Constitution Day | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Liberation Day | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Alternative holiday for Liberation Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 14 September 2027 | 2027-W37 | The day preceding Chuseok | Yes |
| Wednesday 15 September 2027 | 2027-W37 | Chuseok | Yes |
| Thursday 16 September 2027 | 2027-W37 | The second day of Chuseok | Yes |
| Sunday 3 October 2027 | 2027-W39 | National Foundation Day | Yes |
| Monday 4 October 2027 | 2027-W40 | Alternative holiday for National Foundation Day | Yes |
| Saturday 9 October 2027 | 2027-W40 | Hangul Day | Yes |
| Monday 11 October 2027 | 2027-W41 | Alternative holiday for Hangul Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Alternative holiday for Christmas Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha's Birthday | Sunday 24 May 2026 | Thursday 13 May 2027 | −11 days |
| The day preceding Korean New Year | Monday 16 February 2026 | Saturday 6 February 2027 | −10 days |
| Korean New Year | Tuesday 17 February 2026 | Sunday 7 February 2027 | −10 days |
| The second day of Korean New Year | Wednesday 18 February 2026 | Monday 8 February 2027 | −10 days |
| The day preceding Chuseok | Thursday 24 September 2026 | Tuesday 14 September 2027 | −10 days |
| Chuseok | Friday 25 September 2026 | Wednesday 15 September 2027 | −10 days |
| The second day of Chuseok | Saturday 26 September 2026 | Thursday 16 September 2027 | −10 days |
| Alternative holiday for Liberation Day | Monday 17 August 2026 | Monday 16 August 2027 | −1 day |
| Alternative holiday for National Foundation Day | Monday 5 October 2026 | Monday 4 October 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 17 | 18 | +1 |
| March | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| October | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Q1 | 59 | 60 | +1 |
| Q2 | 61 | 62 | +1 |
| Q3 | 62 | 61 | −1 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Year | 245 | 246 | +1 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
Seollal, Korean New Year, is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar and one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea, more important than 1 January. The holiday runs for three days, so the day before it is also a day off, and a substitute day is given when the holiday falls on a Sunday.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A three-day break in South Korea, and many people travel to see family.
The start of the year in the traditional lunisolar calendar, also called the Spring Festival, celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Customs include red envelopes, firecrackers, lion and dragon dances and red lanterns. Korea celebrates its own lunar New Year as Seollal and Vietnam as Tết.
At work: Very welcome to mention. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, so plan deadlines and shipments around it.
The start of the year in the traditional lunisolar calendar, also called the Spring Festival, celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Customs include red envelopes, firecrackers, lion and dragon dances and red lanterns. Korea celebrates its own lunar New Year as Seollal and Vietnam as Tết.
At work: Very welcome to mention. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, so plan deadlines and shipments around it.
Samiljeol, on 1 March, commemorates the March 1st Movement of 1919, when 33 Korean nationalists and students declared independence in Seoul during Japanese colonial rule. It started a nationwide protest movement.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off; if it falls on a weekend, a substitute day is given.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
Children's Day (Eorininal), on 5 May, is a day to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness. In Korea it started on 1 May 1922, when Bang Jeong-hwan and seven others declared it. It moved to 5 May in 1946 and became a public holiday in 1975.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
The birthday of Gautama Buddha, on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. It is an official holiday in South Korea.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off. A substitute day is given when it falls on a weekend.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
A day off on the day of local elections, so that people can vote. Election days in South Korea are public holidays and are not fixed in the calendar, but always fall on a Wednesday.
At work: A day off to vote, not a celebration. Colleagues in South Korea will be away.
Hyeonchung-il commemorates the men and women who died while in military service or in the independence movement. A national commemoration ceremony is held at the Seoul National Cemetery and the Daejeon National Cemetery. At 10 a.m. a siren sounds across the country and people observe a minute of silent prayer, and the flag is flown at half-staff.
At work: Solemn, so "Happy" does not fit. Fine to mention.
Jeheonjeol, 17 July, marks the promulgation of South Korea's first constitution in 1948. It was not a day off from 2008 to 2025, and was restored as a public holiday from 2026.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol), on 15 August, celebrates the national liberation of Korea from the Empire of Japan in 1945. On the same day in 1948 the government of the Republic of Korea was established. Gwangbok means "restoration of light".
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
A major Korean mid-autumn harvest festival on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. In South Korea it lasts three days, including the days before and after the full moon, while in North Korea it is a single day. Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of traditional food such as songpyeon. Two traditions go with it: charye, a memorial service for ancestors, and visiting ancestors' graves.
At work: Very welcome to mention. In South Korea the three days are days off, and many people travel to their hometowns, so plan for a quiet week.
A major Korean mid-autumn harvest festival on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. In South Korea it lasts three days, including the days before and after the full moon, while in North Korea it is a single day. Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of traditional food such as songpyeon. Two traditions go with it: charye, a memorial service for ancestors, and visiting ancestors' graves.
At work: Very welcome to mention. In South Korea the three days are days off, and many people travel to their hometowns, so plan for a quiet week.
A major Korean mid-autumn harvest festival on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. In South Korea it lasts three days, including the days before and after the full moon, while in North Korea it is a single day. Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of traditional food such as songpyeon. Two traditions go with it: charye, a memorial service for ancestors, and visiting ancestors' graves.
At work: Very welcome to mention. In South Korea the three days are days off, and many people travel to their hometowns, so plan for a quiet week.
Gaecheonjeol, 'the day the heavens opened', on 3 October celebrates the legendary founding of Gojoseon, the first Korean state, by the legendary king Dangun in 2333 BC.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in early October.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
Hangeul Day on 9 October celebrates the creation of the Korean alphabet, Hangul, and its 1446 publication in the Hunminjeongeum. It has been marked since 1926. It was a public holiday from 1949 to 1990, was demoted to a commemoration, and was later made a public holiday again.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in October.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
Seollal, Korean New Year, is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar and one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea, more important than 1 January. The holiday runs for three days, so the day before it is also a day off, and a substitute day is given when the holiday falls on a Sunday.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A three-day break in South Korea, and many people travel to see family.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
A substitute day off in South Korea, given when a holiday falls on a weekend. In 2026, for example, Independence Movement Day fell on a Sunday and Liberation Day on a Saturday, and each was followed by a day off on the Monday.
At work: A day off. Colleagues in South Korea will not be at work, even though the real holiday fell on the weekend.
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