Korea has 16 official public holidays, and knowing when they fall — and what is open or closed — is essential for any foreigner living, studying, or working in Seoul. Some Korean public holidays, like Chuseok (추석) and Seollal (설날), are multi-day celebrations when most businesses close, transportation becomes incredibly busy, and the entire country seems to travel at once. This guide covers all Korean public holidays for 2025 and 2026, explains what each holiday means, lists what stays open and what closes, and gives practical planning tips for foreign students.

Complete List of Korean Public Holidays 2025

January 1: New Year's Day (신정) — 1 day
January 28–30: Lunar New Year / Seollal (설날) — 3 days holiday (Jan 28 is the eve, Jan 29 is the main day, Jan 30 is the day after)
March 1: Independence Movement Day (삼일절) — commemorating the 1919 uprising against Japanese colonial rule
May 5: Children's Day (어린이날)
May 5: Buddha's Birthday (부처님오신날) — in 2025, this coincides with Children's Day creating a substitute holiday on May 6
June 6: Memorial Day (현충일)
August 15: Liberation Day (광복절) — commemorating liberation from Japanese rule in 1945
October 3–5: Chuseok / Korean Thanksgiving (추석) — 3 days
October 3: National Foundation Day (개천절)
October 9: Hangul Day (한글날) — celebrating the creation of the Korean alphabet
December 25: Christmas Day (크리스마스)

Complete List of Korean Public Holidays 2026

January 1: New Year's Day (신정)
February 16–18: Lunar New Year / Seollal (설날) — 3 days
March 1: Independence Movement Day (삼일절)
May 5: Children's Day (어린이날)
May 24: Buddha's Birthday (부처님오신날)
June 6: Memorial Day (현충일)
August 15: Liberation Day (광복절)
September 23–25: Chuseok / Korean Thanksgiving (추석) — 3 days
October 3: National Foundation Day (개천절)
October 9: Hangul Day (한글날)
December 25: Christmas Day (크리스마스)

Seollal (설날): Korean Lunar New Year

Seollal is one of the two most important holidays in Korea (along with Chuseok). It falls on the first day of the lunar calendar year, usually in late January or mid-February. The official holiday is 3 days, but many Koreans take additional days off, making it effectively a 5–7 day holiday for families. During Seollal:

Closed: Most local restaurants, small shops, banks, government offices, many traditional markets
Open: Major convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven — 24/7), large shopping malls in tourist areas, hotels, some chain restaurants, Emart stores (hours may be reduced)
Transport: KTX tickets sell out weeks in advance — book early if travelling. Seoul subway runs normally. Buses and airport limousines operate but are packed

Foreign students who stay in Seoul during Seollal often find it surprisingly quiet and pleasant — tourist sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace have free entry and special traditional performances, and the city is less crowded than usual as many Koreans travel home.

Chuseok (추석): Korean Thanksgiving

Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, typically in late September or early October. It is a harvest festival where Koreans pay respects to ancestors and gather with family. Like Seollal, Chuseok is a 3-day official holiday with many businesses closed for 5–7 days in practice. The same patterns apply — book transport early, convenience stores stay open, palaces offer free entry.

Traditional Chuseok food includes songpyeon (반달 모양 송편, half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame seeds and red bean). Many Korean students bring these to share with foreign friends at university.

Substitute Holidays (대체공휴일)

Korea has a substitute holiday system (대체공휴일) — if a public holiday falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or another holiday, a makeup holiday is given on the following Monday. This is important for planning: check the exact dates each year rather than assuming a fixed date always gives a weekday off. In 2025, when Buddha's Birthday (May 5) falls on the same day as Children's Day, a substitute holiday is granted on May 6 (Tuesday).

What Is Always Open on Korean Public Holidays

Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24) — 24 hours
Hospitals and emergency medical clinics (select locations only — use Naver Maps to search 응급실 for emergency rooms)
Seoul subway (all lines, normal schedule)
Incheon Airport — 24 hours
Major tourist area restaurants and cafés (Myeongdong, Insadong, Hongdae)
Coupang delivery (Rocket Delivery operates 365 days a year)

Tips for Foreign Students During Korean Holidays

Stock up on groceries at least 1–2 days before major holidays (Seollal, Chuseok) — many markets and smaller stores close for the full holiday period
Book travel tickets (KTX, buses) weeks in advance for Seollal and Chuseok periods
Use the Korea Tourism Organization's (visitkorea.or.kr) holiday events calendar to find free cultural activities during national holidays
Take advantage of free palace entry during Seollal and Chuseok — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung all offer free admission on these holidays
If your Korean friends invite you to their family gathering during Seollal or Chuseok, it is a rare cultural honour — accept graciously and bring a gift (fruit set, nuts, or honey in a gift box, typically 20,000–50,000 KRW)

Korean Public Holidays 2025–2026: What's Closed, What's Open & How to Plan