Korea moves to its own calendar. Two of its biggest holidays — Seollal (설날) and Chuseok (추석) — follow the lunar cycle, so their dates shift every year. Arrive during one of these celebrations and you’ll witness something extraordinary: the entire country heading home at once. Miss the dates and you’ll find museums and palaces delightfully quiet. Either way, understanding Korea’s holiday calendar is one of the best investments you can make before you travel. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Two Great Lunar Holidays: Seollal & Chuseok
Korea observes two multi-day national holidays rooted in the lunar calendar. Because they are tied to the moon rather than the Gregorian calendar, dates vary each year — check the lunar calendar before booking. Seollal typically falls between late January and mid-February; Chuseok arrives in September or October. Both holidays bring three official days off, and both trigger what Koreans call the Great People Migration (민족대이동): tens of millions travel home simultaneously.
Seollal (설날) — Korean Lunar New Year
Seollal marks the first day of the lunar new year and is arguably the most important holiday in the Korean calendar. Families gather to perform charye (차례), a morning ancestral memorial rite in which food offerings are laid out for deceased relatives. Children and younger family members then perform sebae (세배), a deep full bow to elders, and in return receive sebaetdon — New Year’s cash gifts tucked into colourful envelopes.
Dress plays a big role: many families wear hanbok (한복), Korea’s traditional two-piece silk or ramie garment, on the morning of Seollal. The breakfast table centres on tteokguk (떡국), a clear broth soup with sliced rice-cake ovals. Eating a bowl symbolises gaining a year of age and welcoming new beginnings.
As a traveller, you’ll notice Seollal through the dramatic emptying — and then sudden repopulation — of cities like Seoul and Busan. Many independent restaurants and small shops close for the full three-day period. However, convenience stores, large supermarkets, hotel restaurants, and tourist-area chains typically stay open. The five royal palaces in Seoul open their gates free of charge on Seollal day for visitors in hanbok, and cultural performance stages are set up across the country.
Chuseok (추석) — Korean Harvest Festival
Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month — the night of the year’s fullest, brightest moon. Often translated as the Korean Thanksgiving, it is a harvest celebration rooted in gratitude for the year’s crops. Families gather again for charye, visit ancestral graves to clean and bow (a practice called beolcho), and share seasonal foods.
The centrepiece food of Chuseok is songpyeon (송편) — half-moon-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame, red bean, or chestnut paste. Making songpyeon together the night before the holiday is a beloved family ritual; legend holds that shaping beautiful songpyeon means you’ll give birth to a beautiful child or meet a good partner. Families also exchange chuseok gift sets — premium boxes of fruit, spam, health supplements, and Korean beef are popular corporate and family gifts.
Like Seollal, Chuseok means a three-day official holiday that effectively extends to four or five days when weekends align. Highways become parking lots, and KTX train tickets sell out weeks in advance. Royal palaces again offer free admission in hanbok. Night markets and local festivals spring up across provincial towns. Dates vary each year — always check the lunar calendar when planning a September or October trip to Korea.
National Public Holidays (공휴일)
Beyond the two lunar holidays, Korea has a full slate of fixed public holidays. Unlike Seollal and Chuseok, these fall on the same Gregorian date each year and are less likely to disrupt travel, though government offices and some businesses close.
- 삼일절 (Samiljeol) — March 1: Independence Movement Day, commemorating the March 1st Movement of 1919 against Japanese colonial rule. Ceremonies at Independence Hall (Cheonan) and Tapgol Park (Seoul).
- 어린이날 (Eorininal) — May 5: Children’s Day. Families pack theme parks and zoos; many attractions are heavily discounted or free for children.
- 부처님 오신 날 (Buddha’s Birthday) — lunar 4/8: Celebrated around late April or May; dates vary each year. Temples nation-wide hang thousands of paper lanterns, and the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul is one of the country’s most photogenic events.
- 현충일 (Hyeonchungil) — June 6: Memorial Day. Sirens sound at 10:00 am for a nationwide minute of silence.
- 광복절 (Gwangbokjeol) — August 15: Liberation Day, marking the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Patriotic ceremonies and flag displays throughout the country.
- 개천절 (Gaecheonjeol) — October 3: National Foundation Day, celebrating the legendary founding of the first Korean kingdom by Dangun in 2333 BC.
- 한글날 (Hangeul Day) — October 9: Celebrates the creation of the Korean alphabet in 1443 by King Sejong. Museums and cultural centres run special exhibitions.
- 크리스마스 (Christmas) — December 25: A public holiday; while not a traditional Korean celebration, it is widely observed, and city centres are lit with elaborate decorations from November.
Modern Festivals & Seasonal Highlights
Korea’s festival calendar is rich with modern events layered on top of seasonal rhythms. Here are the highlights by season.
Spring: Cherry Blossoms & Lotus Lanterns
From late March through mid-April, cherry blossom (벚꽃, beotkkot) season transforms Korean streets, parks, and riverbanks into pink-and-white tunnels. Yeouido in Seoul, Gyeongju’s Bomun Lake, and Jinhae — site of the famous Gunhangje Festival — draw millions of visitors. Busan’s own blossom corridor is spectacular; for a detailed guide see our Busan Cherry Blossoms Guide. Peak bloom lasts only one to two weeks and shifts with temperature each year, so follow real-time forecast apps.
May brings the Yeondeunghoe (연등회) Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul — a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event tied to Buddha’s Birthday. Thousands of coloured paper lanterns are strung between the temples of Jogyesa and along Cheonggyecheon Stream; the Sunday lantern parade is one of the most beautiful sights in Korea.
Summer: Mud, Music & Night Markets
July’s Boryeong Mud Festival (보령 머드축제) on the west coast is one of Korea’s most internationally famous summer events — a playful weekend of mud pools, mud slides, and beach concerts. Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, 부산국제영화제) each October, but summer sees street-food night markets and beach festivals fill coastal cities from June through August.
Autumn: Foliage & Fireworks
The autumn foliage (단풍, danpung) season — running from late September through November — rivals cherry blossoms for sheer beauty. Mountain trails across the country flame red and gold, and temples framed in maple trees make for stunning photographs. October also brings fireworks festivals (불꽃축제): Busan’s Fireworks Festival at Gwangalli Beach is the largest in Korea, launching hundreds of thousands of shells over the bay in a single night. The Jinju Namgang Yudeung (진주 남강 유등) Lantern Festival — floating lanterns on the Nam River — is another autumn highlight.
Winter: Christmas Lights & Ski Season
Korea’s winters are cold and dry, but cities compensate with elaborate light festivals. The Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제) runs along Cheonggyecheon in November and December. Ski resorts — Yongpyong, Alpensia, High1 — open from December and attract both Korean families and international visitors. Winter is also the easiest time to visit royal palaces and historic sites without the summer crowds.
Traveller Tips: What Opens & Closes During Holidays
Understanding what shuts down — and what stays open — during Seollal and Chuseok can make or break your trip. Here is a practical breakdown.
Transportation: Book Early or Avoid Peak Days
The day before each holiday and the last day of the holiday period are the two worst times to travel in Korea. Expressways experience near-total gridlock; a journey that normally takes two hours can stretch to six. KTX high-speed train tickets sell out one month in advance for Seollal and Chuseok periods — book the moment reservations open on the Korail or SRT websites. Buses are slightly easier to book but still crowded. If you have flexibility, travelling on the holiday day itself (when everyone is at home with family) often means lighter traffic than the surrounding days. Refer to our Best Time to Visit Korea guide for a month-by-month travel calendar.
What Stays Open
- Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24): Always open, 24/7, including all holidays. Stock up here for snacks, instant meals, and drinks.
- Major shopping malls & department stores: Most stay open during holidays and even run special Chuseok gift-set promotions.
- Hotel restaurants & tourist-area chains: Generally open, though check in advance.
- Royal palaces (Seoul): Free admission for anyone wearing hanbok on Seollal and Chuseok day — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung all participate.
- Tourist attractions & theme parks: Usually open but may be busier than normal, or offer special holiday programmes.
What Closes or Reduces Hours
- Independent restaurants & street-food stalls: Many close for the full holiday period, especially in residential neighbourhoods. Tourist-zone restaurants are safer bets.
- Government offices, banks & post offices: Closed on all public holidays.
- Some museums: National museums are generally open, but smaller municipal or private museums may close. Always verify online before visiting.
- Traditional markets: Many stall-holders take the full holiday off. Large permanent markets (Namdaemun, Gukje) often close on Seollal day itself.
Etiquette Tip for Travellers
If you visit Korea during a major holiday, you may encounter family gatherings in communal spaces, be offered food by friendly locals, or be invited to watch traditional games like yutnori (윷놀이, a board game using wooden sticks). Accepting graciously and showing curiosity about the customs will earn you a warm reception. For a broader guide to social etiquette in Korea, see our Korean Etiquette Guide.
Quick Reference: Korea’s Holiday Calendar
| Holiday | Korean | Date / Period | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seollal | 설날 | Lunar 1/1 (Jan–Feb, varies) | Lunar |
| Independence Movement Day | 삼일절 | March 1 | Fixed |
| Children’s Day | 어린이날 | May 5 | Fixed |
| Buddha’s Birthday | 부처님 오신 날 | Lunar 4/8 (Apr–May, varies) | Lunar |
| Memorial Day | 현충일 | June 6 | Fixed |
| Liberation Day | 광복절 | August 15 | Fixed |
| Chuseok | 추석 | Lunar 8/15 (Sep–Oct, varies) | Lunar |
| National Foundation Day | 개천절 | October 3 | Fixed |
| Hangeul Day | 한글날 | October 9 | Fixed |
| Christmas | 크리스마스 | December 25 | Fixed |
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Seollal and Chuseok in 2025 and 2026?
Because both holidays follow the lunar calendar, dates vary each year. In 2025, Seollal falls on January 29 and Chuseok on October 6. In 2026, Seollal falls on February 17 and Chuseok on September 25. Always confirm current-year dates via a lunar calendar or the Korea Tourism Organization website before booking travel.
Can I travel around Korea during Seollal and Chuseok?
Yes, but plan ahead. KTX tickets sell out a month in advance for peak travel days (the day before the holiday and the final day). Expressways experience severe congestion. The holiday day itself is often the calmest day to travel, as most people are already at their destination. Book transport early and consider flying or taking the KTX over driving.
Do tourist attractions close on Korean public holidays?
Major tourist attractions — national parks, royal palaces, large museums — generally stay open on public holidays, and the palaces in Seoul even offer free admission in hanbok on Seollal and Chuseok day. However, small independent restaurants, local markets, and neighbourhood shops often close for the full three-day holiday period. Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) are always open.
What is the best festival to visit Korea for?
It depends on what you enjoy. For natural beauty, cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) and autumn foliage (October–November) are unbeatable. For cultural immersion, witnessing Seollal or Chuseok traditions at a palace or village is unforgettable. For spectacle, the Busan Fireworks Festival in October and the Yeondeunghoe Lotus Lantern Festival in May are world-class events. See our Best Time to Visit Korea guide for a full seasonal breakdown.
What traditional foods should I try during Korean holidays?
During Seollal, the essential dish is tteokguk (떡국) — rice-cake soup eaten on New Year's morning. During Chuseok, look for songpyeon (송편), half-moon-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sweet or savoury fillings. Both holidays also feature jeon (전, savoury pancakes), galbi (갈비, short ribs), and an array of side dishes. Many restaurants and hotel buffets offer special holiday menus during these periods.