South Korea Public Holidays 2026

Official holidays for government offices · Last checked 2026-10-11 · 2027 election days and temporary holidays are not included

Public holidays: 22
Substitute holidays: 4
Long weekends (3+ days): 10
On a weekend: 6

2026 calendar

January

1 New Year's Day

February

16 Seollal Holiday
17 Seollal (Lunar New Year)
18 Seollal Holiday

March

1 Independence Movement Day
2 Substitute Holiday (Independence Movement Day)

April

No public holidays

May

1 Labor Day
5 Children's Day
24 Buddha's Birthday
25 Substitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)

June

3 Local Election Day
6 Memorial Day

July

17 Constitution Day

August

15 Liberation Day
17 Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)

September

24 Chuseok Holiday
25 Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
26 Chuseok Holiday

October

3 National Foundation Day
5 Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)
9 Hangeul Day

November

No public holidays

December

25 Christmas Day

List of public holidays in 2026

Date	Holiday	Type
Thu, Jan 1	New Year's Day
Mon, Feb 16	Seollal Holiday
Tue, Feb 17	Seollal (Lunar New Year)
Wed, Feb 18	Seollal Holiday
Sun, Mar 1	Independence Movement Day
Mon, Mar 2	Substitute Holiday (Independence Movement Day)	Substitute
Fri, May 1	Labor Day
Tue, May 5	Children's Day
Sun, May 24	Buddha's Birthday
Mon, May 25	Substitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)	Substitute
Wed, Jun 3	Local Election Day	Election
Sat, Jun 6	Memorial Day
Fri, Jul 17	Constitution Day
Sat, Aug 15	Liberation Day
Mon, Aug 17	Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)	Substitute
Thu, Sep 24	Chuseok Holiday
Fri, Sep 25	Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Sat, Sep 26	Chuseok Holiday
Sat, Oct 3	National Foundation Day
Mon, Oct 5	Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)	Substitute
Fri, Oct 9	Hangeul Day
Fri, Dec 25	Christmas Day

Long weekends in 2026

Three or more days off in a row from weekends and public holidays alone.

Sat, Feb 14 – Wed, Feb 18

Seollal Holiday, Seollal (Lunar New Year)

5 days
Sat, Feb 28 – Mon, Mar 2

Independence Movement Day, Substitute Holiday (Independence Movement Day)

3 days
Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3

Labor Day

3 days
Sat, May 23 – Mon, May 25

Buddha's Birthday, Substitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)

3 days
Fri, Jul 17 – Sun, Jul 19

Constitution Day

3 days
Sat, Aug 15 – Mon, Aug 17

Liberation Day, Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)

3 days
Thu, Sep 24 – Sun, Sep 27

Chuseok Holiday, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)

4 days
Sat, Oct 3 – Mon, Oct 5

National Foundation Day, Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)

3 days
Fri, Oct 9 – Sun, Oct 11

Hangeul Day

3 days
Fri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27

Christmas Day

3 days

Best days to take leave in Korea

Fill one or two workdays between holidays and weekends with leave. Sorted by days off per day of leave.

Take off	Break	Days off	Per leave day
Mon, May 4	Fri, May 1 – Tue, May 5 Labor Day, Children's Day	5	×5.0
Thu, Feb 19, Fri, Feb 20	Sat, Feb 14 – Sun, Feb 22 Seollal Holiday, Seollal (Lunar New Year)	9	×4.5
Fri, Jan 2	Thu, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 4 New Year's Day	4	×4.0
Mon, Jun 1, Tue, Jun 2	Sat, May 30 – Wed, Jun 3 Local Election Day	5	×2.5
Thu, Jun 4, Fri, Jun 5	Wed, Jun 3 – Sun, Jun 7 Local Election Day, Memorial Day	5	×2.5

Korea's 2026 holidays at a glance

South Korea has 22 public holidays in 2026. 6 holidays land on a weekend, and 4 substitute holidays make up for some of them. The longest break from weekends and holidays alone runs Sat, Feb 14 – Wed, Feb 18 (5 days).

For the most time off per day of leave, take Mon, May 4 off: that turns into 5 straight days off.

Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) are each three days long, shown as one holiday plus a day before and after. After an amendment to the Regulations on Holidays of Government Offices, Labor Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (July 17) are public holidays from 2026. See how substitute holidays work for the rules.

Sources

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) almanac
Ministry of Personnel Management announcements (April and June 2026)
Regulations on Holidays of Government Offices (amended April 30, 2026)

Last checked 2026-10-11. 2027 election days and temporary holidays are not included. Newly declared temporary holidays may not be shown yet.

FAQ

How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2026?

22 days for government offices, including 4 substitute holidays. 6 holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday. (Last checked 2026-10-11; 2027 election days and temporary holidays are not included.)

What is the longest holiday break in Korea in 2026?

Sat, Feb 14 – Wed, Feb 18, 5 days in a row (Seollal Holiday, Seollal (Lunar New Year)), counting only weekends and public holidays.

What are the best days to take leave in Korea in 2026?

Take Mon, May 4 off and you get 5 days in a row, Fri, May 1 – Tue, May 5, for 1 day of leave.

Which days are substitute holidays in 2026?

Mon, Mar 2 (Substitute Holiday (Independence Movement Day)), Mon, May 25 (Substitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)), Mon, Aug 17 (Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)), Mon, Oct 5 (Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)).

Do private companies in Korea close on public holidays?

This calendar lists official holidays for government offices. Private employers set paid days off under the Labor Standards Act and their own work rules or collective agreements, so check with your employer.