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South Korea holidays in 2026
How many public holidays does South Korea get in 2026? There are 18 nationwide holidays. The year opens with 새해 (January 1, a Thursday) and closes with 크리스마스 (December 25). The full table is below.
Every South Korea holiday in 2026
| Date | Weekday | Local name | English name | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | 새해 | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| February 16 | Monday | 설날 | Lunar New Year | Nationwide |
| February 17 | Tuesday | 설날 | Lunar New Year | Nationwide |
| February 18 | Wednesday | 설날 | Lunar New Year | Nationwide |
| March 2 | Monday | 3·1절 | Independence Movement Day | Nationwide |
| May 1 | Friday | 노동절 | Labour Day | Nationwide |
| May 5 | Tuesday | 어린이날 | Children's Day | Nationwide |
| May 25 | Monday | 부처님 오신 날 | Buddha's Birthday | Nationwide |
| June 3 | Wednesday | 지방 선거일 | Local Election Day | Nationwide |
| June 6 | Saturday | 현충일 | Memorial Day | Nationwide |
| July 17 | Friday | 제헌절 | Constitution Day | Nationwide |
| August 17 | Monday | 광복절 | Liberation Day | Nationwide |
| September 24 | Thursday | 추석 | Chuseok | Nationwide |
| September 25 | Friday | 추석 | Chuseok | Nationwide |
| September 26 | Saturday | 추석 | Chuseok | Nationwide |
| October 5 | Monday | 개천절 | National Foundation Day | Nationwide |
| October 9 | Friday | 한글날 | Hangul Day | Nationwide |
| December 25 | Friday | 크리스마스 | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
Long weekends in 2026: 10 built in
- 설날 (Lunar New Year) falls on a Monday, February 16: three days off in a row.
- 3·1절 (Independence Movement Day) falls on a Monday, March 2: three days off in a row.
- 노동절 (Labour Day) falls on a Friday, May 1: three days off in a row.
- 부처님 오신 날 (Buddha's Birthday) falls on a Monday, May 25: three days off in a row.
- 제헌절 (Constitution Day) falls on a Friday, July 17: three days off in a row.
- 광복절 (Liberation Day) falls on a Monday, August 17: three days off in a row.
- 추석 (Chuseok) falls on a Friday, September 25: three days off in a row.
- 개천절 (National Foundation Day) falls on a Monday, October 5: three days off in a row.
- 한글날 (Hangul Day) falls on a Friday, October 9: three days off in a row.
- 크리스마스 (Christmas Day) falls on a Friday, December 25: three days off in a row.
On top of those, 4 dates land on a Tuesday or Thursday (새해, January 1; 설날, February 17; 어린이날, May 5; 추석, September 24): one bridge day turns each into a four day break.
What makes the South Korea calendar unique
Every country celebrates some New Year; the South Korea signature lives in the other dates: 3·1절 (Independence Movement Day, March 2), found in no other country in the dataset; 지방 선거일 (Local Election Day, June 3), found in no other country in the dataset; 추석 (Chuseok, September 24), found in no other country in the dataset. The longest dry spell of the year runs from 한글날 (October 9) to 크리스마스 (December 25): 77 straight days without a single nationwide holiday. In 2027, there will be 17 nationwide holidays and 3·1절 will fall on a Monday (March 1).
Source: Nager.Date (MIT), snapshot of 2026-07-09. Regional and municipal holidays vary by state, province and city and may not appear here; movable dates and last minute decrees also reshape the calendar. Check the local official gazette before planning travel or payroll.
Last updated: · Methodology and sources