National Public Holidays in South Korea

A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks may close and most people get the day off…

The Gregorian calendar is officially followed in South Korea, although some holidays are based on the lunar calendar.

Public holidays in South Korea are regulated by the Labor Day Act, the State Holidays Act and the government decree, Regulation on Closure Days for Public Offices.

Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) are the most important traditional holidays for Koreans, so many people celebrate with their families during these times. On Seollal, Koreans traditionally hold a memorial service for their ancestors and perform sebae, a formal bow of respect to their elders as a New Year’s greeting.

  • Public holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are not carried over to the following Monday.
  • Although banks and offices are closed during the official holidays, most restaurants, museums and shops remain open
  • More information about public holidays in South Korea from the Korea Tourism website

Public Holidays 2017

1st January - New Year's Day

27th - 30th January - Seollal Holiday

1st March - Independence Movement Day

1st May - Labour Day (unofficial holiday, widely observed)

3rd May - Children's Day

6th June - Memorial Day

15th August - Liberation Day

3rd - 6th October - Harvest Festival

9th October - Hangeul Proclamation Day (the Korean alphabet)

20th December - President's Day (every 5 years) 

25th December - Christmas Day