Holidays in South Korea

「Korean Public Holidays 」

 

 

South Korea

officially follows the Gregorian calendar

(solar calendar), although some holidays

 are still based on the lunar calendar.

 

During the official holidays, offices and

banks are closed but palaces, museums,

most restaurants, department stores, and

amusement facilities are open.

 

 

 

 

Korean Holidays

In Korea, there are 11 public holidays,

most of which have fixed dates except

Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) and

Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day).

 

 Seollal and Chuseok are based on the

lunar calendar, so the date for the

holidays changes every year. 

 

Let's find holidays of Korea in order

 of date of the year!

 

---

 

 

New Year's Day

(January 1)

[Korean Holidays]

 

Just like in other countries, the first day

of the New Year is celebrated in Korea.

 

Many Koreans visit the east coast or

the mountains to watch the first sunrise

of the year and wish for the new year.

 

Many offices and business may close.

People send new year's messages to their

family and friends or attend New Year’s

Eve parties, but most festivities sare

reserved for the lunar New Year,Seollal.

 

 

 

 

Seollal

(January 1 by lunar calendar,

February 4-6 in 2019 )

 

[Korean Holidays]

 

Lunar New Year’s Day (Seollal) is one of

the most important traditional holidays

of the year in Korea; the holiday is much

more significant than January 1st.

 

Most businesses are closed, and people

take several days off from work to visit

their hometown to be with their family.

 

Visitors should be aware that many stores,

restaurants, and other spots are closed at

this time. However, cultural sites such as

the Namsangol Hanok Village, museums,

and the palaces hold special events where

tourists can experience traditional Korean

culture and games.

 

Feasts are held with specially prepared

food such as tteokguk(rice cake soup) and

manduguk (dumpling soup). People enjoy

spending time together with their family

by playing traditional games such as

yutnori (Korean board games), flying

kites, or spinning tops.

 

 

 

Independence Movement Day

(March 1)

[Korean Holidays]

 

This day commemorates the Declaration

of Independence proclaimed on March 1,

1919, while under Japanese colonization.

 

On this day, the Korean people declared

their nation’s independence from Japan

by proclaiming the Korean Declaration

of Independence in Tapgol Park

(formerly Pagoda Park), after which the

Independence Movement spread to the

rest of the country.

 

This led to the establishment of the

Provisional Government of the Republic

of Korea.

 

 

 

 

Children's Day

(May 5, substitute holiday May 6)

[Korean Holidays]

 

Children’s writer and social activist

Bang Jeong-hwan proclaimed the first

Children’s Day in Korea in 1923.

 

This day celebrates children and their

parents' hopes for them to grow healthy

and become good citizens.

 

On this day, parents take their kids to

children's parks, amusement parks,

zoos, or to the cinema for a full day

of fun and games.

 

 

 

 

Buddha's Birthday

(April 8 by lunar calendar,

May 12 in 2019)

[Korean Holidays]

Buddha's Birthday is also based on the 

lunar calendar on April 8.

 

On this day, elaborate and solemn rituals

are held at many Buddhist temples across

the country and lanterns are hung along

streets leading to the temples.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

(June 6)

[Korean Holidays]

 

Memorial Day serves to honor the

soldiers and civilians who have given

their lives for their country.

 

While memorial services are held

nationwide, the largest ceremony takes

place at the  National Cemetery in

Dongjak -dong, Seoul.

 

 

 

 

Liberation Day

(August 15)

[Korean Holidays]

 

This day commemorates Japan's

acceptance of the Allies' terms of

surrender in 1945 and the following

liberation of Korea.

 ROK was established on the same

day in 1948.

 

Celebratory events are held in every

corner of the country, the largest of which

being the commemorative ceremony

at the Independence Hall of Korea in

Cheonan. Many people fly the Taegeukgi

outside  their house on this day

 

 

 

 

 

Chuseok

(August 15 by lunar calendar,

September 12-14 in 2019 )

[Korean Holidays]

Chuseok is one of the year’s most

important traditional holidays in Korea

along with Seollal. It is celebrated on the

15th day of the eighth lunar month.

 

Chuseok is often referred to as Korean

Thanksgiving Day. It’s a celebration

of another successful harvest year.

 

Family members come from all over

the country for memorial rituals,

called charye, at the graves of their

ancestors.

 

 

 

 

National Foundation Day

(October 3)

[Korean Holidays]

 

This day commemorates the

founding of the Korean nation by the

legendary god-king Dangun.

 

A simple ceremony is held at several

regions throughout Korea, namely at

Chamseongdna Altar on top of

Manisan Mountain on Ganghwado Island

; Dangundeon Shrine in Gokseong,

Taebaeksan Mountain, and Jeungpyeong,

and at Dangunseongjeon Shrine in Seoul

 

 

 

 

Hangeul Day

(October 9)

[Korean Holidays]

Hangeul Day is a commemoration

held to remember the creation of

Hangeul (Korean Alphabet), Korean

native alphabet as proclaimed by the

publication of Hunminjeongeum on

this day in 1446.

 

Hangeul was established by King Sejong

the Great in the 9th month of the lunar

calendar in 1447. Established in 1945 as a

national holiday. Exhibitions, festivals,

and contests highlighting the alphabet and

its uses are held around the country.

 

 

 

 

Christmas

(December 25)

[Korean Holidays]

Christmas is observed as a national

holiday in Korea as in other countries.

To celebrate the festive season,

especially in the big cities, Christmas

trees and lights can be seen on the street.

 

In front of city hall in Seoul,

you can see huge size of Christmas

tree with 25 meters high every year.

 

With a large Christian population,

Christmas Day has become an

important celebration in Korea.

 

Public Holidays in South Korean are

known as 'Red Days' as this is how they

are usually colored in printed calendar.

 

 

 

Enjoy your stay in Korea!