How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2026?
South Korea has 16 public holidays and 5 substitute holidays in 2026, a total of 21 days off, per Public Holidays in South Korea 2026 (Korea Tourism Organization).
South Korea has 16 public holidays in 2026, plus 5 substitute holidays — 21 days off in total, per Public Holidays in South Korea 2026 (Korea Tourism Organization). The longest long weekend lasts 5 days on 14–18 February 2026.
16 Public Holidays5 Substitute Holidays
Public HolidaySubstitute HolidayToday
January
Winter
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 1New Year's Day
February
Winter
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
- 16Seollal (Lunar New Year)
- 17Seollal (Lunar New Year)
- 18Seollal (Lunar New Year)
March
Spring
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 1Independence Movement Day
- 2Substitute Holiday (for Independence Movement Day)
April
Spring
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
No holidays this month.
May
Spring
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 5Children's Day
- 24Buddha's Birthday
- 25Substitute Holiday (for Buddha's Birthday)
June
Summer
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
- 3Nationwide Local Election Day
- 6Memorial Day
July
Summer
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
No holidays this month.
August
Summer
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 15Liberation Day
- 17Substitute Holiday (for Liberation Day)
September
Autumn
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
- 24Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
- 25Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
- 26Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
- 28Substitute Holiday (for Chuseok)
October
Autumn
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 3National Foundation Day
- 5Substitute Holiday (for National Foundation Day)
- 9Hangeul Day
November
Autumn
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
No holidays this month.
December
Winter
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
- 25Christmas Day
Long Weekends in South Korea, 2026
South Korea has 9 long-weekend periods in 2026 — runs of two or more consecutive work-free days formed by holidays and weekends. The longest lasts 5 days on 14–18 February 2026, covering Seollal (Lunar New Year). Use the day-by-day breakdown of each period to plan trips and leave requests.
14–18 February 2026
*includes a regular Saturday
5 days
- Sat14Saturday
- Sun15SundayHoliday
- Mon16Seollal (Lunar New Year)Holiday
- Tue17Seollal (Lunar New Year)Holiday
- Wed18Seollal (Lunar New Year)Holiday
28 February – 2 March 2026
*includes a regular Saturday
3 days
- Sat28Saturday
- Sun1Independence Movement DayHoliday
- Mon2Substitute Holiday (for Independence Movement Day)Substitute
23–25 May 2026
*includes a regular Saturday
3 days
- Sat23Saturday
- Sun24Buddha's BirthdayHoliday
- Mon25Substitute Holiday (for Buddha's Birthday)Substitute
6–7 June 2026
entirely official days off
2 days
- Sat6Memorial DayHoliday
- Sun7SundayHoliday
15–17 August 2026
entirely official days off
3 days
- Sat15Liberation DayHoliday
- Sun16SundayHoliday
- Mon17Substitute Holiday (for Liberation Day)Substitute
24–28 September 2026
entirely official days off
5 days
- Thu24Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)Holiday
- Fri25Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)Holiday
- Sat26Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)Holiday
- Sun27SundayHoliday
- Mon28Substitute Holiday (for Chuseok)Substitute
3–5 October 2026
entirely official days off
3 days
- Sat3National Foundation DayHoliday
- Sun4SundayHoliday
- Mon5Substitute Holiday (for National Foundation Day)Substitute
9–11 October 2026
*includes a regular Saturday
3 days
- Fri9Hangeul DayHoliday
- Sat10Saturday
- Sun11SundayHoliday
25–27 December 2026
*includes a regular Saturday
3 days
- Fri25Christmas DayHoliday
- Sat26Saturday
- Sun27SundayHoliday
South Korea Public Holidays in 2026
Throughout 2026, South Korea has 16 public holidays and 5 substitute holidays. The first holiday falls on 1 January (New Year's Day) and the last on 25 December (Christmas Day).
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Holiday |
| 16 February 2026 | Monday | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Holiday |
| 17 February 2026 | Tuesday | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Holiday |
| 18 February 2026 | Wednesday | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Holiday |
| 1 March 2026 | Sunday | Independence Movement Day | Holiday |
| 2 March 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for Independence Movement Day) | Substitute |
| 5 May 2026 | Tuesday | Children's Day | Holiday |
| 24 May 2026 | Sunday | Buddha's Birthday | Holiday |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for Buddha's Birthday) | Substitute |
| 3 June 2026 | Wednesday | Nationwide Local Election Day | Holiday |
| 6 June 2026 | Saturday | Memorial Day | Holiday |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Liberation Day | Holiday |
| 17 August 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for Liberation Day) | Substitute |
| 24 September 2026 | Thursday | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | Holiday |
| 25 September 2026 | Friday | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | Holiday |
| 26 September 2026 | Saturday | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | Holiday |
| 28 September 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for Chuseok) | Substitute |
| 3 October 2026 | Saturday | National Foundation Day | Holiday |
| 5 October 2026 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for National Foundation Day) | Substitute |
| 9 October 2026 | Friday | Hangeul Day | Holiday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Holiday |
Official source: Public Holidays in South Korea 2026 (Korea Tourism Organization) (Official public holidays, including the nationwide local election day (3 June 2026). When an eligible holiday falls on a weekend or another holiday, the next working day becomes a substitute holiday; Memorial Day is not eligible.). Compiled by CalendarWorld. Official public holidays, including the nationwide local election day (3 June 2026). Workers' Day (1 May) is a paid day off for many private-sector employees but not an official public holiday.
Download South Korea 2026 Holiday Data
The South Korea 2026 holiday data is available in open formats: JSON for applications, CSV for spreadsheets, and ICS for importing into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook.
Seasons in South Korea
South Korea is in the Northern Hemisphere, with four temperate seasons. Four distinct seasons with a summer monsoon (jangma) in late June–July.
Current season in South Korea
Spring
March – May
Days lengthen and temperatures climb after winter; trees blossom and the growing season begins.
Astronomical: 20 Mar – 21 JunSummer
June – August
The warmest season, with the longest daylight hours around the summer solstice.
Astronomical: 21 Jun – 23 SepAutumn
September – November
Temperatures cool and days shorten; deciduous leaves turn colour and fall.
Astronomical: 23 Sep – 21 DecWinter
December – February
The coldest season, with the shortest daylight hours around the winter solstice.
Astronomical: 21 Dec – 20 MarSeasonal timing is approximate and varies by region and year. Compare seasons across all countries →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many long weekends are there in South Korea in 2026?
There are 9 long-weekend periods in South Korea in 2026. The longest lasts 5 days on 14-18 February 2026, covering Seollal (Lunar New Year).
What is the official source for the 2026 South Korea holiday calendar?
The official source is Public Holidays in South Korea 2026 (Korea Tourism Organization) (Official public holidays, including the nationwide local election day (3 June 2026). When an eligible holiday falls on a weekend or another holiday, the next working day becomes a substitute holiday; Memorial Day is not eligible).
How do substitute holidays work in South Korea?
When an eligible public holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps another holiday, the next working day becomes a substitute holiday. 2026 has five substitute holidays: 2 March, 25 May, 17 August, 28 September, and 5 October. Memorial Day (Saturday, 6 June) is not eligible and gets no substitute.
Is 1 May a public holiday in South Korea?
Not officially. Workers' Day (1 May) is a paid day off for employees covered by the Labor Standards Act — most private-sector workers — but it is not a designated public holiday, so government offices and schools stay open.