South Korea 2026 public holiday guide
Korea’s public holidays include New Year’s Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year), Independence Movement Day, Children’s Day, Buddha’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Liberation Day, Chuseok, National Foundation Day, Hangul Day, and Christmas. Seollal and Chuseok are the biggest family travel peaks.
For Seoul or Busan trips, avoid the first and last days of those long breaks when possible. For business, expect slower responses during the holiday windows.
Confirm substitute holidays in the official annual notice.
Planning tips
- Seollal and Chuseok: transport sells out fast.
- Children’s Day (5 May): family travel peak.
- Liberation Day / National Foundation Day: civic commemorations.
- Christmas: retail-focused more than a long family exodus.
South Korea 2026 public holiday table
This 2026 view lists 18 public holiday dates for South Korea. The earliest entry is 2026-01-01 (New Year's Day, Thu) and the latest is 2026-12-25 (Christmas Day). The longest consecutive block in the dataset is about 3 days (2026-02-17–2026-02-19). The table below is fully readable without JavaScript.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2026-02-17 | Tue | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-18 | Wed | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-19 | Thu | Spring Festival |
| 2026-03-01 | Sun | Independence Movement Day |
| 2026-03-02 | Mon | Independence Movement Day (substitute) |
| 2026-04-04 | Sat | Qingming Festival |
| 2026-05-01 | Fri | Labour Day |
| 2026-05-05 | Tue | Labour Day / Children's Day |
| 2026-05-24 | Sun | Birthday of the Buddha |
| 2026-06-06 | Sat | Memorial Day |
| 2026-08-15 | Sat | Liberation Day |
| 2026-08-17 | Mon | Independence Day / Liberation Day (substitute) |
| 2026-09-25 | Fri | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 2026-10-03 | Sat | National Day |
| 2026-10-05 | Mon | National Day |
| 2026-10-09 | Fri | Hangul Day |
| 2026-12-25 | Fri | Christmas Day |
Note: Compiled from public notices for planning. Confirm critical dates with official sources.
Cross-border planning notes
Korea’s Seollal and Chuseok are the biggest homecoming peaks — similar timing to China’s Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn, but different customs and transport patterns. Children’s Day (5 May) often sits near Japan’s Golden Week tail.
Korea FAQ
Is Seollal the same day as China’s Spring Festival?
Usually the same lunar date, but leave length and customs differ.
Are there substitute holidays?
Some public holidays that fall on Sunday may get a replacement day.
Do convenience stores close?
Most stay open; government offices and banks usually close.