Korean Public Holidays in 2026: The Full List, Explained
All 14 Korean public holidays for 2026 with dates, the substitute days off, the two holidays new for 2026, and why some dates move every year.
Korea's holiday calendar mixes two kinds of days: national days fixed to the Gregorian calendar, and traditional festivals that follow the lunar calendar and land on a different date every year. 2026 also brought two changes, with one holiday added and another restored. Here is the full list and what each day marks, based on the Korea Tourism Organization's (KTO) official holiday page.
The 2026 list at a glance
KTO counts 14 public holidays in 2026:
| Holiday | 2026 date | Day off moved to |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | |
| Seollal (Lunar New Year) | February 16 to 18 | |
| Independence Movement Day | March 1 | March 2 |
| Workers' Day | May 1 | |
| Children's Day | May 5 | |
| Buddha's Birthday | May 24 | May 25 |
| Local Election Day | June 3 | |
| Memorial Day | June 6 | |
| Constitution Day | July 17 | |
| Liberation Day | August 15 | August 17 |
| Chuseok | September 24 to 26 | |
| National Foundation Day | October 3 | October 5 |
| Hangeul Day | October 9 | |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
The right-hand column shows where KTO lists a holiday as "observed" on a later date. In 2026, March 1 and May 24 fall on a Sunday and August 15 and October 3 on a Saturday, and KTO lists the following Monday as the day off for each. Not every weekend holiday gets one: Memorial Day, June 6, also falls on a Saturday in 2026, and KTO lists no other date for it.
What is new in 2026
Two entries stand out against earlier years:
- Workers' Day (May 1) honors workers' rights and welfare. KTO says it became an official public holiday in 2026.
- Constitution Day (July 17) commemorates the proclamation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea on July 17, 1948. KTO notes it had not been a public holiday for some time, and was reinstated starting in 2026.
Local Election Day (June 3) is also on the 2026 list. It is not an every-year holiday: KTO explains that local elections are held once every four years, and the day is made a national holiday so that all citizens can vote.
Why some dates change every year
Korea officially uses the Gregorian calendar, but its traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar. That is why their Gregorian dates move from year to year. Three of the 14 are lunar:
| Holiday | Lunar date |
|---|---|
| Seollal | 1st day of the 1st lunar month |
| Buddha's Birthday | 8th day of the 4th lunar month |
| Chuseok | 15th day of the 8th lunar month |
According to KTO, Seollal usually falls in February and Chuseok in September or October.
The two three-day holidays
Seollal and Chuseok are the only multi-day holidays. KTO describes both the same way: the holiday period runs for three consecutive days, with the main holiday in the middle and an additional public holiday on each side. KTO calls them the most important traditional holidays for Koreans, and says millions of people travel to their hometowns to be with family.
For a visitor, that matters more than any other date on the list. KTO notes that during Seollal and Chuseok, some businesses may close for several consecutive days.
What each national day marks
The fixed-date holidays each commemorate something specific, according to KTO:
- Independence Movement Day (March 1): the Declaration of Independence proclaimed on March 1, 1919, under Japanese colonial rule.
- Children's Day (May 5): a celebration of children, with family events at parks, amusement parks, zoos, and theaters.
- Buddha's Birthday: rituals at Buddhist temples nationwide, with lanterns hung along the streets leading to them.
- Memorial Day (June 6): honors soldiers and civilians who died for the country. The largest ceremony is held at the National Cemetery in Seoul.
- Liberation Day (August 15): Japan's acceptance of the Allies' surrender terms in 1945 and the liberation of Korea that followed.
- National Foundation Day (October 3): the founding of the Korean nation by the legendary god-king Dangun, with ceremonies at sites including Chamseongdan Altar on Manisan Mountain on Ganghwado Island.
- Hangeul Day (October 9): the creation of Hangeul, proclaimed by the publication of Hunminjeongeum on this day in 1446.
- New Year's Day (January 1): KTO notes that many Koreans head to the coast or the mountains to watch the year's first sunrise.
What stays open
KTO says that on public holidays, government offices and banks close, while palaces, museums, department stores, and amusement facilities generally stay open. KTO's guide to the traditional holidays adds that many royal palaces offer free admission during the Seollal and Chuseok holiday periods.
If you are planning a trip for the rest of 2026, the remaining public holiday after mid-October is Christmas Day, December 25.
Key takeaways
- Korea has 14 public holidays in 2026, according to KTO.
- Workers' Day became a public holiday in 2026, and Constitution Day was reinstated in 2026.
- KTO lists four weekday days off for holidays that fell on weekends: March 2, May 25, August 17, and October 5.
- Seollal, Buddha's Birthday, and Chuseok follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move every year.
- Seollal and Chuseok are three-day holidays when some businesses close for several days.