Update (February 2026): This article was originally published on January 22, 2026. Since then, the Korean government approved the reinstatement of Constitution Day (July 17) as an official public holiday, starting in 2026. Constitution Day had not been observed as a public holiday since 2008. The 2026 public holiday table below has been updated accordingly.
In 2026, South Korea’s statutory holiday calendar includes national/public holidays (“red days”), substitute holidays, Workers’ Day, and a nationwide election day. 2026 is also a nationwide local election year, and Election Day (June 3) is an official one-day holiday so citizens can vote. Because several key holidays fall on a weekend, Korea’s substitute holiday system creates additional weekdays off for payroll and operational planning.
Please refer to the table below for the public holidays in Korea for 2026:
| South Korea Public Holidays for 2026 | ||
| Holiday | Day | Date |
| New Year’s Day | Thu | January 1 |
| Seollal (Korean New Year) | Mon, Tue, Wed | February 16 – 18 |
| Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol) | Sun (Observed Mon) | March 1 (Observed March 2) |
| Labour Day / Workers’ Day | Fri | May 1 |
| Children’s Day | Tue | May 5 |
| Buddha’s Birthday | Sun (Observed Mon) | May 24 (Observed May 25) |
| Election Day (Nationwide local elections) | Wed | June 3 |
| Memorial Day | Sat | June 6 |
| Constitution Day (added by Feb 2026) | Fri | July 17 |
| Liberation Day | Sat (Observed Mon) | August 15 (Observed August 17) |
| Chuseok (Korean harvest/Thanksgiving holiday) | Thu, Fri, Sat | September 24 – 26 |
| National Foundation Day | Sat (Observed Mon) | October 3 (Observed October 5) |
| Hangeul Day | Fri | October 9 |
| Christmas Day | Fri | December 25 |
Substitute holiday system (2026): When certain major public holidays fall on a weekend, an additional weekday is designated as a day off. In 2026, this applies as follows:
- Independence Movement Day (March 1): Falls on Sunday, so it is observed on Monday, March 2.
- Buddha’s Birthday (May 24): Falls on Sunday, so it is observed on Monday, May 25.
- Liberation Day (August 15): Falls on Saturday, so it is observed on Monday, August 17.
- National Foundation Day (October 3): Falls on Saturday, so it is observed on Monday, October 5.
Notes for employers:
- Constitution Day (July 17) has been restored as an official public holiday in 2026, after not being observed as a public holiday since 2008. In 2026, it falls on a Friday.
- Workers’ Day (May 1) is generally a paid day off for private-sector employees, but it may not apply uniformly to all workplaces or public-sector roles, depending on applicable rules and internal policies.
- Memorial Day (June 6) falls on a Saturday in 2026 and does not create an extra weekday off under the substitute holiday system.
- The above list of public holidays in Korea may be changed according to Korean government decisions and official announcements.
Affected services: Payroll Service in Korea, Employer of Record in Korea
