Korea has 17 public holidays in 2026. Several significant events affect travel and transport: bookings fill up, prices spike, and some businesses close. Here is what to know before you book.
South Korea’s public holiday calendar is a mix of national commemorations, traditional lunar calendar celebrations, and modern observances. For international visitors, the most important holidays to know are the Lunar New Year (Seollal) and the Chuseok harvest festival, both of which trigger the largest domestic travel surges of the year, filling KTX trains and raising hotel prices across the country.
Korea Public Holidays 2026 – Full List
January 1 – New Year’s Day (신정)
The solar New Year. A one-day public holiday. Most businesses and tourist attractions are closed on January 1 but reopen on January 2. Transport is relatively normal.
February 17 to 19 – Lunar New Year / Seollal (설날)
The most important traditional holiday in Korea is a 3-day national holiday marking the Lunar New Year. Families travel home from major cities to ancestral homes. The week surrounding Seollal (approximately February 14 to 21) sees the heaviest domestic travel of the year.
Travel impact: KTX trains and express buses sell out weeks in advance. Hotels in provincial cities like Gyeongju fill up. Many restaurants and smaller businesses close on the holiday itself. Book all transport and accommodation at least 4 weeks ahead if your trip overlaps.
Cultural opportunity: Traditional food (tteok guk rice cake soup), ancestral rites, and folk performances at cultural centres and palaces. Gyeongbokgung Palace runs free Seollal programmes with hanbok rental and traditional activities.
March 1 – Independence Movement Day (삼일절)
Commemorating the March 1, 1919, independence movement against Japanese colonial rule. One-day holiday. Public ceremonies at Tapgol Park in Seoul. Most tourist attractions are open normal transport is available.
May 5 – Children’s Day (어린이날)
A national holiday for children with family-focused activities at parks and cultural centres. Theme parks, including Everland, see peak attendance. Transport is normal, al but popular family destinations are very busy.
May 15 – Buddha’s Birthday (부처님오신날)
The Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul (usually held on the Saturday before Buddha’s Birthday) is one of the most visually spectacular events in Korea: a massive lantern parade through central Seoul, with thousands of participants carrying handmade paper lanterns. The temple areas are beautifully decorated in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
June 6 – Memorial Day (현충일)
National Day of Remembrance for war dead. Quiet, solemn observance. Most businesses are open—normal transport.
August 15 – Liberation Day (광복절)
Commemorating Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. One-day holiday. Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung. Transport normal—most tourist attractions are open.
October 1 to 3 – Chuseok / Harvest Festival (추석)
Korea’s second major traditional holiday is the harvest thanksgiving celebration, a three-day national holiday. Families gather, ancestral rites are performed, and traditional foods, including songpyeon half-moon rice cakes, are made and shared.
Travel impact: The most significant travel surge of the year, rivalling Seollal. KTX trains sell out 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Express buses are packed. Many restaurants and smaller businesses close on October 1- 3. Hotel prices rise 20 to 40 percent in affected areas.
Cultural opportunity: Traditional markets and street celebrations are lively. Gyeongbokgung and other palaces run free Chuseok programmes. The atmosphere in Seoul around Chuseok is distinctly festive.
October 3 – National Foundation Day (개천절)
Marking the founding of the first Korean state in 2333 BC by the mythological Dangun. One-day holiday coinciding with the end of Chuseok in 2026.
October 9 – Hangul Day (한글날)
Celebrating the creation of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong in 1443. One-day holiday. Cultural events at the National Museum of Korean Language. Normal transport.
December 25 – Christmas Day (기독교)
A public holiday in South Korea reflecting the significant Christian population. Unlike Japan, where Christmas is a commercial event, Christmas in Korea is a genuine holiday with many businesses closed. Seoul city centre has excellent Christmas illuminations from late November through January.
Substitute Holidays
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically designated a substitute holiday. Check the official Korean government calendar (publicholidays.co.kr) for the current year’s substitute dates.
Planning Around Korea’s Public Holidays
- Book KTX 3 to 4 weeks ahead: For any journey overlapping Seollal (mid-February) or Chuseok (late September to early October). See the Seoul-to-Busan guide for booking instructions.
- Avoid popular destinations on holiday weekends: Nami Island, Jeju, Gyeongju, and Seoraksan National Park are at their most crowded on long weekends surrounding major holidays.
- Embrace the atmosphere: The Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palace programmes during Seollal and Chuseok, with free entry in hanbok, traditional games, and cultural performances, are some of the most genuinely Korean experiences available to visitors and Korean Public Holidays
