South Korea Substitute Holidays 2027
In 2027, an unusual number of holidays land on a Saturday or Sunday, so South Korea’s substitute-holiday system (대체공휴일) produces seven days off: Feb 9 (Seollal), May 3 (Labour Day), Jul 19 (Constitution Day), Aug 16 (Liberation Day), Oct 4 (National Foundation Day), Oct 11 (Hangeul Day) and Dec 27 (Christmas).
Dates in 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 16, 2027 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (Liberation Day)Liberation Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute 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 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 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 |
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
- Act on Public Holidays — substitute-holiday provisionsVisit sourceKorea Ministry of Government Legislation
Frequently asked questions
Why does South Korea have so many substitute holidays in 2027?+
Because six fixed-rule holidays land on a weekend (Labour Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day and Christmas) and Seollal overlaps a Sunday — all of which trigger a substitute day.
Is there a substitute for Memorial Day in 2027?+
No. Memorial Day (Jun 6) falls on a Sunday in 2027 but is not on the substitute-holiday list, so no extra day off is granted.
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 Feb 9, 2027 a substitute holiday?+
The Seollal break in 2027 (Feb 6–8) included Sunday, Feb 7. Because a Seollal day overlapped a Sunday, a substitute day was added on the next working day, Feb 9.
Why is Dec 27, 2027 a substitute holiday?+
Christmas Day (Dec 25) falls on a Saturday in 2027, and Christmas is on the substitute list for Saturday or Sunday dates — so Monday, Dec 27 is the day off.
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.