South Korea: public holidays 2026

New Year's Day is January 1, the first day of the Gregorian calendar year. South Korea's government-office holiday regulation lists January 1 as a public holiday.

Seollal Eve is the day before Lunar New Year and the first distinct day of South Korea's statutory three-day Seollal holiday. The regulation identifies it as the last day of the twelfth lunar month.

Seollal is Korean Lunar New Year, observed on the first day of the first lunar month. It begins the lunar year and is traditionally marked by customs such as eating tteokguk.

The day after Seollal is the third distinct day of South Korea's statutory Lunar New Year holiday. The regulation identifies it as the second day of the first lunar month.

March First Movement Day commemorates the 1919 independence movement and honors those who raised the call for national sovereignty. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

This substitute holiday follows when March First Movement Day falls on a weekend under the applicable rule. It provides a separate day off for that national celebration day.

Labour Day on May 1 is a statutory paid holiday for workers under South Korea's Labour Day Act. From May 1, 2026, the government-office holiday regulation also lists it as a public holiday for government offices.

Children's Day is observed on May 5 and calls for children to be treated with respect and care. It became an official public holiday in 1975.

Buddha's Birthday celebrates the birth of the Buddha and is observed on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. Ceremonies commonly include prayers for peace, charity, and lantern displays.

This substitute holiday provides an additional day off when Buddha’s Birthday falls on a weekend or overlaps another listed public holiday. The date is determined by the substitute-holiday rule applicable to that occurrence.

South Korea’s ninth nationwide simultaneous local elections were held on June 3, 2026, to elect local executives, council members and superintendents of education. Regular election days are public holidays for government offices, allowing people to vote.

Memorial Day on June 6 honors and remembers patriotic forebears, fallen service members, and others who sacrificed for the country. The national commemoration is held at Seoul National Cemetery.

Constitution Day on July 17 commemorates the promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. It returned to the government-office public-holiday calendar in 2026 under the amended regulation effective before that year's observance.

Liberation Day on August 15 commemorates Korea's recovery of national sovereignty from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

This substitute holiday follows when Liberation Day falls on a weekend under the applicable rule. It provides a separate day off for the August 15 national celebration day.

Chuseok Eve is the day before the main harvest festival and the first distinct day of South Korea's statutory three-day Chuseok holiday. The regulation identifies it as the fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

Chuseok is Korea's harvest festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Traditions express gratitude for the harvest and include ancestral rites, songpyeon, and seasonal games.

The day after Chuseok is the third distinct day of South Korea's statutory harvest-festival holiday. The regulation identifies it as the sixteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

National Foundation Day on October 3 commemorates the legendary founding of Gojoseon by Dangun. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

This substitute holiday follows when National Foundation Day falls on a weekend under the applicable rule. It provides a separate day off for the October 3 national celebration day.

Hangeul Day on October 9 commemorates the creation and proclamation of the Korean alphabet and honors King Sejong's achievement. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed on December 25. South Korea's government-office holiday regulation lists it as a public holiday.

New Year's Day is January 1, the first day of the Gregorian calendar year. South Korea's government-office holiday regulation lists January 1 as a public holiday.

A temporary public holiday is a non-recurring day specially designated by the government after Cabinet deliberation. Its date and purpose come from the designation made for each occurrence.

Seollal Eve is the day before Lunar New Year and the first distinct day of South Korea's statutory three-day Seollal holiday. The regulation identifies it as the last day of the twelfth lunar month.

Seollal is Korean Lunar New Year, observed on the first day of the first lunar month. It begins the lunar year and is traditionally marked by customs such as eating tteokguk.

The day after Seollal is the third distinct day of South Korea's statutory Lunar New Year holiday. The regulation identifies it as the second day of the first lunar month.

March First Movement Day commemorates the 1919 independence movement and honors those who raised the call for national sovereignty. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

This substitute holiday follows when March First Movement Day falls on a weekend under the applicable rule. It provides a separate day off for that national celebration day.

Buddha's Birthday celebrates the birth of the Buddha and is observed on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. Ceremonies commonly include prayers for peace, charity, and lantern displays.

Children's Day is observed on May 5 and calls for children to be treated with respect and care. It became an official public holiday in 1975.

This substitute holiday provides an additional day off when Buddha’s Birthday falls on a weekend or overlaps another listed public holiday. The date is determined by the substitute-holiday rule applicable to that occurrence.

This substitute holiday provides an additional day off when Children's Day falls on a weekend or overlaps another listed public holiday. The date is determined by the substitute-holiday rule applicable to that occurrence.

June 3, 2025 was the twenty-first presidential election, held early after a vacancy in the presidency. The government separately designated election day as a temporary public holiday to support voting.

Memorial Day on June 6 honors and remembers patriotic forebears, fallen service members, and others who sacrificed for the country. The national commemoration is held at Seoul National Cemetery.

Liberation Day on August 15 commemorates Korea's recovery of national sovereignty from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

National Foundation Day on October 3 commemorates the legendary founding of Gojoseon by Dangun. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

Chuseok Eve is the day before the main harvest festival and the first distinct day of South Korea's statutory three-day Chuseok holiday. The regulation identifies it as the fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

Chuseok is Korea's harvest festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Traditions express gratitude for the harvest and include ancestral rites, songpyeon, and seasonal games.

The day after Chuseok is the third distinct day of South Korea's statutory harvest-festival holiday. The regulation identifies it as the sixteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

This substitute holiday follows when a day in the statutory three-day Chuseok period falls on Sunday under the rule applicable to that occurrence. It is separate from Chuseok Eve, Chuseok itself, and the day after Chuseok.

Hangeul Day on October 9 commemorates the creation and proclamation of the Korean alphabet and honors King Sejong's achievement. It is one of South Korea's five national celebration days.

Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed on December 25. South Korea's government-office holiday regulation lists it as a public holiday.