| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2025-01-27 | Temporary Public Holiday | National |
| 2025-01-28 | The day preceding Korean New Year | National |
| 2025-01-29 | Korean New Year | National |
| 2025-01-30 | The second day of Korean New Year | National |
| 2025-03-01 | Independence Movement Day | National |
| 2025-03-03 | Alternative holiday for Independence Movement Day | National |
| 2025-05-05 | Buddha's Birthday; Children's Day | National |
| 2025-05-06 | Alternative holiday for Buddha's Birthday; Alternative holiday for Children's Day | National |
| 2025-06-03 | Presidential Election Day | National |
| 2025-06-06 | Memorial Day | National |
| 2025-08-15 | Liberation Day | National |
| 2025-10-03 | National Foundation Day | National |
| 2025-10-05 | The day preceding Chuseok | National |
| 2025-10-06 | Chuseok | National |
| 2025-10-07 | The second day of Chuseok | National |
| 2025-10-08 | Alternative holiday for Chuseok | National |
| 2025-10-09 | Hangul Day | National |
| 2025-12-25 | Christmas Day | National |
How many public holidays does South Korea have in 2025?
South Korea has 19 public holidays in 2025: 19 national holidays. The dates run from 1 January 2025 to 25 December 2025, and no public holiday falls in February, April, July, September, November. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how South Korea's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in South Korea 2025
South Korea's public holidays create 6 long weekends in 2025 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Sat 25 - Thu 30 January: Temporary Public Holiday (6-day weekend, Saturday 25 January to Thursday 30 January).
- Sat 1 - Mon 3 March: Independence Movement Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 1 March to Monday 3 March).
- Sat 3 - Tue 6 May: Buddha's Birthday; Children's Day (4-day weekend, Saturday 3 May to Tuesday 6 May).
- Fri 6 - Sun 8 June: Memorial Day (3-day weekend, Friday 6 June to Sunday 8 June).
- Fri 15 - Sun 17 August: Liberation Day (3-day weekend, Friday 15 August to Sunday 17 August).
- Fri 3 - Thu 9 October: National Foundation Day (7-day weekend, Friday 3 October to Thursday 9 October).
Observed and substitute holidays in South Korea 2025
A substitute holiday is a day off moved to a nearby working weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The legal date never changes - only the day most people actually get off.
In 2025 no public holiday in South Korea is moved to a nearby weekday, so every holiday in the table above is observed on the date shown.
Regional variations are common; see public holidays across Asia for the wider picture.
Public holidays in South Korea: is your date a holiday in 2025?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in South Korea in 2025. If the date you are checking appears there, it is a day off; if it does not, it is not a public holiday - however widely it may be marked.
For example, 1 January 2025 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in South Korea.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in South Korea (2025)
Our South Korea public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day marks the anniversary of a country's liberation from occupation or from an oppressive regime. Italy and the Netherlands observe it in the context of the Second World War, while Bulgaria, Albania, Portugal and several other states commemorate their own historical turning points. It is a public holiday marked by official ceremonies, wreath laying at war memorials and events reflecting on the restoration of national sovereignty.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day on 25 December is the Christian feast of the Nativity of Jesus and one of the most widely observed public holidays in the world. It is a legal holiday in most nations with Christian majorities or heritage, and a cultural holiday in many others. Customs include family gatherings, gift giving, special meals and decorated trees. Countries following the Julian or Oriental Orthodox calendars often celebrate on 7 January instead.