South Korea's calendar is anchored by two lunar festivals — Seollal and Chuseok — each running three days and shifting every year, alongside fixed civic dates.

How people take the days

Substitute holidays apply when major holidays fall on a weekend, a system expanded in recent years. Seollal and Chuseok produce the heaviest domestic travel of the year as families return to home towns.

If you're visiting

Department stores and restaurants often close on the two lunar holidays, which surprises visitors expecting Korea's usual round-the-clock trading. Intercity tickets sell out weeks ahead.

If you live here

Fifteen days of annual leave after a year of service is the statutory base. Public holidays became mandatory paid leave for private employers on a phased schedule completed in 2022.

What these days actually mean

Observance, business closures and transport impact for the next few dates.

Chuseok

24 Sep 2026

Public

Observance: The autumn harvest festival and the biggest family gathering of the year: ancestral rites, songpyeon rice cakes, and a mass return to hometowns over three days.
Business: Most offices, banks and small businesses close for the full stretch; department stores shut on the main day.
Transport: The heaviest travel period in Korea — expressways run at a crawl and KTX seats sell out weeks ahead.

Written for this country

Chuseok

25 Sep 2026

Public

Observance: The autumn harvest festival and the biggest family gathering of the year: ancestral rites, songpyeon rice cakes, and a mass return to hometowns over three days.
Business: Most offices, banks and small businesses close for the full stretch; department stores shut on the main day.
Transport: The heaviest travel period in Korea — expressways run at a crawl and KTX seats sell out weeks ahead.

Written for this country

Chuseok

26 Sep 2026

Public

Observance: The autumn harvest festival and the biggest family gathering of the year: ancestral rites, songpyeon rice cakes, and a mass return to hometowns over three days.
Business: Most offices, banks and small businesses close for the full stretch; department stores shut on the main day.
Transport: The heaviest travel period in Korea — expressways run at a crawl and KTX seats sell out weeks ahead.

Written for this country

National Foundation Day

5 Oct 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

KRSouth Korea · 2026

Bridge days worth booking

How the holiday year works in South Korea

The calendar

How people take the days

If you're visiting

If you live here

What these days actually mean

Chuseok

Chuseok

Chuseok

National Foundation Day

South Korea · 2026