Korea Public Holidays 2027: Dates, Long Weekends and What Closes
Quick answer
- Korea's two big holidays in 2027 are Seollal (Lunar New Year), February 6–9 with a substitute day, and Chuseok, September 14–16. Many department stores, malls and restaurants close on the main day or for part of these holidays.
- The official calendar lists ten breaks of three days or more in 2027 for a five-day workweek, including long weekends like May 1–3, July 17–19 and October 9–11; Chuseok falls on Tuesday to Thursday.
- For Seollal and Chuseok trains, check Korail's holiday booking notice: holiday tickets go on sale in a separate booking period and sell out quickly. Subways and city buses run as usual.
In 2027, Seollal (Lunar New Year) falls on February 6–8 with a substitute holiday on February 9, and Chuseok on September 14–16; the official calendar counts ten breaks of three days or more for a five-day workweek. These are official public holidays for government offices. Many businesses follow them, but shops and restaurants set their own hours, and the biggest closures come at Seollal and Chuseok.
Below: every nationwide 2027 holiday, the 3+ day breaks, and what holidays change for a trip.
Source: Korea AeroSpace Administration — 2027 calendar (Korean, Jun 29, 2026); checked Oct 27, 2026.
Nationwide public holidays in 2027
| Date (2027) | Holiday | Substitute day off |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 (Fri) | New Year's Day | — |
| Feb 6–8 (Sat–Mon) | Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Feb 9 (Tue) |
| Mar 1 (Mon) | Independence Movement Day | — |
| May 1 (Sat) | Labor Day | May 3 (Mon) |
| May 5 (Wed) | Children's Day | — |
| May 13 (Thu) | Buddha's Birthday | — |
| Jun 6 (Sun) | Memorial Day | — |
| Jul 17 (Sat) | Constitution Day | Jul 19 (Mon) |
| Aug 15 (Sun) | Liberation Day | Aug 16 (Mon) |
| Sep 14–16 (Tue–Thu) | Chuseok | — |
| Oct 3 (Sun) | National Foundation Day | Oct 4 (Mon) |
| Oct 9 (Sat) | Hangeul Day | Oct 11 (Mon) |
| Dec 25 (Sat) | Christmas Day | Dec 27 (Mon) |
Labor Day and Constitution Day became public holidays in 2026. In all, the official 2027 calendar has 72 public holidays, including Sundays.
Source: Korea AeroSpace Administration and Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (Korean); checked Oct 27, 2026.
Ten breaks of three days or more
For institutions on a five-day workweek, the official calendar lists these ten. Most are long weekends; Chuseok falls on Tuesday to Thursday.
| Dates (2027) | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1–3 | 3 | New Year's Day + weekend |
| Feb 6–9 | 4 | Seollal + substitute day |
| Feb 27 – Mar 1 | 3 | Weekend + Independence Movement Day |
| May 1–3 | 3 | Labor Day + substitute day |
| Jul 17–19 | 3 | Constitution Day + substitute day |
| Aug 14–16 | 3 | Liberation Day + substitute day |
| Sep 14–16 | 3 | Chuseok |
| Oct 2–4 | 3 | National Foundation Day + substitute day |
| Oct 9–11 | 3 | Hangeul Day + substitute day |
| Dec 25–27 | 3 | Christmas + substitute day |
Travel demand surges during major holidays, the Korea Tourism Organization says, so book intercity transport early.
Source: Korea AeroSpace Administration (Korean); checked Oct 27, 2026.
What holidays change for your trip
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Intercity trains and express buses | Sell out quickly at major holidays. For Seollal and Chuseok, don't assume the normal booking window: Korail runs a separate holiday booking period (for Chuseok 2026, on a dedicated page in KORAIL+ and on korail.com, for Korail members only). Check Korail's holiday notice for your dates |
| Subways and city buses | Run as usual through the holiday |
| Shops and restaurants | Hours vary. Many department stores, malls and restaurants close on the main day or for part of Seollal and Chuseok; convenience stores and shops near tourist sites often stay open |
| National museums | Generally closed on Chuseok Day itself (2026 example), open the rest of the holiday |
| Palaces | A palace whose regular closing day falls on a public holiday opens that day and closes on the first non-holiday afterward. In 2026, palaces and museums offered free admission over Chuseok; check the 2027 notices before relying on free admission |
Check opening hours on Naver Map or KakaoMap before you go.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization — 2026 Chuseok Holiday Travel Guide, Visit Seoul — National Holidays (Seollal and Chuseok closures), Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (Korean) , Korail — 2026 Chuseok booking (Korean) and our KTX booking guide; checked Oct 28, 2026. Weather by month: best time to visit Korea.
Before you go
- Check whether your dates overlap Seollal (Feb 6–9) or Chuseok (Sep 14–16).
- Traveling by train at Seollal or Chuseok? Check Korail's holiday booking notice for the dates and channel, and book as soon as it opens.
- Expect some shops and restaurants to close on the main holiday days.
- Check palace and museum days on their official pages before you go.
- Need help? The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline runs daily from 07:00 to midnight Korea time.
Source: the official pages above and our emergency help guide; checked Oct 27, 2026.
FAQ
When is Seollal (Korean New Year) in 2027?
Seollal falls on Sunday, February 7, 2027. The holiday runs February 6–8, with a substitute holiday on Tuesday, February 9.
When is Chuseok in 2027?
Chuseok is Wednesday, September 15, 2027, and the holiday runs September 14–16.
Are shops closed on Korean holidays?
Many department stores, malls and restaurants close on the main day or for part of Seollal and Chuseok. Convenience stores and shops near tourist sites often stay open. On other public holidays, hours vary by business, so check before you go.
Do subways run on Korean public holidays?
Yes. Subways and city buses run as usual during the holidays.
How many public holidays does Korea have in 2027?
The official 2027 calendar counts 72 nationwide public holidays including Sundays, and ten breaks of three days or more for a five-day workweek.
- Korail — 2026 Chuseok holiday ticket booking (Korean)
- Korea AeroSpace Administration — 2027 calendar (월력요항) announcement (Korean)
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute — 2027 calendar data (Korean)
- Korea Tourism Organization — 2026 Chuseok Holiday Travel Guide
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — Palace closing days (Korean)
- Visit Seoul — National Holidays
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Details can change — please confirm with the official source before you travel.
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