South Korea Public Holidays
South Korea Public Holidays
Searching for the national holidays in South Korea? All public holidays in South Korea are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the South Korea employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to South Korea and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.
Public holidays in South Korea reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage, historical milestones, and religious traditions. These holidays include both national celebrations of important events and observances rooted in Confucian, Buddhist, and folk traditions. South Korea’s public holidays are deeply woven into the country’s social fabric, allowing time for family gatherings, honoring ancestors, and reflecting on national identity.
Major Public Holidays in South Korea
New Year’s Day (Sinjeong)
Date: January 1st
According to gradphysics.com, New Year’s Day, or Sinjeong in South Korea, is a widely celebrated holiday, offering time for reflection, fresh beginnings, and family gatherings.
Significance
- New beginnings: Like many cultures worldwide, New Year’s Day marks the beginning of a new year, symbolizing renewal and hope.
- Modern celebration: Sinjeong reflects more recent, Westernized New Year’s traditions in South Korea, contrasting with the traditional celebrations of Lunar New Year.
Celebrations
- Family gatherings: Families often get together for a special meal, marking the day with food and conversation.
- Festivities and fireworks: In cities like Seoul and Busan, the New Year is celebrated with fireworks, concerts, and countdown events in public squares. The ringing of the Bosingak Bell in Seoul is a significant event, symbolizing the start of the new year.
Korean New Year (Seollal)
Date: Varies (based on the lunar calendar, usually in late January or February)
Seollal, or the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for families to come together, honor ancestors, and share in festive traditions.
Significance
- Honoring ancestors: Seollal is deeply rooted in Confucian traditions, particularly the practice of Charye, a ritual to honor one’s ancestors.
- Family unity: Seollal is a time for families to reconnect, offering a chance to pay respect to elders and spend time with loved ones.
Traditions and Celebrations
- Charye ceremony: Families prepare a table filled with food offerings for their ancestors and perform rituals to honor and remember them.
- Sebae: Children perform sebae, a deep bow to their elders, wishing them health and happiness in the new year. In return, they often receive money as a gift.
- Traditional foods: Special dishes like tteokguk (rice cake soup) are eaten, symbolizing the arrival of a new year and the hope for longevity and good fortune.
- Games and activities: Families play traditional games like Yutnori (a board game) and fly kites, making Seollal both a solemn and joyous celebration.
Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol)
Date: March 1st
Independence Movement Day, known as Samiljeol, commemorates the March 1st Movement of 1919, when Koreans protested against Japanese colonial rule.
Historical Significance
- Resistance to colonial rule: The March 1st Movement was a pivotal moment in Korea’s struggle for independence from Japan. Though the uprising was ultimately suppressed, it laid the foundation for the country’s future liberation.
- National pride: Samiljeol honors the spirit of resistance and the courage of those who fought for Korean independence, making it one of the most significant national holidays in South Korea.
Observance
- Ceremonies and events: National ceremonies are held, particularly in Seoul, where the Tapgol Park monument and the Seoul Independence Gate are focal points. Government officials, citizens, and descendants of independence activists attend these events.
- Flags and patriotism: Many South Koreans display the national flag, the Taegeukgi, outside their homes, and schools hold events to educate students about the importance of this day.
- Remembering the fallen: Speeches, memorials, and reenactments of the March 1st demonstrations take place, reminding South Koreans of their ancestors’ sacrifices for freedom.
Buddha’s Birthday (Seokga Tansinil)
Date: Varies (based on the lunar calendar, typically in April or May)
Buddha’s Birthday, or Seokga Tansinil, is a major Buddhist holiday celebrated throughout South Korea. It honors the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, and is a day of reflection, prayer, and celebration for South Korea’s large Buddhist population.
Religious Significance
- Buddha’s life and teachings: The day celebrates the birth of the Buddha, a key figure in Buddhism whose teachings have influenced Korean culture and values for centuries.
- Reflection and compassion: Buddhists in South Korea use this day to reflect on the Buddha’s message of compassion, peace, and enlightenment.
Celebrations
- Lantern festivals: The most iconic element of Buddha’s Birthday celebrations is the Yeon Deung Hoe (Lantern Lighting Festival). Streets, temples, and homes are adorned with colorful lanterns symbolizing wisdom and the light of the Buddha.
- Temple visits and rituals: Many South Koreans visit Buddhist temples to participate in ceremonies, offering prayers, lighting incense, and making donations to monks.
- Public festivities: Large parades and festivals are held in major cities, including Seoul, where lantern processions and cultural performances draw thousands of participants and spectators.
Children’s Day (Eorini Nal)
Date: May 5th
Children’s Day, known as Eorini Nal, is a public holiday dedicated to celebrating the happiness, well-being, and future of children in South Korea.
Significance
- Focus on children’s rights: Originally established by the children’s rights activist Bang Jeong-hwan in 1923, Children’s Day encourages families and society to cherish children and nurture their development.
- Family celebration: It is a day for families to spend time together, honoring the joy that children bring to their lives.
Celebrations
- Family outings: Many families take their children on special outings to amusement parks, zoos, and museums, making it a fun and activity-filled day for kids.
- Gifts and treats: Parents often give their children gifts, such as toys or clothes, and treat them to special meals or desserts.
- Cultural events: Parks, community centers, and schools often host special events, including performances, games, and shows aimed at entertaining and educating children.
Memorial Day (Hyeonchung-il)
Date: June 6th
Memorial Day, or Hyeonchung-il, is a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives defending South Korea, particularly during the Korean War (1950–1953).
Significance
- Honoring the fallen: Memorial Day is dedicated to commemorating soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives for South Korea’s freedom and independence.
- Reflecting on peace: The holiday also serves as a reminder of the importance of peace and reconciliation, especially in light of the country’s divided history with North Korea.
Observance
- National cemetery ceremonies: The main ceremony takes place at the National Cemetery in Seoul, where the President of South Korea and other government officials participate in a solemn service, laying wreaths and offering prayers.
- Moments of silence: At 10:00 a.m., South Koreans observe a minute of silence to honor the deceased. Air raid sirens sound across the country during this time.
- Flag display: South Koreans raise the national flag at half-mast to show respect for the fallen soldiers.
Constitution Day (Jeheonjeol)
Date: July 17th
Constitution Day, known as Jeheonjeol, commemorates the promulgation of South Korea’s first Constitution in 1948, which laid the foundation for the modern Republic of Korea.
Historical Significance
- Birth of the republic: The adoption of the Constitution marked the establishment of South Korea as a democratic nation following the end of Japanese occupation and the division of the Korean Peninsula.
- Legal and political importance: Constitution Day is an opportunity for South Koreans to reflect on the principles of democracy, justice, and human rights enshrined in their Constitution.
Observance
- Public ceremonies: Government institutions and schools often hold special ceremonies to discuss the importance of the Constitution and its role in the development of South Korea’s democracy.
- Education and awareness: Constitution Day is used as a platform to educate citizens, particularly the younger generation, about their rights and responsibilities under the law.
- Reduced significance: Though Constitution Day is no longer a day off work, it remains an important occasion for national reflection.
Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol)
Date: August 15th
Liberation Day, known as Gwangbokjeol (meaning “Restoration of Light”), celebrates South Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 at the end of World War II. It also commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948.
Historical Significance
- End of colonial rule: Gwangbokjeol marks the end of 35 years of Japanese occupation, a period that deeply scarred the Korean people and culture.
- National pride and unity: The holiday celebrates the restoration of Korea’s sovereignty and is a symbol of national pride and unity.
Celebrations
- Official ceremonies: The South Korean government holds large-scale ceremonies, including a major event in Seoul where the President delivers a speech reflecting on the significance of liberation.
- Flag-raising ceremonies: The Taegeukgi is prominently displayed across the country, and patriotic songs are sung to celebrate independence.
- Parades and cultural events: Cities like Seoul and Busan host parades, concerts, and fireworks displays, making Gwangbokjeol a festive day for many South Koreans.
Chuseok (Korean Harvest Festival)
Date: Varies (based on the lunar calendar, usually in September or October)
Chuseok is one of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea, celebrating the autumn harvest and honoring ancestors. Often referred to as the “Korean Thanksgiving,” Chuseok is a time for family reunions, food, and traditional rituals.
Cultural and Historical Significance
- Celebrating the harvest: Historically, Chuseok was a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, a custom that continues in modern times.
- Ancestral worship: Like Seollal, Chuseok is a time for honoring ancestors through rituals such as Charye (ancestral memorial service).
Traditions and Celebrations
- Charye ceremony: Families perform the Charye ritual, offering freshly harvested crops and traditional dishes to their ancestors in gratitude for their blessings.
- Traditional foods: Chuseok meals include songpyeon (rice cakes filled with sesame seeds, beans, or chestnuts) and other harvest foods.
- Family visits: Many South Koreans travel to their hometowns to visit relatives and pay respects at the graves of ancestors through a ritual called Seongmyo, which involves cleaning and maintaining family graves.
- Folk games and cultural activities: Traditional games like Ssireum (Korean wrestling) and Ganggangsullae (a circle dance) are played, making Chuseok both a solemn and joyous occasion.
National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol)
Date: October 3rd
National Foundation Day, or Gaecheonjeol, celebrates the mythical founding of Korea by the legendary figure Dangun Wanggeom in 2333 B.C. It is a day to reflect on Korea’s ancient history and cultural identity.
Mythological and Historical Significance
- Dangun legend: According to Korean mythology, Dangun Wanggeom founded the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon, on this day, marking the start of Korean civilization.
- Cultural pride: Gaecheonjeol symbolizes the long and continuous history of Korea, promoting national pride and unity.
Celebrations
- Official ceremonies: Government ceremonies are held at sacred sites like Janggunjeong and Dangun’s Shrine, where officials and citizens participate in traditional rites honoring Korea’s ancient origins.
- Historical reenactments: Cultural performances and historical reenactments take place, particularly in Seoul, to celebrate Korea’s founding story.
Christmas Day
Date: December 25th
Although South Korea is not a predominantly Christian country, Christmas is a public holiday celebrated by many, both religiously and culturally.
Religious Significance
- Christianity in Korea: For South Korean Christians, Christmas is a deeply religious holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Growing cultural holiday: Even for non-Christians, Christmas has become a festive, commercial holiday, with many embracing the gift-giving and decorations associated with the season.
Celebrations
- Religious services: Many Christians attend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services, participating in prayer, hymns, and nativity plays.
- Commercial celebrations: Shopping malls, streets, and public squares are decorated with Christmas lights and trees. In major cities, there are Christmas markets and special events.
- Family gatherings: Families come together for festive meals, and younger generations exchange gifts, making Christmas a time for celebration and togetherness.
