Updated November 6, 2026 · from official open data
Korea has about 15 public holidays a year. Most museums and palaces stay open on ordinary public holidays — and many that normally close on Mondays or Tuesdays move their closing day when it falls on a holiday. The big exceptions are the two lunar holidays, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), when many shops and some venues close.
| Date | Holiday | Closed (of 1,320 we track) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | 42 |
| Fri Jan 1, 2027 | New Year's Day | 256 |
| Sat Feb 6, 2027 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | 124 |
| Sun Feb 7, 2027 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | 253 |
| Mon Feb 8, 2027 | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | 305 |
| Tue Feb 9, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Seollal (Lunar New Year) | 159 |
| Mon Mar 1, 2027 | Independence Movement Day | 276 |
| Sat May 1, 2027 | Labor Day | — |
| Mon May 3, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Labor Day | — |
| Wed May 5, 2027 | Children's Day | — |
| Thu May 13, 2027 | Buddha's Birthday | — |
| Sun Jun 6, 2027 | Memorial Day | — |
| Sat Jul 17, 2027 | Constitution Day | — |
| Mon Jul 19, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Constitution Day | — |
| Sun Aug 15, 2027 | Liberation Day | — |
| Mon Aug 16, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Liberation Day | — |
| Tue Sep 14, 2027 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | — |
| Wed Sep 15, 2027 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | — |
| Thu Sep 16, 2027 | Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) | — |
| Sun Oct 3, 2027 | National Foundation Day | — |
| Mon Oct 4, 2027 | Substitute holiday · National Foundation Day | — |
| Sat Oct 9, 2027 | Hangeul Day | — |
| Mon Oct 11, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Hangeul Day | — |
| Sat Dec 25, 2027 | Christmas Day | — |
| Mon Dec 27, 2027 | Substitute holiday · Christmas Day | — |
“Closed” counts are worked out from each venue’s rules and are shown for about the next four months.
Each lasts three days (the day before, the day itself and the day after). 201 places we track close for Seollal; 114 of them close only on the day itself, the rest for the whole holiday. Traditional markets and many family-run restaurants also close. Major palaces and national museums often stay open, and the Korea Heritage Service has offered free palace entry during some holidays — check its notices.
When a holiday falls on a weekend (or overlaps another holiday) the next weekday becomes a substitute holiday (대체공휴일). Banks and offices close; museums treat it like any public holiday. Our calendar includes them.
See what’s open on each upcoming holiday →
Rules and fees can change. When in doubt, call the venue or the Korea Travel Hotline 1330 (English, 24 hours).