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How it works
- 2026: 22 public holidays, including 4 substitute holidays. 2027: 24, including 7.
- Seollal 2027: February 7, 2027. Chuseok 2027: September 15, 2027.
- A holiday on a weekend usually moves to the next weekday. New Year's Day and Memorial Day do not.
- Labor Day and Constitution Day became public holidays in 2026.
Days off in 2026 and 2027
| Year | Public holidays | Substitute holidays | On a weekend | Weekdays off | Days off in total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 120 |
| 2027 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 119 |
Public holidays exclude ordinary Sundays. Days off in total counts every Saturday and Sunday plus weekday holidays.
When is there a substitute holiday?
A substitute holiday (대체공휴일) is the next weekday that is not already a holiday. It is given when Independence Movement Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, Buddha's Birthday, Labor Day, Children's Day or Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
The Seollal and Chuseok holidays get one only when a day falls on a Sunday. When two holidays fall on the same weekday, one substitute holiday is also given. New Year's Day and Memorial Day never get a substitute holiday.
Seollal and Chuseok move every year
Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok follow the lunar calendar, so their solar dates change each year. Each is a 3-day holiday. In 2027, Seollal is on Sunday, February 7, 2027 and Chuseok on Wednesday, September 15, 2027.
New from 2026: Labor Day and Constitution Day
Labor Day (May 1) became a public holiday from May 1, 2026, and Constitution Day (July 17) from May 11, 2026, under the amended Regulations on Holidays of Government Offices.
Substitute holidays in 2027
| Date | Instead of |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, February 9, 2027 | Seollal |
| Monday, May 3, 2027 | Labor Day |
| Monday, July 19, 2027 | Constitution Day |
| Monday, August 16, 2027 | Liberation Day |
| Monday, October 4, 2027 | National Foundation Day |
| Monday, October 11, 2027 | Hangeul Day |
| Monday, December 27, 2027 | Christmas Day |
FAQ
How many public holidays does Korea have in 2027?
24, including 7 substitute holidays, not counting ordinary Sundays. 9 fall on a weekend, so there are 15 weekday holidays.
When is Chuseok in 2026 and 2027?
Chuseok is on Friday, September 25, 2026 in 2026 and Wednesday, September 15, 2027 in 2027. The day before and the day after are holidays too.
Do private companies give public holidays off?
Workplaces with 5 or more employees must give public holidays and substitute holidays as paid holidays under the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법) Article 55 paragraph 2. This rule does not apply to workplaces with fewer than 5 employees.
Is there a substitute holiday if Memorial Day falls on a weekend?
No. Memorial Day and New Year's Day are not covered by the substitute holiday rule.
Are temporary holidays included?
No. The government designates temporary holidays case by case. They are added after they are announced.
Sources
- Regulations on Holidays of Government Offices (관공서의 공휴일에 관한 규정), Presidential Decree No. 36290, promulgated April 30, 2026, effective May 1, 2026: Article 2 (public holidays), Article 3 (substitute holidays), Article 4 (temporary holidays)
- Korea AeroSpace Administration (우주항공청), 2026 and 2027 almanac (월력요항): solar dates of Seollal, Buddha's Birthday and Chuseok
- Public Official Election Act (공직선거법) Article 34 paragraph 1: June 3, 2026 local elections
- Labor Standards Act (근로기준법) Article 55 paragraph 2: public holidays as paid holidays, and the Enforcement Decree Article 7, Table 1 for workplaces with 4 or fewer employees
Rules last checked on October 7, 2026.
Not included
- Temporary holidays and by-election days not yet announced
- Company holidays such as foundation days
- Holidays after 2027. They are added when the official almanac for that year is published.