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Public Holidays

Public holidays in South Korea

Despite historical relations with China, the Gregorian calendar prevails in South Korea. However, the Chinese lunar calendar has not completely lost its influence. The most important events in the Korean year are Seollal and Chuseok and are always calculated according to the lunar calendar, although Seollal has a different cultural background than in China.

Making up about one third of the population, 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-floating holidays

Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.

DateHoliday
Jan. 1stNew Year’s Day
March 1stIndependence Movement Day
April 5thArbor Day
May 1stLabour Day
May 5thChildren's day
May 8thParents' Day
May 15thTeacher's Day
June 6thMemorial Day
July 17thConstitution Day
Aug. 15thLiberation Day
Oct. 1stArmed Forces Day
Oct. 3rdNational Foundation Day
Oct. 9thHangeul Day
Dec. 25thChristmas Day


Moving Holidays in South Korea

Holiday20232024202520262027
Seollal (Last day of old year)Jan. 21stFeb. 9thJan. 28thFeb. 16thFeb. 5th
Seollal (New Year's Day)Jan. 22ndFeb. 10thJan. 29thFeb. 17thFeb. 6th
Seollal (Second day of New Year)Jan. 23rdFeb. 11thJan. 30thFeb. 18thFeb. 7th
Buddha's BirthdayMay 26thMay 15thMay 5thMay 24thMay 13th
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)Sept. 29thSept. 17thOct. 6thSept. 25thSept. 15th

Seollal - the Korean New Year

Public Holidays Seollal is the three-day New Year’s 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 three days, you wear your fine wardrobe, honor your parents and grandparents and spend time with your children. A traditional meal on the first day of the 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," while Hangawi means "great middle."

On these three days, mainly the older family members, though also already deceased ancestors, are celebrated and honored. This is usually done in the house of the head of the family, most often the grandparents. It is accompanied by traffic jams throughout the country when entire families travel to the provinces.

Family Days

The traditionally large role of the family is quickly noticed by a European or American. The family has an enormous significance in South Korea. Chuseok and Seollal are much more family-oriented than comparable holidays in the Western world. In addition, the children's day on May 5 and the parents' day on May 8 are two more family-oriented holidays on the calendar. Parents' Day is not a work-free day. Unlike in many other countries, fathers and mothers are celebrated together. There are no individual father’s or mother’s days.
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South Korea: Sunrise + sunsetTimes for sunrise and sunset in South KoreaTimes of sunrise and sunset for the most important cities in South Korea and the avg. length of daylight per month
United States of America: Public HolidaysPublic holidays in the United States of America 2023-2027Statutory and inofficial holidays in the United States of America for 2023 to 2027