South Korea Substitute Holidays 2026
In 2026, South Korea’s substitute-holiday system (대체공휴일) produces four days off: Mar 2 (Independence Movement Day on a Sunday), May 25 (Buddha’s Birthday on a Sunday), Aug 17 (Liberation Day on a Saturday) and Oct 5 (National Foundation Day on a Saturday). From 2026 the rule also covers the newly added Labour Day and Constitution Day.
Dates in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Which holidays trigger a substitute day
Seollal and Chuseok get a substitute when one of their days overlaps a Sunday or another public holiday (a Saturday alone does not count). Children’s Day, the five national days (Independence Movement Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day), Buddha’s Birthday and Christmas get one when they fall on a Saturday or Sunday. From 2026, Labour Day and Constitution Day are also covered.
Memorial Day (Jun 6) and New Year’s Day (Jan 1) are not on the substitute list, so when they fall on a weekend no extra day off is added.
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 substitute holidays does South Korea have in 2026?+
Four: Mar 2, May 25, Aug 17 and Oct 5. Chuseok (Sep 24–26) gets none because its Saturday date does not trigger the rule.
Do Labour Day and Constitution Day get substitute holidays?+
Yes, from 2026 they are covered. In 2026 both fall on a weekday (May 1 Friday, Jul 17 Friday), so no substitute is needed this year — but it applies when they land on a weekend.
What is a substitute holiday (대체공휴일) in South Korea?+
It is an extra weekday off granted when certain public holidays fall on a weekend or overlap another holiday, so workers do not lose the day. The rules above list which holidays qualify.
Why is Aug 17, 2026 a substitute holiday?+
Liberation Day (Aug 15) falls on a Saturday in 2026. Saturdays do trigger the rule for the national days, so the next working day — Monday, Aug 17 — becomes a substitute holiday.
Does a Saturday alone trigger a substitute for Seollal or Chuseok?+
No. For Seollal and Chuseok only an overlap with a Sunday or another public holiday counts — a Saturday alone does not. That is why Chuseok 2026 (Sep 24–26, including a Saturday) gets no substitute day.
Which holidays never get a substitute day?+
Memorial Day (Jun 6) and New Year’s Day (Jan 1) are not on the substitute list, so no extra day off is added when they fall on a weekend.