Toolkit Provider
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท 2026 Korea Holidays
|
โฐ -
โ† Back to Tools

2026 South Korea Public Holidays

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Year 2026 ยท Year of the Fire Horse

Complete list of South Korean public holidays and substitute holidays. Government offices, banks, and schools are closed on public holidays.

15
Total Public Holidays
4
Substitute Holidays
118
Total Days Off
Jan 1
Thursday
New Year's Day
Celebration of the first day of the new year
Feb 16-18
Mon-Wed
Seollal (Lunar New Year)
Korean Lunar New Year, one of the biggest traditional holidays
* Including Feb 14-15 (Sat-Sun) makes a 5-day holiday
3-Day Holiday
Mar 1
Sunday
Independence Movement Day
Commemorating the March 1st independence movement of 1919
Sunday
Mar 2
Monday
Substitute Holiday
Substitute for Independence Movement Day (Sunday โ†’ Monday)
Substitute
May 5
Tuesday
Children's Day
A day to honor children and their happiness
* Take May 4 (Mon) off for a 4-day holiday
May 24
Sunday
Buddha's Birthday
Celebration of the birth of Buddha
Sunday
May 25
Monday
Substitute Holiday
Substitute for Buddha's Birthday (Sunday โ†’ Monday)
Substitute
Jun 6
Saturday
Memorial Day
Day to honor those who died serving the country
* Falls on Saturday, no substitute holiday
Saturday
Aug 15
Saturday
Liberation Day
Commemorating liberation from Japanese rule in 1945
Saturday
Aug 17
Monday
Substitute Holiday
Substitute for Liberation Day (Saturday โ†’ Monday)
Substitute
Sep 24-26
Thu-Sat
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Korean harvest festival and thanksgiving celebration
* Take Sep 23 (Wed) off for a 6-day holiday
3-Day Holiday
Oct 3
Saturday
National Foundation Day
Commemorating the founding of Korea by Dangun in 2333 BCE
Saturday
Oct 5
Monday
Substitute Holiday
Substitute for National Foundation Day (Saturday โ†’ Monday)
Substitute
Oct 9
Friday
Hangeul Day
Celebrating the proclamation of Hangeul by King Sejong in 1446
* 3-day weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun)
3-Day Holiday
Dec 25
Friday
Christmas Day
Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
* 3-day weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun)
3-Day Holiday

๐Ÿ’ก Additional Information

  • โ€ข 2026 Highlights: Year of the Fire Horse (Byeong-o)
  • โ€ข 4 Substitute Holidays: March 1st, Buddha's Birthday, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day
  • โ€ข Both Seollal and Chuseok fall on weekdays, allowing for full holiday enjoyment.
  • โ€ข Substitute Holiday System: Applied when Seollal, Chuseok, or Children's Day falls on weekends.
  • โ€ข Also applied when March 1st, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, or Hangeul Day falls on weekends.
  • โ€ข Government offices, banks, and post offices are closed on public holidays. Private companies follow their own policies.

โœˆ๏ธ Vacation Planning Tips

  • โญ Children's Day: Take May 4 (Mon) off โ†’ 4-day holiday
  • โญ Chuseok: Take Sep 23 (Wed) off โ†’ 6-day holiday (Wed-Mon)
  • โญ October Holiday: Take Oct 6-8 (Tue-Thu) off โ†’ 9-day mega holiday!
  • โญ Christmas: Take Dec 24 (Thu) off โ†’ 4-day holiday