Korea's Official Public Holidays
South Korea observes around 15-18 official public holidays a year, split between fixed solar-calendar dates and dates that move because they're set by the lunar calendar. Here's the core list:
- New Year's Day — January 1 (fixed)
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) — a 3-day holiday (the day before, the day of, and the day after), set by the lunar calendar, so it falls anywhere from late January to mid-February
- Independence Movement Day (Samil-jeol) — March 1 (fixed), marking the 1919 independence protests against Japanese colonial rule
- Buddha's Birthday — the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, so the Gregorian date changes every year (usually landing in May)
- Children's Day — May 5 (fixed)
- Memorial Day — June 6 (fixed), honoring fallen soldiers
- Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) — August 15 (fixed), marking liberation from Japanese rule in 1945
- Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving/harvest festival) — a 3-day holiday around the autumn full moon, set by the lunar calendar, so it typically falls in September or early October
- National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol) — October 3 (fixed)
- Hangeul Day — October 9 (fixed), celebrating the Korean alphabet
- Christmas Day — December 25 (fixed)
Note that Korea also runs a "substitute holiday" (대체공휴일) system: if one of the bigger holidays falls on a weekend, the following Monday (or in some cases another weekday) becomes a day off instead. Not every holiday qualifies, and the rules have been expanded a few times in recent years, so the exact substitute-holiday calendar shifts from year to year — check the current year's official calendar rather than assuming a pattern.
Why Seollal and Chuseok Matter Most for Trip Planning
Of all these dates, Seollal and Chuseok are the two that actually reshape a trip, because they're the biggest domestic travel periods in the country — most of the population heads to their hometown to see family, similar in scale to Thanksgiving week in the US or Golden Week in Japan.
What closes: Many small restaurants, cafés, and shops — especially in traditional markets and family-run businesses — close for several days around the main holiday date. It's common for a place to shut the day before, the holiday itself, and the day after, even if the official holiday is only 3 days. Large franchises, chain coffee shops, convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven), and big department stores mostly stay open, though department stores and malls sometimes open later than usual on the holiday itself.
What gets expensive and hard to book: Domestic transport is the biggest headache. KTX and express bus tickets for popular routes (Seoul–Busan, Seoul–Gwangju, Seoul–Daegu) sell out within hours once advance booking opens, typically about a month before the holiday. If you're planning to travel within Korea during Seollal or Chuseok week, book trains and buses as early as reservations allow, and expect highways to be jammed for the days immediately before and after.
What stays open: This is the part most travelers get wrong — assuming the whole country shuts down. It doesn't. Major attractions, palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung), and Jongmyo Shrine generally stay open through the holiday, sometimes with modified hours, and several of them have historically offered free admission on the holiday itself as a gesture to visiting families. Museums, theme parks (Everland, Lotte World), and major shopping districts also typically keep operating. Airports and international flights run normally.
Practical Takeaways
- If your trip overlaps with Seollal or Chuseok, book any KTX, intercity bus, or domestic flight as far in advance as you can — these sell out fast and get pricier as the holiday nears.
- Don't plan a trip around eating at small, specific local restaurants during the exact holiday days — have backup options, since many independent places close without much notice online.
- Sightseeing at palaces, major museums, and big shopping areas is usually fine and can actually be a good time to visit, since some of Seoul empties out as residents leave for the countryside.
- Public holiday dates for Seollal, Chuseok, and Buddha's Birthday change every year because they follow the lunar calendar — always check the current year's official dates rather than reusing last year's.
- Korea has recently expanded which holidays guarantee a day off for everyone (including government workers), so the specifics of the public holiday calendar can shift from year to year — the official government calendar is the reliable source each year.