South Korea

South Korea : Public Holidays and Bank Holidays 2025 2026 2027

Public Holidays in South Korea

South Korea has a rich cultural heritage reflected in its diverse public holidays. These holidays encompass traditional Korean celebrations, national commemorations, and international observances. Many holidays follow the lunar calendar, leading to varying dates each year, and some holidays have alternative observance days, ensuring citizens can celebrate fully.

• New Year's Day
  Celebrated on January 1st, marking the start of the Gregorian calendar year. It is a public holiday where families often gather and reflect on new beginnings.

• The day preceding Korean New Year
  The day before Seollal (Korean New Year), a time for preparation including cleaning and arranging ancestral rites. Date varies according to the lunar calendar.

• Korean New Year (Seollal)
  One of the most important traditional holidays, celebrating the lunar new year. Families perform ancestral rituals (charye), wear hanbok (traditional clothing), and play folk games. Date varies yearly.

• The second day of Korean New Year
  Continuation of Seollal festivities, often spent visiting relatives and enjoying traditional meals.

• Independence Movement Day
  Observed on March 1st, commemorating the 1919 March 1st Movement against Japanese colonial rule. Patriotic ceremonies and remembrance events are held nationwide.

• Alternative holiday for Independence Movement Day
  When March 1st falls on a weekend, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.

• Buddha's Birthday; Children's Day
  Buddha’s Birthday celebrates the birth of Buddha, involving lantern festivals and visits to temples. Children's Day honors children’s well-being with various family activities. Both holidays are observed in spring, with dates set by the lunar calendar for Buddha’s Birthday, and May 5 for Children’s Day.

• Alternative holiday for Buddha's Birthday; Alternative holiday for Children's Day
  If the holiday falls on a weekend, the next weekday is observed.

• Memorial Day
  May 21st honors the men and women who died in military service for South Korea. National ceremonies and moments of silence are held.

• Liberation Day
  August 15th, marking Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule in 1945. Celebrations include patriotic events and flag displays.

• National Foundation Day
  October 3rd celebrates the legendary founding of the Korean nation by Dangun. Traditional rites and cultural events are common.

• The day preceding Chuseok
  The day before Chuseok (Korean Harvest Festival) is for preparation including ancestral rites.

• Chuseok
  One of the major traditional holidays, Chuseok is a harvest festival featuring family gatherings, ancestral ceremonies, traditional foods like songpyeon (rice cakes), and folk games. Date varies by the lunar calendar.

• The second day of Chuseok
  Continuation of Chuseok celebrations.

• Alternative holiday for Chuseok
  When Chuseok falls on a weekend, alternative holidays may be observed.

• Hangul Day
  Celebrated on October 9th, it honors the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, by King Sejong. Educational and cultural activities promote Korean language pride.

• Christmas Day
  December 25th is widely celebrated in South Korea, especially among Christians. It is a public holiday with gift-giving and festive activities.

• Alternative holiday for Korean New Year
  When Seollal falls on a weekend, an additional public holiday is observed.

• Local Election Day
  Holds importance for democratic participation, with elections typically leading to a public holiday to encourage voter turnout.

• Presidential Election Day
  A public holiday when the nation holds presidential elections to ensure maximum citizen participation.

• Alternative holiday for Liberation Day
  Applied when August 15th falls on a weekend, the following weekday is observed.

• Alternative holiday for National Foundation Day
  Ensures a day off if October 3rd occurs on a weekend.

• Alternative holiday for Hangul Day
  Observed if October 9th falls on a weekend.

• Alternative holiday for Christmas Day
  Observed if December 25th falls on a weekend.

Site officiel de référence

• South Korean Government Public Holidays
  Official Ministry of the Interior and Safety website with up-to-date details on national holidays and observances.