Public holidays in South Korea 2021-2025
Despite the historical relations with China, the Gregorian calendar is dominant in South Korea. The Chinese lunar calendar has not yet completely lost its influence. The most important events in the Korean year are Seollal and Chuseok and are still calculated according to the lunar calendar. With about one third, the Christians in the country also have a considerable share, which is why Christmas is also one of the public holidays. Buddhists also make up about a quarter of the country's population. Thus, Buddha's birthday was also included as a public holiday.Back to overview: South Korea
Non-movable holidays
Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.| holiday | date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan, 1st |
| Valentine's Day | Feb, 14th |
| Independence Movement Day | Mar, 1st |
| Arbor Day | Apr, 5th |
| Labour Day | May, 1st |
| Children's day | May, 5th |
| Parents' Day | May, 8th |
| Teacher's Day | May, 15th |
| Memorial Day | Jun, 6th |
| Constitution Day | Jul, 7th |
| Liberation Day | Aug, 15th |
| Armed Forces Day | Oct, 1st |
| National Foundation Day | Oct, 3rd |
| Hangeul Day | Oct, 9th |
| Christmas Eve | Dec, 24th |
| Christmas Day | Dec, 25th |
| Boxing Day | Dec, 26th |
Moving Holidays in South Korea
| holiday | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) | Feb, 12th | Feb, 1st | Jan, 22nd | Feb, 10th | Jan, 29th |
| Seollal (Second day of Lunar New Year) | Feb, 13th | Feb, 2nd | Jan, 23rd | Feb, 11th | Jan, 30th |
| Seollal (Third day of Lunar New Year) | Feb, 14th | Feb, 3rd | Jan, 24th | Feb, 12th | Jan, 31st |
| Buddha's Birthday | May, 19th | May, 8th | May, 26th | May, 15th | May, 5th |
| Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | Sep, 21st | Sep, 10th | Sep, 29th | Sep, 17th | Oct, 6th |
Seollal - the Chinese New Year
Seollal is the 3-day New Year festival based on the lunar calendar. Nationwide it is much more important than the turn of the year based on the Gregorian calendar. Seollal is a predominantly traditional festival, which is celebrated in the circle of the family. On all 3 days you wear the fine wardrobe, honour your parents and grandparents and spend time with your children. A traditional meal on the first day of New Year is often "Tteokguk", a soup with rice cake.Chuseok - the harvest festival
Chuseok is also calculated according to the lunar calendar and takes place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Usually in September or October. Since the 15th day of a lunar month is always a full moon day, the day is sometimes also called Hangawi, and thus moon festival. The actual translation of the word Chuseok is "autumn evening", Hangawi means "great middle".On these 3 days lasting celebrations mainly the older family members and also already deceased ancestors are celebrated and honoured. Usually this is done in the house of the head of the family, usually the grandparents. It is accompanied by traffic jams throughout the country when whole families travel to the provinces.