Working on public holidays
If you worked on a public holiday you should receive holiday work premium. If you took the day off, it is often guaranteed as paid.
Korea's main public holidays
- Seollal (Lunar New Year, three days)
- Chuseok (Harvest festival, three days)
- Independence Movement Day, Children's Day, Buddha's Birthday, Memorial Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangul Day, Christmas, New Year's Day
- Election days and other temporary public holidays
Dates change each year — check the calendar for the year.
Steps
- Check whether your company closes on public holidays. It is in the work rules or your contract.
- If you agree to work, record your hours.
- Check the holiday work line on your payslip.
- If it is missing, ask the employer, then get advice from 1350.
What you need
- Labour contract and work rules
- Records of holiday work
- Payslips
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Your regional labour office · labor.moel.go.kr
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
Questions people ask
Does every company close on public holidays? Application can differ by workplace size and industry. Check your case with 1350.
I want to go home for Seollal or Chuseok. Adding annual leave lets you take a longer trip. Agree it with the company before buying tickets.
They promised a special allowance for holiday work and didn't pay. Keep the promise in messages. Holiday premium pay is set by law, separately from any promise.
The company closes for the holiday — is that day unpaid? It is often guaranteed as a paid holiday. Check your payslip and ask 1350.
Take care
Some employers pile work into the holiday period and pay no premium. Record the hours and who instructed you.
Related
overtime-pay · annual-leave · weekly-holiday-pay
Source
Ministry of Employment and Labor www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08