Public holidays in South Korea
Public holidays in South Korea each belong to one or more of three categories:
- National day
- National flag raising day
- Public holiday
List of public holidays in South Korea
| English name | Korean name | Transliteration | Date | Remarks | National celebration day | Flag raising | Day off |
| New Year's Day | 새해. | Saehae | The official name of the holiday means New Calendar New Year's Day | no | no | yes | |
| Lunar New Year | 설날 | Seollal | 1st day of 1st lunar month | Also called Seol or Gujeong. The first day of the Lunar calendar. It is one of the most important of the traditional Korean holidays, and is considered a more important holiday than the Gregorian New Year's Day. | no | no | yes |
| Independence Movement Day | 3·1절 | Samiljeol | This day commemorates the March 1st Movement in 1919. On March 1 of this year, 33 Korean nationalists and students declared their nation's independence in Seoul. It started a nationwide civil protest and was a catalyst for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. | yes | yes | yes | |
| Children's Day | 어린이날 | Eorininal | The day on which to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness. In Korea, Children's Day started on May 1, 1922, when 8 persons including Bang Jeong-hwan declared the Day and held an anniversary. In 1946, the Day changed to May 5, and became a public holiday in 1975. | no | no | yes | |
| Buddha's Birthday | 부처님 오신 날 | Bucheonnim Osinnal | 8th day of 4th lunar month | Formerly called Seokgatansinil ; also referred to as Sawol Chopail. The birthday of Gautama Buddha. | no | no | yes |
| Memorial Day | 현충일 | Hyeonchung-il | The day commemorates the men and women who died while in military service or in the independence movement. On this day, a national commemoration ceremony is held at the Seoul National Cemetery. | no | half mast | yes | |
| Constitution Day | 제헌절 | Jeheonjeol | The day celebrates the promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948. | yes | yes | no | |
| Liberation Day | 광복절 | Gwangbokjeol | The day celebrates the national liberation from the Empire of Japan in 1945. On the same day in 1948, the government of the Republic of Korea was established. The word Gwangbok means "restoration of light". | yes | yes | yes | |
| Chuseok | 추석 | Chuseok | 15th day of 8th lunar month | Also called Han-gawi. Korean traditional harvest festival. With Korean New Year, it is one of the most important Korean traditional holidays. As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and feast on traditional food. | no | no | yes |
| National Foundation Day | 개천절 | Gaecheonjeol | The day celebrates the foundation of Gojoseon, the first state of the Korean nation. According to the Samguk Yusa, Dangun founded Gojoseon on the 3rd day of 10th lunar month, 2333 BC. Today, South Koreans celebrate their national foundation on October 3 according to the Gregorian calendar, for convenience sake. Gaecheonjeol means "Heaven-opened Day". | yes | yes | yes | |
| Hangul Day | 한글날 | Hangeulnal | The day commemorates the invention and the proclamation of hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language. King Sejong the Great, inventor of hangul, is one of the most honored rulers in Korean history. | yes | yes | yes | |
| Christmas | 기독탄신일 | Gidoktansinil | Commonly called Seongtanjeol, especially among Korean Christians. | no | no | yes | |
| Election days for elections on the termination of terms of office referred to in Article 34 of the Public Official Election Act | 「공직선거법」 제34조에 따른 임기만료에 의한 선거의 선거일 | Gongjikseongeobeop jesamsipsajoe ttareun imgimanryoe uihan seongeoeui seongeoil | Not fixed. but always Wednesday. | See Elections in South Korea. It commonly called Seongeoil or Seongeonal, in short. The date of this holiday is limited to regular presidential election day, legislative election day, and local election day. | no | no | yes |
National celebration days
These days celebrate events considered joyous to Korea. In the beginning, Independence Declaration Day was first stipulated in 1946. After the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea in 1948, four major National Celebration Days were provided by "The Law Concerning the National Celebration Days" in 1949.In 2005, Hangul Day became the 5th National Celebration day.
National flag raising days
All the National Celebration Days, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day are provided by Article 8 of the "National Flag Law". On these days, the raising of the taegukgi at every house and along every roadside is promoted.Public days off
They are provided by the "Regulations on Holidays of Public Agencies" This Regulation originally applied only to government and public offices, but most individual business offices also follow it.Dates in solar calendar of Lunar New Year's Day, Buddha's Birthday, and Chuseok
| Year | Lunar New Year's Day | Buddha's Birthday | Chuseok |
| 1994 | February 10 | May 18 | September 20 |
| 1995 | January 31 | May 7 | September 9 |
| 1996 | February 19 | May 24 | September 27 |
| 1997 | February 8 | May 14 | September 16 |
| 1998 | January 28 | May 3 | October 5 |
| 1999 | February 16 | May 22 | September 24 |
| 2000 | February 5 | May 11 | September 12 |
| 2001 | January 24 | April 30 | October 1 |
| 2002 | February 12 | May 19 | September 21 |
| 2003 | February 1 | May 8 | September 11 |
| 2004 | January 22 | May 26 | September 28 |
| 2005 | February 9 | May 15 | September 18 |
| 2006 | January 29 | May 5 | October 6 |
| 2007 | February 18 | May 24 | September 25 |
| 2008 | February 7 | May 12 | September 14 |
| 2009 | January 26 | May 2 | October 3 |
| 2010 | February 14 | May 21 | September 22 |
| 2011 | February 3 | May 10 | September 12 |
| 2012 | January 23 | May 28 | September 30 |
| 2013 | February 10 | May 17 | September 19 |
| 2014 | January 31 | May 6 | September 8 |
| 2015 | February 19 | May 25 | September 27 |
| 2016 | February 8 | May 14 | September 15 |
| 2017 | January 28 | May 3 | October 4 |
| 2018 | February 16 | May 22 | September 24 |
| 2019 | February 5 | May 12 | September 13 |
| 2020 | January 25 | April 30 | October 1 |
| 2021 | February 12 | May 19 | September 21 |
| 2022 | February 1 | May 8 | September 10 |
| 2023 | January 22 | May 27 | September 29 |
| 2024 | February 10 | May 15 | September 17 |
| 2025 | January 29 | May 5 | October 6 |
| 2026 | February 17 | May 24 | September 25 |
| 2027 | February 7 | May 13 | September 15 |
| 2028 | January 27 | May 2 | October 3 |
| 2029 | February 13 | May 20 | September 22 |
| 2030 | February 3 | May 9 | September 12 |
| 2031 | January 23 | May 28 | October 1 |
| 2032 | February 11 | May 16 | September 19 |
| 2033 | January 31 | May 6 | September 8 |
| 2034 | February 19 | May 25 | September 27 |
| 2035 | February 8 | May 15 | September 16 |
| 2036 | January 28 | May 3 | October 4 |
| 2037 | February 15 | May 22 | September 24 |
| 2038 | February 4 | May 11 | September 13 |
| 2039 | January 24 | April 30 | October 2 |
| 2040 | February 12 | May 18 | September 21 |
| 2041 | February 1 | May 7 | September 10 |
| 2042 | January 22 | May 26 | September 28 |
| 2043 | February 10 | May 16 | September 17 |
| 2044 | January 30 | May 5 | October 5 |
| 2045 | February 17 | May 24 | September 25 |
| 2046 | February 6 | May 13 | September 15 |
| 2047 | January 26 | May 2 | October 4 |
| 2048 | February 14 | May 20 | September 22 |
| 2049 | February 2 | May 9 | September 11 |
| 2050 | January 23 | May 28 | September 30 |