Korea’s public holiday calendar includes 16 official holidays in 2026, with substitute holidays (대체공휴일) expanding the actual number of non-working days further. For expats, the key practical issues aren’t the holiday dates themselves — it’s knowing what actually closes, how the Chuseok and Seollal migration periods affect daily life, and how to navigate the country when much of it shuts down simultaneously.
1. Korea Public Holidays 2026 — Full Calendar
| Date | Holiday | Korean Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | 신정 | 1 day; most businesses closed |
| January 28–30 | Lunar New Year | 설날 | 3 days (eve + holiday + day after); substitute holiday Jan 31 if applicable |
| March 1 | Independence Movement Day | 삼일절 | National holiday; parades and ceremonies |
| May 5 | Children’s Day | 어린이날 | Major family outing day; theme parks, zoos packed |
| May 15 | Buddha’s Birthday | 부처님 오신 날 | Lunar calendar date varies; lantern festivals |
| June 6 | Memorial Day | 현충일 | Somber national holiday; ceremonies at cemeteries |
| August 15 | Liberation Day | 광복절 | National holiday; flags displayed everywhere |
| October 1–3 | Chuseok | 추석 | 3 days (eve + holiday + day after); biggest holiday of the year |
| October 3 | National Foundation Day | 개천절 | Often overlaps with Chuseok period |
| October 9 | Hangul Day | 한글날 | Celebrates Korean alphabet |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | 크리스마스 | Public holiday; commercial Christmas widely observed |
Note: Lunar calendar holidays (Seollal, Chuseok, Buddha’s Birthday) fall on different Gregorian dates each year. The dates above are for 2026 — verify current year dates at the Ministry of Government Legislation (moleg.go.kr).
Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety (행정안전부), 2026 Official Public Holidays
2. The Substitute Holiday System (대체공휴일)
Korea’s substitute holiday (대체공휴일) rule was expanded significantly in 2023. The current rules:
- If a public holiday falls on Saturday: the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday
- If a public holiday falls on Sunday: the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday
- If two public holidays overlap (e.g., Chuseok overlaps with another holiday): the first non-holiday weekday after becomes a substitute
- Applies to: Seollal, Chuseok, Children’s Day, Independence Movement Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangul Day, Christmas
In practice, this means Koreans often get “golden weeks” — when a cluster of holidays plus substitute days plus weekends create extended breaks of 5–10 days.
Source: Regulations on Public Holidays of Government Offices (관공서의 공휴일에 관한 규정), 2023 amendment
3. Chuseok (추석): What Expats Need to Know
Chuseok is Korea’s most significant holiday — the autumn harvest festival equivalent to Thanksgiving. For expats, it’s the holiday with the most practical impact:
What Closes During Chuseok
- Government offices: All closed for all 3+ days
- Banks: Closed; ATMs still operate
- Most independent shops and local restaurants: Many close, especially family-run businesses
- Supermarkets (E-Mart, Homeplus, Lotte Mart): Often closed on Chuseok day itself; open the day before and after
- Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven): Open throughout — these are essential during Chuseok
- Large malls and department stores: Some close on the main holiday day; check in advance
- Pharmacies: Emergency duty pharmacies (당직 약국) operate; regular pharmacies often closed
- Hospitals and clinics: Most clinics close; emergency rooms at major hospitals remain open
What Stays Open
- Convenience stores (always open)
- Chain restaurants (McDonald’s, Lotteria, etc. — most stay open)
- Delivery apps (배달의민족, Coupang Eats) continue operating with reduced restaurant selection
- Tourist attractions (many stay open to serve travelers)
- Public transit (subway and buses run normal schedule)
The Mass Migration Problem
During Chuseok, an estimated 30–40 million Koreans travel to their hometowns. This creates:
- Expressway congestion: What normally takes 2 hours can take 8–12 hours on the day before Chuseok. The traffic information service (Naver Map, Kakao Map) shows real-time highway times — check before driving.
- Train and bus tickets: KTX and intercity bus tickets sell out months in advance. If you need to travel during Chuseok, book as early as possible.
- Seoul becomes quieter: Many Seoul residents leave for their hometowns. Inner Seoul actually becomes less crowded than usual — good for visiting normally-packed tourist spots.
- Return traffic: The last day of Chuseok sees the heaviest return traffic into Seoul — avoid driving into Seoul on Chuseok evening.
4. Seollal (설날): Lunar New Year
Seollal is the second major holiday — the Lunar New Year. It has similar patterns to Chuseok but different cultural emphasis:
- 3 days official holiday + often a substitute day = typically a 4–5 day break
- Same closure patterns as Chuseok — most family businesses close, convenience stores stay open
- Traditional activities: bowing ceremony (세배), ancestral rites (차례), traditional foods (떡국)
- For expats: a good time to experience traditional Korea or to travel (Seoul empties out)
- Incheon Airport is extremely busy on Seollal — overseas Koreans return home; factor this into any travel plans
5. Children’s Day (어린이날): May 5
Children’s Day has outsized practical impact for expats compared to its single-day duration:
- Theme parks (Everland, Lotte World), zoos, museums, and family entertainment venues are extremely crowded — avoid or book well in advance
- May 5 often creates a “golden week” when combined with surrounding weekends and Buddha’s Birthday (May)
- Restaurants in family-friendly areas (Hongdae, parks) see long waits — plan accordingly
6. How Holidays Affect Expat Work Life
Public holidays in Korea affect work as follows:
- Public holidays are separate from annual leave (연차) — a public holiday doesn’t consume your 15 days of annual leave
- Companies with fewer than 5 employees are not legally required to observe public holidays — check your contract
- If you work on a public holiday, you’re entitled to additional pay (holiday work premium: 150% of normal rate for the first 8 hours)
- Some companies give “company holidays” (회사 휴일) for the days between public holidays and weekends — these are voluntary, not legally required
Source: Labor Standards Act (근로기준법), Ministry of Employment and Labor, 2026
7. Practical Preparation Tips
- Before Chuseok and Seollal: Stock your pantry — even convenience stores may have limited fresh stock during the peak days
- Banking: Complete any urgent banking before the holiday period; ATMs work but in-branch services are unavailable
- Prescriptions: Refill any regular medications before the holiday — clinics and pharmacies often close for 3–5 days during major holidays
- Delivery: Coupang Rocket Delivery slows during major holidays; order essential items a few days before
- Travel within Korea: If traveling by KTX during Chuseok/Seollal, book tickets the day they go on sale (usually ~1 month ahead)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I get paid for public holidays?
A: Yes — public holidays are paid days off for employees at companies with 5+ employees. They don’t come out of your annual leave balance. If you’re required to work on a public holiday, you’re entitled to holiday pay premium (통상임금의 150%).
Q: Is Christmas a big deal in Korea?
A: Commercially yes — Christmas lighting and decorations are extensive, and December 24–25 is a popular date night. Religiously, it’s significant for Korea’s large Christian population (about 28% of the population). It’s a public holiday, but it has a different cultural character than in Western countries — more romantic couple-holiday than family holiday.
Q: Can I get emergency medical care during Chuseok?
A: Yes — major hospital emergency rooms (응급실) operate 24/7 regardless of holidays. The 119 emergency number and 1339 (medical emergency consultation) both operate during holidays. For non-emergency care, the government maintains a rotating pharmacy duty roster (당직약국) — find the nearest one via the NHIS app or 1339.
Q: My Korean colleagues are taking off the entire week around Chuseok. Should I too?
A: It’s culturally normal to use annual leave to extend the Chuseok break into a full week. Many companies informally accommodate this. If you don’t have Korean family to visit, it’s a good time to travel within Korea (to less-crowded areas) or abroad (Incheon Airport is very busy but international flights continue normally).
Key Resources
- Official holiday calendar: moleg.go.kr (Ministry of Government Legislation)
- KTX ticket booking: letskorail.com (book early for Chuseok/Seollal)
- Emergency pharmacy finder: NHIS app (건강인) → 당직약국 찾기
- Real-time traffic: Naver Map → 고속도로 교통정보