Korean Public Holidays 2027: Dates and Long Weekends
South Korea has 24 public holidays in 2027, including substitute days. The two big ones are Seollal (Lunar New Year), Sat, Feb 6 - Mon, Feb 8 plus a substitute day on Feb 9, and Chuseok, Tue, Sep 14 - Thu, Sep 16. The full list below comes from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute's official holiday data.
All 2027 public holidays in South Korea
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year's Day |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) |
| Sun, Feb 7 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) |
| Mon, Feb 8 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) |
| Tue, Feb 9 | Substitute holiday for Seollal (Lunar New Year) |
| Mon, Mar 1 | Independence Movement Day |
| Sat, May 1 | Labor Day |
| Mon, May 3 | Substitute holiday for Labor Day |
| Wed, May 5 | Children's Day |
| Thu, May 13 | Buddha's Birthday |
| Sun, Jun 6 | Memorial Day |
| Sat, Jul 17 | Constitution Day |
| Mon, Jul 19 | Substitute holiday for Constitution Day |
| Sun, Aug 15 | Liberation Day |
| Mon, Aug 16 | Substitute holiday for Liberation Day |
| Tue, Sep 14 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Wed, Sep 15 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Thu, Sep 16 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Sun, Oct 3 | National Foundation Day |
| Mon, Oct 4 | Substitute holiday for National Foundation Day |
| Sat, Oct 9 | Hangeul Day |
| Mon, Oct 11 | Substitute holiday for Hangeul Day |
| Sat, Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
| Mon, Dec 27 | Substitute holiday for Christmas Day |
Source: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) special-day data via data.go.kr, checked 2026-10-16. The government can add one-off holidays during the year.
Long weekends in 2027
Stretches of three or more days off in a row, counting weekends and substitute holidays. These are the dates when domestic trains, buses, flights to Jeju and popular hotels fill up first.
| Dates | Length | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1 - Sun, Jan 3 | 3 days | New Year's Day |
| Sat, Feb 6 - Tue, Feb 9 | 4 days | Seollal (Lunar New Year) |
| Sat, Feb 27 - Mon, Mar 1 | 3 days | Independence Movement Day |
| Sat, May 1 - Mon, May 3 | 3 days | Labor Day |
| Sat, Jul 17 - Mon, Jul 19 | 3 days | Constitution Day |
| Sat, Aug 14 - Mon, Aug 16 | 3 days | Liberation Day |
| Tue, Sep 14 - Thu, Sep 16 | 3 days | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) |
| Sat, Oct 2 - Mon, Oct 4 | 3 days | National Foundation Day |
| Sat, Oct 9 - Mon, Oct 11 | 3 days | Hangeul Day |
| Sat, Dec 25 - Mon, Dec 27 | 3 days | Christmas Day |
What the holidays mean for travelers
Seollal and Chuseok
These are family holidays. Millions of people travel to their hometowns at the start and come back at the end, so intercity trains and express buses for those days sell out early and highways are slow. Seoul itself becomes noticeably quieter in the middle of the holiday. Many small restaurants and market stalls close for one to three days, while large stores, chain cafés, convenience stores and major attractions mostly stay open. Always check a specific place's holiday schedule before you go.
Spring holidays
Labor Day (May 1), Children's Day (May 5) and Buddha's Birthday (May 13 in 2027) cluster in early and mid May, a popular season for domestic travel. Around Buddha's Birthday, temples hang lanterns and many hold events open to visitors.
Autumn holidays
After Chuseok, National Foundation Day (Oct 3) and Hangeul Day (Oct 9) both fall on weekends in 2027, so Monday, Oct 4 and Monday, Oct 11 are substitute holidays, creating two long weekends in a row during peak autumn-foliage season.
Remaining 2026 holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 3 | National Foundation Day |
| Mon, Oct 5 | Substitute holiday for National Foundation Day |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Hangeul Day |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
Frequently asked questions
When is Seollal (Lunar New Year) in 2027?
Seollal falls on Sunday, February 7, 2027. The public holiday runs from February 6 to 8, and because one of those days is a Sunday, Tuesday, February 9 is a substitute holiday.
When is Chuseok in 2027?
Chuseok is Wednesday, September 15, 2027. The holiday covers September 14 to 16 (Tuesday to Thursday).
How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2027?
24 days in the official list, including substitute holidays; 15 of them fall on weekdays.
What is a substitute holiday in Korea?
When certain public holidays fall on a weekend (or overlap another holiday), the next weekday becomes a day off. In 2027 that happens for Seollal, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day and Christmas.
Are shops and attractions open on Korean holidays?
Most big stores, cafés and tourist areas in cities stay open, but many small family-run shops and market stalls close for the first days of Seollal and Chuseok. Check opening days with each venue before you go, and book trains and buses early for those two holidays.
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