Korean public holidays

Working on a public holiday attracts holiday pay. Check your employment contract.

Main public holidays

• New Year's Day (1 January)
• Seollal (lunar new year, with the days either side)
• Independence Movement Day (1 March)
• Children's Day (5 May) / Buddha's Birthday (8th day of the 4th lunar month)
• Memorial Day (6 June)
• Liberation Day (15 August)
• Chuseok (15th day of the 8th lunar month, with the days either side)
• National Foundation Day (3 October) / Hangeul Day (9 October)
• Christmas (25 December)

Lunar holidays fall on different dates each year. Check the calendar annually.

What changes at the holidays

1. Transport — motorways and trains are extremely busy. Book tickets early.
2. Shops and clinics — many close. Find open clinics on e-gen. See night-weekend-clinic.
3. Banks and government offices — closed. Deal with urgent matters beforehand.
4. Deliveries — delayed.
5. Prices — groceries rise just before the holidays.

If you are working

• Working a public holiday can attract premium holiday pay. See overtime-pay.
• Whether substitute holidays apply depends on workplace size and rules.
• Holiday allowances and bonuses follow company rules and your contract.
• If something seems unfair, consult 1350.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (holiday work and pay)
• e-gen www.e-gen.or.kr (clinics open over holidays)
• 1330 tourist information and interpretation
• Korail www.letskorail.com (train booking)
• Community centre (local events)

Questions people ask

I have nowhere to go at the holidays. Local governments, family centres and faith organisations often run holiday events. Ask 1577-1366 or your community centre. See immigrant-community.

I want to visit home. Airfares are very high over the holidays. Check re-entry matters with 1345.

Do I get paid more for working the holiday? Check whether holiday premium pay applies. See your contract and ask 1350.

Visiting my in-laws is stressful. Family centres offer counselling on holiday conflict. See mediation-family.

Take care

Check clinic, pharmacy and bank schedules before a long holiday and keep basic medicines at home. Holiday traffic can take more than twice as long as usual, so plan with plenty of margin.

Related

chuseok-seollal · gift-culture · korean-etiquette · night-weekend-clinic · overtime-pay

Source

Ministry of the Interior and Safety www.mois.go.kr / As of 2026-08