South Korea Public Holidays (2025–2028)
South Korea has 18 public holiday days in 2026. Two days join the calendar for the first time: Labour Day (May 1) and the reinstated Constitution Day (Jul 17). The substitute-holiday system adds four days off (Mar 2, May 25, Aug 17, Oct 5), and Jun 3 is a public holiday for the nationwide local elections.
Public holidays
18 days
New public holidays
May 1 & Jul 17
Substitute holidays
4
Seollal (Lunar New Year)
Feb 16–18
2026 South Korea calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
South Korea public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Feb 16 – 18 | Monday – | Seollal (Lunar New Year)New Year's Eve, the day itself (Feb 17) and the day after. No substitute as none falls on a Sunday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | Independence Movement DayFalls on a Sunday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 2, 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Independence Movement Day)Independence Movement Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour DayA public holiday for the first time in 2026 — now a day off for civil servants and teachers too, not only workers.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 5, 2026 | Tuesday | Children's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 24, 2026 | Sunday | Buddha's BirthdayEighth day of the fourth lunar month; falls on a Sunday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)Buddha's Birthday falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| June 3, 2026 | Wednesday | Local Election DayThe 9th nationwide local elections; election days are temporary public holidays in Korea.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | Memorial DayFalls on a Saturday in 2026; Memorial Day has no substitute holiday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 17, 2026 | Friday | Constitution DayReinstated as a public holiday in 2026 for the first time since 2008.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Liberation DayFalls on a Saturday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 17, 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)Liberation Day falls on a Saturday, so the next working day is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| Sep 24 – 26 | Thursday – | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)The eve, Chuseok itself (Sep 25) and the day after. No substitute, as none falls on a Sunday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 3, 2026 | Saturday | National Foundation DayFalls on a Saturday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 5, 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)National Foundation Day falls on a Saturday, so the next working day is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| October 9, 2026 | Friday | Hangeul DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
South Korea long weekends in 2026
Seollal (Lunar New Year)
5 daysFeb 14 – 18
Sat–Wed: the weekend plus the three Seollal days (Feb 16–18).
Independence Movement Day
3 daysFeb 28 – Mar 2
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus the Mar 2 substitute holiday.
Labour Day
3 daysMay 1 – 3
Buddha's Birthday
3 daysMay 23 – 25
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus the May 25 substitute holiday.
Constitution Day
3 daysJul 17 – 19
Liberation Day
3 daysAug 15 – 17
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus the Aug 17 substitute holiday.
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
4 daysSep 24 – 27
Thu–Sun: the three Chuseok days plus the following Sunday.
National Foundation Day
3 daysOct 3 – 5
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus the Oct 5 substitute holiday.
Hangeul Day
3 daysOct 9 – 11
Christmas
3 daysDec 25 – 27
Fri–Sun: Christmas Day plus the weekend.
Two new public holidays in 2026: Labour Day and Constitution Day
From 2026, Labour Day (May 1) becomes an official public holiday for everyone. Previously it was a paid day off only for employees covered by the Labor Standards Act, leaving civil servants, teachers and many public-sector workers at their desks. A revision of the Act on Public Holidays now makes it a day off nationwide.
Constitution Day (Jul 17) also returns as a public holiday for the first time since 2008, when it was dropped after the five-day workweek was introduced. All five major national days — Independence Movement Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day and Hangeul Day — are now public holidays again, and Labour Day and Constitution Day are also covered by the substitute-holiday rules.
How South Korea’s substitute holiday system works
When a public holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps another holiday, Korea grants a substitute holiday (대체공휴일) on the next non-holiday weekday. In 2026 this produced four substitute days: Mar 2 (Independence Movement Day on Sunday), May 25 (Buddha’s Birthday on Sunday), Aug 17 (Liberation Day on Saturday) and Oct 5 (National Foundation Day on Saturday). Memorial Day (Jun 6) is not covered, so its Saturday date adds no extra day off.
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Official sources & data
- 관공서의 공휴일에 관한 규정 (Regulations on Holidays of Public Offices), Presidential Decree No. 36290, in force 11 May 2026Visit sourceMinistry of Government Legislation, Republic of Korea (National Law Information Center)
- 올해부터 노동절, 제헌절 공휴일로 (Labour Day and Constitution Day become public holidays this year)Visit sourceMinistry of Personnel Management, Republic of Korea
- 관공서의 공휴일에 관한 규정 — 제정·개정이유 (amendment history and rationale)Visit sourceMinistry of Government Legislation, Republic of Korea (National Law Information Center)
- Extra long weekend in July, as Constitution Day reinstated as public holidayVisit sourceThe Korea Herald
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2026?+
There are 18 public holiday days in 2026, including the new Labour Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (Jul 17), the Jun 3 local election day and four substitute holidays.
Why are Labour Day and Constitution Day new in 2026?+
A 2025–2026 revision of the Act on Public Holidays made Labour Day (May 1) an official public holiday for everyone and reinstated Constitution Day (Jul 17), which had been dropped in 2008.
When is Seollal (Korean New Year) 2026?+
Seollal is Feb 16–18, 2026 (Mon–Wed), with Lunar New Year’s Day on Feb 17. With the prior weekend it makes a five-day break (Feb 14–18). No substitute holiday is added because none of the three days falls on a Sunday.
Why is Jun 3, 2026 a public holiday?+
Jun 3 is the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. In Korea, official election days are designated as temporary public holidays.
When is Chuseok 2026 and is there a substitute holiday?+
Chuseok is Sep 24–26, 2026 (Thu–Sat). There is no substitute holiday, because the substitute rule for Chuseok is triggered only when a day overlaps a Sunday or another holiday — not a Saturday.
