You’re planning a trip to South Korea in 2027, and now you’re squinting at the calendar trying to work out which weeks to book and which to avoid. It helps to know the South Korea public holidays 2027 first, because a holiday week can mean sold-out trains, shuttered restaurants, or a Seoul that’s gone surprisingly quiet. This guide covers every date, the long weekends worth planning around, and what Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (the autumn harvest holiday) feel like for visitors.
2027 Korea holiday calendar: every date in one table
Here’s the quick version of South Korea public holidays 2027: 24 days off, and seven of them are substitute holidays. The table shows each holiday, the day it falls on and the day you actually get off.
Holiday | Date | Day | Observed (substitute) date |
|---|---|---|---|
New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Fri | None needed |
Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Feb 6 to 8 (Seollal day is Feb 7) | Sat to Mon | Tue, Feb 9 |
Independence Movement Day (March 1st) | Mar 1 | Mon | None needed |
Labor Day | May 1 | Sat | Mon, May 3 |
Children’s Day | May 5 | Wed | None needed |
Buddha’s Birthday | May 13 | Thu | None needed |
Memorial Day | Jun 6 | Sun | No substitute |
Constitution Day | Jul 17 | Sat | Mon, Jul 19 |
Liberation Day | Aug 15 | Sun | Mon, Aug 16 |
Chuseok (harvest festival) | Sep 14 to 16 (Chuseok day is Sep 15) | Tue to Thu | None needed |
National Foundation Day | Oct 3 | Sun | Mon, Oct 4 |
Hangul Day | Oct 9 | Sat | Mon, Oct 11 |
Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Sat | Mon, Dec 27 |
Seollal day itself is Sunday, February 7, a day later than Chinese New Year, so ignore calendars that show the 6th as the main day. Memorial Day on Sunday, June 6 is the only weekend holiday without a substitute. These dates follow the official 2027 almanac from the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).
New holidays in Korea in 2027
Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Image Credit: Timothy Ries via Unsplash
Two newer holidays change the picture. Constitution Day in Korea 2027 falls on Saturday, July 17, and it’s a public holiday again after 18 years. That means all five national days (March 1st, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangul Day and Constitution Day) now come with a day off, and Labor Day on May 1 is also an official public holiday.
Both land on Saturdays this year, so each earns a Monday substitute. A substitute holiday is a bonus weekday off when a holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps another holiday. Korea substitute holidays 2027 total seven, which is a heavy year and the reason for all the long weekends below.
Korea long weekends 2027
Good news if you hate burning leave: KASA counts 10 breaks of three days or more this year, and Seollal is the longest at four days.
- Jan 1 to 3 (Fri to Sun): New Year’s Day
- Feb 6 to 9 (Sat to Tue): Seollal, four days
- Feb 27 to Mar 1 (Sat to Mon): March 1st
- May 1 to 3 (Sat to Mon): Labor Day
- Jul 17 to 19 (Sat to Mon): Constitution Day
- Aug 14 to 16 (Sat to Mon): Liberation Day
- Sep 14 to 16 (Tue to Thu): Chuseok
- Oct 2 to 4 (Sat to Mon): National Foundation Day
- Oct 9 to 11 (Sat to Mon): Hangul Day
- Dec 25 to 27 (Sat to Mon): Christmas
Take Oct 5 to 8 off and the National Foundation Day and Hangul Day weekends join into one 10-day break from Oct 2 to 11, for just four days of leave. Chuseok works the same way: take Monday, Sep 13 and Friday, Sep 17 and you get nine days in a row.
Use one of those days for a Nami Island trip. The Nami Island day tour costs about US$67 and runs from 7:40 am to 6:50 pm out of Seoul, with Nami Island entry and a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and gimbap-making stop included. It suits first-timers who don’t want to sort out the transport themselves. Reviewers say the island time feels short, at around two hours.
Seollal and Chuseok 2027: a visitor’s guide
Chuseok festival in Korea | Image credit: Namwon030, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
These two holidays change how Korea feels, so they deserve a closer look. Seollal 2027 runs Saturday, Feb 6 to Tuesday, Feb 9, with Seollal day on Sunday, Feb 7. Chuseok 2027 is Tuesday, Sep 14 to Thursday, Sep 16, with the main day on Wednesday, Sep 15. Locals head home to family during both, so Seoul feels noticeably emptier.
What’s open and what’s closed
Closed signs are the first thing you’ll notice. Many small restaurants, cafes and traditional markets shut, especially on the main day. Department stores often close only on the day itself, while convenience stores, chain cafes, Lotte World and N Seoul Tower stay open. Gyeongbok Palace and the other royal palaces usually open too, often with free entry on the holiday days.
One catch for Chuseok 2027: Gyeongbokgung’s regular closing day is Tuesday, and tour operators note it moves to the next day when Tuesday is a public holiday. Chuseok starts on a Tuesday, so check the palace calendar before you pick your day.
Klook Tip: Stock up on snacks and breakfast the night before. If you can’t find an open pharmacy or clinic, the Korea Travel Hotline (1330) can point you to one.
Make the most of a quieter Seoul
A hanbok rental is the easy win on a quiet holiday morning. The hanbok experience at Gyeongbokgung starts at US$7.39, and the shop is about a 3-minute walk from the palace, where entry is free if you’re wearing one. It suits first-timers and friends who want photos. It gets crowded from opening time, so book ahead.
Trains, buses and the airport
Trains are where holiday plans fall apart. KTX tickets open about a month ahead, and popular routes like Seoul to Busan can sell out within minutes. Set a reminder for booking day and keep express buses as your backup.
Klook Tip: Seoul to Busan takes about 2.5 hours by KTX. A KORAIL Pass from about US$98 covers unlimited KTX rides, but reserve your seats as early as you can.
Where to stay for a holiday trip
Moxy Seoul Myeongdong
Rooms and trains sell out together around Seollal and Chuseok, so book your bed early. Here are three Seoul picks and one for a Busan getaway.
Moxy Seoul Myeongdong
Rooms at Moxy Seoul Myeongdong start around US$286 a night, which makes it the splurge pick. It suits couples and friends who want to be in the middle of Myeongdong, with Myeong-dong Station about a 6-minute walk away and the shopping street 200 meters from the door. Guests keep praising the staff and the welcome drink at the bar. Rooms are compact, so it works better for short stays.
Address: 38 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul / Check-in: 4 PM | Check-out: 12 PM
Hotel Sept Jongno
Hotel Sept Jongno costs about US$78 a night, the cheapest of the Seoul picks. It suits adult travelers who want old Seoul on the doorstep, with Jongno 5-ga Station 300 meters away and Gwangjang Market a 4-minute walk. Check-in is self-service, there’s no front desk or elevator, and guests rate it 3.3 out of 5, mostly because of small rooms and no staff on site. Children aren’t allowed.
Address: 23 Daehak-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul / Check-in: 3 PM | Check-out: 11 AM
Pol-A Resort Haeundae
Pol-A Resort Haeundae runs about US$38 a night, a cheap base for a Busan break. It suits families and groups who like ondol (heated floor) rooms with a kitchenette, and Haeundae Beach is a 5-minute walk. It’s an older building, the Korean-style floor mattresses are thin, and the front desk closes at 10 PM with no after-hours check-in.
Address: 13 Dalmaji-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan / Check-in: 3 PM to 10 PM | Check-out: 11 AM
Best time to visit Korea around the holidays
Not sure which holiday to build your trip around? Here’s how the calendar lines up with Korea’s best seasons.
Buddha’s Birthday 2027 in Korea (Thursday, May 13)
Lanterns are the draw. Seoul’s main lantern parade usually runs on the Saturday before Buddha’s Birthday, so look at Saturday, May 8 and confirm the date closer to your trip. The route runs along Jongno toward Jogyesa Temple, the center of the celebrations. Expect big evening crowds.
Children’s Day in Korea 2027 (Wednesday, May 5)
Domestic crowds peak in early May. Children’s Day follows the Labor Day weekend (May 1 to 3), so expect families at parks, palaces and attractions all week. If you want a calmer trip, pick another stretch of the month.
Cherry blossoms and autumn colors
Spring and autumn are Korea’s showpiece seasons. Cherry blossoms usually bloom from late March into early April, and autumn colors build through October into November, but timing shifts each year. Check the Korea cherry blossom forecast and the Korea autumn foliage forecast before you lock in dates. Chuseok is the other domestic crowd peak, though central Seoul empties out. For the full season-by-season rundown, read our guide to the best time to visit Korea.
FAQs about South Korea public holidays 2027
How many public holidays are there in South Korea in 2027?
There are 24 public holiday days in South Korea in 2027, counting each day of Seollal and Chuseok. Seven are substitute holidays: Feb 9, May 3, Jul 19, Aug 16, Oct 4, Oct 11 and Dec 27. Memorial Day falls on a Sunday and doesn’t get one.
When is Chuseok 2027?
Chuseok 2027 runs from Tuesday, September 14 to Thursday, September 16, with the main day on Wednesday the 15th. No substitute is needed because it doesn’t overlap a weekend. Taking the Monday and Friday off stretches it into nine days in a row.
When is Seollal 2027 in Korea?
Seollal 2027 is Sunday, February 7, and the holiday runs from Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 9. The Tuesday is a substitute day because Seollal falls on a Sunday. Some calendars show February 6 because they follow Chinese New Year.
What is a substitute holiday in Korea?
A substitute holiday is an extra weekday off when a public holiday lands on a weekend or on another holiday. Seollal and Chuseok earn one when they overlap a Sunday or another holiday, while the national days, Labor Day, Children’s Day, Buddha’s Birthday and Christmas can also earn one for a Saturday. Memorial Day doesn’t get one.
Is it a good idea to travel to Korea during Chuseok?
Yes, as long as you book early. Seoul is quieter, and palaces and big attractions stay open. The trade-offs are sold-out KTX trains and many small restaurants and markets closing on the main days, so reserve trains and hotels together and plan a few backup meals.
Are shops and restaurants open in Seoul during Seollal?
Many small shops, restaurants and traditional markets close, especially on Seollal day itself. Convenience stores, chain cafes and most tourist attractions stay open, and department stores often close only on the main day. Check opening hours on a map app before you head out, and keep snacks handy.
What is the best time of year to visit South Korea?
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit South Korea. Late March to early April brings cherry blossoms, and October to early November brings autumn colors, with mild weather in both seasons. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold, though it suits skiing.
Pick your break and start planning
Picture a crisp September morning at Gyeongbokgung, the courtyards nearly empty and most of the city away for Chuseok. With the South Korea public holidays 2027 mapped out, the rest of the plan gets easier. Start with your hotel, since rooms and trains sell out together, then build the trip around the break you picked.
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