Holiday Guide for South Korea in 2017

South Korea 2017
South Korea
2017

South Korea information

Population: 51.78m
Capital: Seoul
Calling Code: (82)
Time Zone: +9 UTC
Currency: South Korean won
Language: Korean

List of National Holidays in South Korea in 2017

New Year's Day


New Year's Day

South Korea: New Year's Day is a public holiday in all countries that observe the Gregorian calendar, with the exception of Israel

Korean New Year

 Long Weekend! 
Korean New Year

South Korea: Eve of Seollal, Korean New Year

Korean New Year


Korean New Year

South Korea: Known as Seollal, Korean New Year is the first day of the lunar Korean calendar. It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays

Korean New Year Holiday


Korean New Year Holiday

South Korea: Usually in early February; three-day consecutive holidays

Korean New Year Holiday

 Long Weekend! 
Korean New Year Holiday

South Korea: Usually in early February; three-day consecutive holidays

March 1st Movement


March 1st Movement

South Korea: Independence Movement Day (Samil Jeol) commemorates a nation-wide independence movement in South Korea which took place on March 1st 1919 in protest against colon

Labour Day

 Long Weekend! 
Labour Day

South Korea: This holiday is most commonly associated as a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement

Buddha's Birthday


Buddha's Birthday

South Korea: Lantern parades are held for Buddhas Birthday which is celebrated in late April or early May

 Children's Day

 Long Weekend! 
Children's Day

South Korea: This Holiday was founded by the Korean childrens writer Pang Chong-hwan in 1923 as a way to instil in the children a sense of independence and national pride

Presidential Election Day


Presidential Election Day

South Korea: 19th South Korean presidential election Day is a public holiday to allow voter participation

Memorial Day


Memorial Day

South Korea: Memorial Day Commemorates those who died during the Korean War

 Liberation Day


Liberation Day

South Korea: Marks the liberation of Korea from 35 years of Japanese imperial rule in 1945 after the end of the second World War.

 National Foundation Day


National Foundation Day

South Korea: Foundation Day marks the traditional founding of Korea by Tan-gun in 2333 BC

Harvest Festival


Harvest Festival

South Korea: Chuseok, the Harvest Moon Festival is one of Korea's most cherished holidays

Harvest Festival Holiday


Harvest Festival Holiday

South Korea: Chuseok, the Harvest Moon Festival is one of Korea's most cherished holidays

Harvest Festival Holiday

 Long Weekend! 
Harvest Festival Holiday

South Korea: Substitute day for Chuseok as it fell on the same day as National Foundation Day

Hangeul Day

 Long Weekend! 
Hangeul Day

South Korea: Marks the proclamation of the Korean alphabet in 1446. Reinstated as a holiday in 2013

 Presidential Election Day


Presidential Election Day

South Korea: Holiday for the voting in the election of the President of South Korea

Christmas Day

 Long Weekend! 
Christmas Day

South Korea: Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which according to tradition took place on December 25th 1 BC

Notes

  • Public holidays in South Korea are commonly known as 'Red Days' as this is how they are usually coloured in printed calendars.
  • The Korean government has announced that from the second half of 2014 onwards, if the date of Seollal, Chuseok, or Children's Day falls on Sunday, then the holiday will be extended to Monday.
  • Since August 2021, March 1st Independence Movement Day, National Liberation Day, National Foundation Day and Hangeul Day have been added to the list of holidays that are compensated if they fall on a weekend.
  • Since March 2023, South Korean workers will enjoy an extra day off if either Buddha's Birthday or Christmas overlaps with a Saturday or Sunday.