Korea public holidays 2026 include 22 holiday date entries in the official holiday dataset published through the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). This guide organizes those official dates into a traveler-friendly calendar, with notes on Seollal, Chuseok, substitute holidays, transport planning, and business closures.
The calendar below is based on KASI's 2026 holiday information as verified on June 6, 2026. Holiday rules can be updated by the Korean government, so travelers should confirm final schedules with official sources before booking time-sensitive domestic travel.
1. Korea Public Holidays 2026 at a Glance
Korea's official holiday calendar combines fixed solar-calendar holidays, lunar-calendar holidays, substitute holidays, and one election day in 2026. KASI's 2026 dataset lists New Year's Day, Seollal, Independence Movement Day, Labor Day, Children's Day, Buddha's Birthday, nationwide local elections, Memorial Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, Chuseok, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, and Christmas Day.
For foreign visitors, the important point is not only the holiday name but also the travel pattern around it. Seollal (설날, Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (추석, Korean harvest holiday) are the two major family-travel periods. Intercity train seats, express buses, domestic flights, and highways can be heavily affected because many residents travel to their hometowns.
Several 2026 holidays fall on weekends and are followed by substitute holidays. According to the KASI entries, substitute holidays appear on March 2, May 25, August 17, and October 5 in 2026. These dates can create longer weekend travel periods, especially when the substitute holiday falls on a Monday.
For planning purposes, visitors should treat holiday periods as days when government offices, many banks, some clinics, and selected small businesses may close or operate differently. Large transport hubs, airports, major hotels, and tourist districts usually continue to function, but exact operating hours belong to each operator and should be checked directly.
2. Full Korea Public Holidays 2026 Calendar
The following list translates the official KASI holiday names into English while preserving the 2026 dates and weekdays. Korean names are included where they help travelers recognize signs, notices, and search results in Korea.
January 1, Thursday — New Year's Day (1월1일).
A fixed-date national holiday at the start of the solar calendar year.February 16, Monday — Seollal holiday (설날 연휴).
The first day of the Lunar New Year holiday period.February 17, Tuesday — Seollal (설날).
The main Lunar New Year holiday date listed by KASI.February 18, Wednesday — Seollal holiday (설날 연휴).
The third date in the official Seollal holiday period.March 1, Sunday — Independence Movement Day (삼일절).
A national holiday commemorating the March 1st Movement.March 2, Monday — Substitute holiday for Independence Movement Day (대체공휴일).
Listed by KASI because March 1 falls on a Sunday in 2026.May 1, Friday — Labor Day (노동절).
Included in the KASI 2026 holiday dataset.May 5, Tuesday — Children's Day (어린이날).
A fixed-date holiday widely associated with family activities.May 24, Sunday — Buddha's Birthday (부처님오신날).
A lunar-calendar holiday observed in Buddhist temples and public spaces.May 25, Monday — Substitute holiday for Buddha's Birthday (대체공휴일).
Listed by KASI because Buddha's Birthday falls on a Sunday in 2026.June 3, Wednesday — Nationwide local elections (전국동시지방선거).
KASI lists the election day as a holiday date in 2026.June 6, Saturday — Memorial Day (현충일).
A national remembrance day.July 17, Friday — Constitution Day (제헌절).
Listed as a holiday date in the KASI 2026 holiday information.August 15, Saturday — Liberation Day (광복절).
A national holiday marking Korea's liberation in 1945.August 17, Monday — Substitute holiday for Liberation Day (대체공휴일).
Listed by KASI because August 15 falls on a Saturday in 2026.September 24, Thursday — Chuseok holiday (추석 연휴).
The first day of the Korean harvest holiday period.September 25, Friday — Chuseok (추석).
The main Chuseok date in the KASI 2026 calendar.September 26, Saturday — Chuseok holiday (추석 연휴).
The third date in the official Chuseok holiday period.October 3, Saturday — National Foundation Day (개천절).
A fixed-date national holiday.October 5, Monday — Substitute holiday for National Foundation Day (대체공휴일).
Listed by KASI because October 3 falls on a Saturday in 2026.October 9, Friday — Hangeul Day (한글날).
A national holiday honoring the Korean writing system.December 25, Friday — Christmas Day (기독탄신일).
Listed by KASI as the 2026 Christmas holiday date.
Because this list follows the KASI entries, it may include dates that travelers do not always think of as general tourism holidays, such as election day or Labor Day. The safest approach is to use this calendar for planning, then confirm exact opening hours with each attraction, bank, clinic, store, or transport operator.
3. Major Holiday Periods Travelers Should Watch
The most important 2026 travel periods are Seollal in February and Chuseok in September. These are multi-day family holidays, and they affect domestic mobility more than single-day holidays do. Foreign visitors can still travel during these periods, but advance planning matters.
Seollal 2026 runs from February 16 to February 18 in the KASI holiday list. The central Seollal date is February 17. In Korea, Seollal is commonly associated with family visits, ancestral rites, and foods such as tteokguk (떡국, rice cake soup).
During Seollal, some restaurants, small shops, and independent attractions may close for part of the holiday period. Major hotels and airports continue to serve travelers, but neighborhood-level services can vary by district. If a restaurant, pharmacy, or local attraction is important to your itinerary, verify its holiday notice before relying on it.
Chuseok 2026 runs from September 24 to September 26 in the KASI holiday list. The central Chuseok date is September 25. Chuseok is often associated with family gatherings and seasonal foods such as songpyeon (송편, half-moon rice cakes).
Chuseok can be one of the most difficult periods for last-minute intercity transport. If your trip includes KTX, express buses, domestic flights, or travel from Seoul to regional cities, book as early as official ticketing rules allow. If your itinerary is flexible, staying in one city during the main holiday dates can reduce transport stress.
Buddha's Birthday also matters for travelers because temples and lantern displays may draw visitors. In 2026, KASI lists Buddha's Birthday on May 24 and a substitute holiday on May 25. Temple areas can be active around this period, and visitors should follow on-site guidance for religious spaces.
4. Pro Tips and Warnings for Holiday Travel
🚨 Important Warning: Do not assume that every attraction closes on a public holiday. Do not assume that every attraction opens either. Palaces, museums, theme parks, clinics, restaurants, banks, and department stores each follow their own operating notices. Public holiday status is only the first planning signal.
⏰ Timing Tip: For Seollal and Chuseok, check intercity routes before building the rest of the itinerary. A hotel night is easier to adjust than a sold-out train, full bus, or expensive domestic flight. If you plan to leave Seoul during these holidays, confirm the transport first and then arrange activities around it.
💡 Local Planning Tip: Use KakaoMap or Naver Map for local routing, opening-hour notices, and Korean place names. Google Maps can still help with general orientation, but Korean map apps usually provide more practical domestic transport and place-search details.
🗣️ Korean Phrase: “Is this open today?” is “Oneul yeong-eop hanayo?” (오늘 영업하나요?). “Public holiday” is “gonghyuil” (공휴일). These phrases can help when checking small restaurants, pharmacies, or neighborhood stores.
If you need help during a holiday, save key phone numbers before travel. For emergency medical or fire response, call 119. For police, call 112. For tourist interpretation, call 1330. For foreigner immigration and stay-related information, call 1345; from overseas, use +82-2-1345. BBB Korea interpretation is available at 1588-5644.
Holiday travel can also affect payments and cash access. Korea is card-friendly in many urban settings, but some traditional markets, small shops, or temporary stalls may be easier with cash or a local transport card. T-money and compatible transit cards are useful for subway and bus travel inside major cities.
When a holiday creates a three-day weekend, city-center attractions can feel different from intercity transport routes. Seoul may be quieter in some office districts but active around palaces, shopping streets, parks, and family-oriented places. Regional highways and long-distance routes can be more affected than local subway travel.
5. Practical Planning by Month
January to March: New Year's Day opens the year, followed by the Seollal holiday period in February and Independence Movement Day in March. Because Seollal is the first major travel period of 2026, it deserves the most attention for winter itineraries.
April to June: There is no KASI public holiday entry in April 2026, but May includes Labor Day, Children's Day, Buddha's Birthday, and a substitute holiday. June includes the nationwide local elections on June 3 and Memorial Day on June 6.
July to September: July 17 is listed as Constitution Day, and August includes Liberation Day plus a substitute holiday. September contains the Chuseok holiday period, which is the main autumn travel consideration for domestic routes.
October to December: October includes National Foundation Day, a substitute holiday, and Hangeul Day. December closes with Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, creating a weekend-friendly holiday period for city travel.
For a holiday-aware itinerary, place flexible city activities on holiday dates and fixed transport on non-peak days when possible. Palaces, parks, major shopping districts, and hotel-based activities may be easier to manage than long-distance travel during the busiest family-movement periods.
6. Next Steps for Planning Around Korea Public Holidays 2026
After checking the holiday calendar, match your itinerary to the type of travel you need. If you are staying in Seoul during a holiday period, browse things to do in Seoul and choose activities that are easy to rearrange if operating hours change.
If your trip includes arrival-day movement, compare Seoul transport options before booking hotels and tours. For city-based stays, hotels in Seoul can be a practical base during holidays because airport access, subway lines, and major tourist districts are easier to coordinate from the capital.
7. FAQ
How many Korea public holidays are listed for 2026?
KASI's 2026 holiday dataset returns 22 holiday date entries. This count includes multi-day holiday periods, substitute holidays, and dates such as the 2026 nationwide local elections.
When is Seollal 2026 in Korea?
KASI lists the Seollal holiday period from February 16 to February 18, 2026. The central Seollal date is February 17, 2026.
When is Chuseok 2026 in Korea?
KASI lists the Chuseok holiday period from September 24 to September 26, 2026. The central Chuseok date is September 25, 2026.
Are tourist attractions closed on Korean public holidays?
Some attractions close, some remain open, and some operate on adjusted hours. Public holiday status alone does not confirm opening hours, so check each official attraction or operator notice before visiting.
Which Korean holidays affect transport the most?
Seollal and Chuseok usually require the most careful planning because they are major family-travel periods. Book intercity trains, express buses, and domestic flights early when your itinerary overlaps with these dates.
Sources and References
Official Government and Public Sources:
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) — 2026 holiday information via the official special-day dataset.
Public Data Portal of Korea — public API access route for national special-day information.
Visit Korea — official Korea tourism information.
Hi Korea — immigration and stay-related official information.
Korea.net — official Korean government information portal.
Data Source: Public holidays: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), 2026 holiday dataset.
Helplines: Emergency 119 / Police 112 / Tourist interpretation 1330 / Foreigner information 1345 / BBB Korea interpretation 1588-5644.
Image Credits: Changdeokgung spring palace: Korea Tourism Organization / Lee Beom-su. Tteokguk: Korea Tourism Organization / Kim Ji-ho. Songpyeon: Torai Republic / Korea Tourism Organization. Jogyesa lanterns: Kang Seok-hwan / Korea Tourism Organization. Gwanghwamun Square: Korea Tourism Organization / Park Sung-geun. Jongmyo ceremony: Korea Tourism Organization / Kim Ji-ho. National Folk Museum near Gyeongbokgung: Korea Tourism Organization / Kim Ji-ho.
Last verified: June 6, 2026.
Holiday dates and operating rules can change. Always verify time-sensitive travel, transport, banking, clinic, and attraction information with official sources before travel.
