South Korea Public Holidays 2027
South Korea has many days off in 2027 because several holidays fall on weekends, triggering seven substitute holidays (Feb 9, May 3, Jul 19, Aug 16, Oct 4, Oct 11, Dec 27). Seollal runs Feb 6–9 and Chuseok Sep 14–16. Labour Day and Constitution Day — public holidays since 2026 — both get substitute days this year.
Public holidays
20 days
Substitute holidays
7
Seollal (Lunar New Year)
Feb 6–9
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Sep 14–16
2027 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, 2027 | Friday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Feb 6 – 8 | Saturday – | Seollal (Lunar New Year)New Year's Eve, the day itself (Feb 7) and the day after.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| February 9, 2027 | Tuesday | Substitute Holiday (Seollal)Seollal overlaps a Sunday (Feb 7), so a substitute holiday is added on Feb 9.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| March 1, 2027 | Monday | Independence Movement DayFalls on a Monday in 2027 — a natural three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2027 | Saturday | Labour DayFalls on a Saturday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 3, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Labour Day)Labour Day falls on a Saturday, so Monday is a substitute holiday — substitutes apply to Labour Day from 2026.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| May 5, 2027 | Wednesday | Children's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 13, 2027 | Thursday | Buddha's BirthdayEighth day of the fourth lunar month.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 6, 2027 | Sunday | Memorial DayFalls on a Sunday in 2027; Memorial Day has no substitute holiday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 17, 2027 | Saturday | Constitution DayFalls on a Saturday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 19, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Constitution Day)Constitution Day falls on a Saturday, so Monday is a substitute holiday — substitutes apply to Constitution Day from 2026.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| August 15, 2027 | Sunday | Liberation DayFalls on a Sunday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 16, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)Liberation Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| Sep 14 – 16 | Tuesday – | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)The eve, Chuseok itself (Sep 15) and the day after. No substitute, as none falls on a Sunday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 3, 2027 | Sunday | National Foundation DayFalls on a Sunday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 4, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (National Foundation Day)National Foundation Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| October 9, 2027 | Saturday | Hangeul DayFalls on a Saturday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 11, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Hangeul Day)Hangeul Day falls on a Saturday, so the next working day (Monday) is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| December 25, 2027 | Saturday | Christmas DayFalls on a Saturday in 2027.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 27, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Christmas)Christmas falls on a Saturday, so the next working day (Monday) is a substitute holiday — substitutes apply to Christmas from 2023.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
South Korea long weekends in 2027
New Year's Day
3 daysJan 1 – 3
Seollal (Lunar New Year)
4 daysFeb 6 – 9
Sat–Tue: the three Seollal days plus the Feb 9 substitute holiday.
Independence Movement Day
3 daysFeb 27 – Mar 1
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus Independence Movement Day on Monday.
Labour Day
3 daysMay 1 – 3
Sat–Mon: Labour Day plus the May 3 substitute holiday.
Constitution Day
3 daysJul 17 – 19
Sat–Mon: Constitution Day plus the Jul 19 substitute holiday.
Liberation Day & Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)
3 daysAug 14 – 16
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
6 daysSep 11 – 16
Not continuous: Monday Sep 13 is a normal working day between the weekend and the three Chuseok days (Sep 14–16). Take Sep 13 off and the whole Sep 11–16 stretch joins up into six days.
National Foundation Day
3 daysOct 2 – 4
Sat–Mon: the weekend plus the Oct 4 substitute holiday.
Hangeul Day
3 daysOct 9 – 11
Sat–Mon: Hangeul Day plus the Oct 11 substitute holiday.
Christmas
3 daysDec 25 – 27
Sat–Mon: Christmas plus the Dec 27 substitute holiday.
Why 2027 has so many substitute holidays
In 2027 an unusual number of holidays land on a Saturday or Sunday: Labour Day (Sat), Constitution Day (Sat), Liberation Day (Sun), National Foundation Day (Sun), Hangeul Day (Sat) and Christmas (Sat), while Seollal overlaps a Sunday. Because all of these are covered by Korea’s substitute-holiday rules, the next working day becomes a day off — giving seven substitute holidays across the year.
Note that Memorial Day (Jun 6) falls on a Sunday but gets no substitute, because it is not on the list of holidays covered by the substitute-holiday rule.
Download & subscribe
Official sources & data
- Act on Public Holidays — substitute-holiday provisionsVisit sourceKorea Ministry of Government Legislation
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2027?+
There are around 20 public holiday days in 2027, including seven substitute holidays. Additional temporary holidays may be designated by the Cabinet during the year.
When is Seollal (Korean New Year) 2027?+
Seollal is Feb 6–8, 2027, with Lunar New Year’s Day on Feb 7 (a Sunday). A substitute holiday is added on Feb 9, making a four-day break.
Why are there substitute holidays for Labour Day and Constitution Day in 2027?+
Both became public holidays in 2026 and are covered by the substitute-holiday rules. In 2027 both fall on a Saturday, so May 3 and Jul 19 are substitute holidays.
When is Chuseok 2027?+
Chuseok is Sep 14–16, 2027 (Tue–Thu), with the main day on Sep 15. With the prior weekend it forms a six-day stretch (Sep 11–16). No substitute is needed, as no day falls on a Sunday.
Are the 2027 South Korea holiday dates final?+
The statutory holidays and their substitute days are determined by law and the lunar calendar, so the dates here are reliable. The government can still add temporary holidays (for example for elections) closer to the year.
