Planning a trip to South Korea in 2026?
Before booking trains, restaurants, shopping days, or long-distance trips, check whether your itinerary overlaps with a Korean public holiday.
Most public holidays will not stop you from traveling.
But two holidays in particular — Seollal and Chuseok — can significantly change transportation demand, business hours, and the atmosphere of entire cities.
There are also several substitute holidays in 2026 that can create three-day weekends.
Here are the dates travelers should know.
2026 Korea Public Holidays at a Glance
The official 2026 Korean public holiday calendar includes the following holidays:
January 1 — New Year's Day
February 16–18 — Seollal / Lunar New Year
March 1 — Independence Movement Day
Observed on March 2
May 1 — Workers' Day
May 5 — Children's Day
May 24 — Buddha's Birthday
Observed on May 25
June 3 — Local Election Day
June 6 — Memorial Day
July 17 — Constitution Day
August 15 — Liberation Day
Observed on August 17
September 24–26 — Chuseok
October 3 — National Foundation Day
Observed on October 5
October 9 — Hangeul Day
December 25 — Christmas Day
For travelers, not every holiday has the same impact.
The ones I would pay the most attention to are:
Seollal, Chuseok, and long holiday weekends.
1. January 1 — New Year's Day
New Year's Day is a national holiday in Korea.
Government offices and banks are generally closed on public holidays, while tourist attractions, shopping areas, restaurants, and entertainment facilities may operate normally or on adjusted hours.
For most travelers, January 1 is manageable.
The bigger issue is that some attractions or businesses may also have their own New Year schedules.
Check the specific place you plan to visit.
2. February 16–18 — Seollal
Seollal is one of the two Korean holidays that travelers should plan around most carefully.
In 2026, the official Seollal holiday runs from February 16 through February 18, with Lunar New Year's Day falling on February 17.
This is when many Koreans travel to their hometowns to spend time with family.
Why It Matters to Travelers
Intercity transportation demand rises sharply.
Train and bus tickets can sell out quickly, and Korea Tourism Organization specifically advises travelers to book transportation in advance during Seollal.
Many department stores, malls, and restaurants may close on Seollal Day or for part of the holiday. Tourist-area convenience stores and some businesses often remain open, but operating hours should still be checked individually.
Is Seoul Empty During Seollal?
Parts of Seoul can feel noticeably quieter because many residents leave the city.
That can actually create an interesting experience.
Major cultural attractions may also hold traditional holiday programs.
Royal palaces and cultural facilities often organize Seollal events, so the holiday does not mean there is nothing for tourists to do.
My Advice
If you will be in Korea during February 16–18:
Do not leave intercity train booking until the last minute.
Check restaurant opening hours.
Avoid planning an important shopping day without confirming store schedules.
And consider enjoying the traditional holiday events instead of trying to follow a normal weekday itinerary.
3. March 1 — Independence Movement Day
March 1 commemorates Korea's independence movement of 1919.
Because March 1 falls on a Sunday in 2026, the official observed holiday is Monday, March 2.
That creates a long weekend.
For tourists, this usually matters more for domestic travel demand than for ordinary sightseeing.
Popular destinations can become busier because Koreans also use long weekends for short trips.
4. May 1 — Workers' Day
There is an important change in 2026.
Workers' Day became an official public holiday in Korea in 2026.
Older travel guides may therefore give you outdated information about May 1.
For international visitors, this is another reason to use a current 2026 calendar rather than relying on an article written several years ago.
If your trip overlaps with May 1, check the hours of any business or service you specifically need.
5. May 5 — Children's Day
Children's Day is a major family holiday.
Parks, zoos, amusement parks, museums, and family attractions can become especially busy.
Korea Tourism Organization notes that many events for children and families take place at parks, amusement facilities, zoos, theaters, and other venues.
Traveler Tip
If you were planning:
Lotte World,
Everland,
a zoo,
a major family museum,
or another child-oriented attraction,
expect larger crowds than on an ordinary weekday.
If possible, book tickets or timed-entry experiences in advance.
6. May 24 — Buddha's Birthday
Buddha's Birthday falls on May 24, 2026, with the substitute holiday observed on May 25.
This period can be one of the most visually interesting times to visit Korean Buddhist temples.
Lanterns decorate temples and surrounding streets, and Buddhist cultural events take place around the country.
In 2026, Seoul's Yeon Deung Hoe Lotus Lantern Festival is scheduled for May 16–17, shortly before Buddha's Birthday.
If you enjoy culture and photography, this can actually be an excellent period to visit.
7. June 3 — Local Election Day
June 3 is the nationwide local election day in 2026 and is an official holiday so Korean citizens can vote.
This is not a traditional festival holiday.
For most tourists, sightseeing can continue relatively normally.
But because it is an official holiday, government offices and some services may not operate on normal weekday schedules.
8. June 6 — Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors soldiers and civilians who died in service to the country.
In 2026, it falls on Saturday, June 6.
The official 2026 holiday calendar does not list a substitute Monday for Memorial Day.
Travelers should therefore avoid assuming that every public holiday falling on a weekend automatically creates another day off.
9. July 17 — Constitution Day
Another major 2026 change:
Constitution Day was reinstated as a public holiday starting in 2026.
July 17 commemorates the proclamation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948.
This date may not appear as a holiday in older Korea travel guides or old calendar articles because it had not been treated as a public holiday for many years.
For a 2026 itinerary, treat Friday, July 17 as a public holiday.
Because it falls on a Friday, it also creates a long weekend.
Domestic hotels and popular summer destinations may therefore see additional demand.
10. August 15 — Liberation Day
Liberation Day falls on Saturday, August 15, with the official substitute holiday on Monday, August 17.
That creates another three-day weekend.
August is already a major vacation period in Korea because of summer holidays.
A long weekend during the hottest part of summer can further increase domestic tourism demand.
If you are planning Busan, Jeju, coastal destinations, or resort areas during this period, accommodation availability deserves extra attention.
11. September 24–26 — Chuseok
If there is one holiday besides Seollal that you should mark clearly on your Korea itinerary, it is Chuseok.
In 2026, the Chuseok holiday runs from September 24 through September 26.
Chuseok is often described as Korean Thanksgiving.
Families travel across the country to gather, honor ancestors, and celebrate the harvest.
Transportation Can Be Difficult
This is one of the biggest domestic travel periods of the year.
If you are trying to travel from Seoul to:
Busan,
Daegu,
Gyeongju,
Jeonju,
or another city during the holiday,
do not assume you will simply arrive at Seoul Station and buy a convenient ticket.
Plan long-distance transportation well in advance.
What About Shops and Restaurants?
During Seollal and Chuseok, many stores, restaurants, and other businesses may close.
Some tourist districts remain active.
Large attractions may operate.
Convenience stores are often available.
But individual schedules vary.
Palaces Can Be a Great Choice
Korea's royal palaces traditionally offer free admission during the Chuseok holiday period.
So instead of seeing Chuseok only as an inconvenience, you can build your Seoul itinerary around traditional culture.
12. October 3 — National Foundation Day
National Foundation Day falls on Saturday, October 3 in 2026.
The substitute public holiday is Monday, October 5.
October is already one of Korea's best domestic travel months because of comfortable weather.
A three-day autumn weekend can make:
mountains,
fall-foliage destinations,
major tourist cities,
and popular hotels
much busier.
This is especially important if your trip includes weekend hiking or regional travel.
13. October 9 — Hangeul Day
Hangeul Day falls on Friday, October 9 in 2026.
That means Korea gets another three-day weekend immediately after the National Foundation Day weekend.
For travelers, early October 2026 is therefore worth paying attention to.
You have:
October 3–5 — National Foundation Day weekend
then only a few days later:
October 9–11 — Hangeul Day weekend
This can create strong domestic travel demand during an already popular autumn season.
If you are planning Jeju, Busan, Gyeongju, Seoraksan, or another foliage destination around these dates, book earlier than you normally would.
14. December 25 — Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a national holiday in Korea and falls on Friday, December 25 in 2026.
This creates another three-day weekend.
Christmas in Korea is somewhat different from Seollal or Chuseok.
You will generally still find plenty of:
shopping,
restaurants,
cafés,
Christmas lights,
and entertainment.
It can be a lively time to visit Seoul rather than a citywide shutdown.
Which Holidays Affect Tourists the Most?
For a typical international visitor, I would rank them like this.
Highest Impact
Seollal
Chuseok
These have the biggest effect on intercity transportation and business schedules.
Moderate Impact
Long weekends
Examples in 2026 include:
March 1–2,
July 17 weekend,
August 15–17,
October 3–5,
October 9 weekend,
and Christmas weekend.
Domestic tourism can increase significantly during these periods.
Lower Impact
Single public holidays during which most tourist facilities remain available.
You should still check operating hours, but there is usually no need to redesign the entire trip.
Are Tourist Attractions Closed on Public Holidays?
Not necessarily.
Korea Tourism Organization says that while government offices and banks close on official holidays, palaces, museums, department stores, amusement facilities, and other visitor attractions generally remain open.
However, each attraction has its own closure rules.
For example, Gyeongbokgung Palace normally closes on Tuesdays, but if its regular closing day falls on a public holiday, the closure moves to the following business day.
This is why you should check the individual attraction rather than simply asking whether “Korea is open.”
Are Restaurants Open?
Usually you will find plenty of places to eat in major cities.
But Seollal and Chuseok are exceptions.
During those holidays, individual restaurants may close so owners and employees can spend time with family.
If you have one restaurant that you absolutely want to visit, confirm its holiday schedule directly.
What About Convenience Stores?
Convenience stores are among the easiest places to find open during holidays, especially in major tourist districts.
Korea Tourism Organization specifically notes that convenience stores and shops near tourist areas often remain open during Seollal even when other businesses close.
This makes them useful backup options for travelers during major holidays.
Should You Avoid Korea During Seollal or Chuseok?
Not necessarily.
There are disadvantages:
Transportation demand.
Business closures.
Changed operating hours.
But there are also advantages:
Traditional cultural programs.
Quieter parts of Seoul.
Holiday food.
Palace events.
A chance to see one of Korea's most important traditions.
If your itinerary stays mainly in Seoul, a major holiday can actually be fascinating.
The biggest problem occurs when you plan extensive intercity travel without realizing the holiday is happening.
The Best Strategy for Holiday Travel
If your trip overlaps with a public holiday:
Two Weeks or More Before
Check your accommodation and long-distance transportation.
Several Days Before
Check attraction operating hours.
The Night Before
Check the next day's restaurant and shopping plans.
On the Holiday
Stay flexible.
Have at least one backup restaurant and one backup attraction.
That is usually enough.
2026 Dates I Would Circle Before Booking a Korea Trip
If I were planning an international visitor's itinerary, I would immediately mark:
February 16–18 — Seollal
July 17–19 — Constitution Day weekend
August 15–17 — Liberation Day weekend
September 24–26 — Chuseok
October 3–5 — National Foundation Day weekend
October 9–11 — Hangeul Day weekend
December 25–27 — Christmas weekend
These dates do not mean “do not visit.”
They mean:
plan before arriving.
A Local's Final Tip
Korean public holidays usually do not make travel difficult.
Poor preparation does.
If you remember only one thing:
Check your dates before booking intercity transportation.
And if your trip overlaps with Seollal or Chuseok:
book trains early,
check business hours,
and enjoy the traditional side of Korea that ordinary weeks cannot show you.
Welcome to Korea — from a local.
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