Long weekends 2027 in South Korea

All public holidays 2027 in South Korea, one by one

Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.

• Friday, January 1: 새해. New Year's Day on 1 January is a quiet day; Korea celebrates the big family new year at Seollal. Many people watch the first sunrise on the east coast. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 January, with no leave needed.
• Saturday, February 6: 설날. Seollal, the Lunar New Year, is one of Korea's two great family holidays. People travel to their hometowns, honour ancestors and eat tteokguk, rice cake soup, over a three day break. It falls on a Saturday, and South Korea's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2027.
• Monday, February 8: 설날. Seollal, the Lunar New Year, is one of Korea's two great family holidays. People travel to their hometowns, honour ancestors and eat tteokguk, rice cake soup, over a three day break. You get 4 free days in a row, 6 to 9 February, with no leave needed.
• Tuesday, February 9: 설날. Seollal, the Lunar New Year, is one of Korea's two great family holidays. People travel to their hometowns, honour ancestors and eat tteokguk, rice cake soup, over a three day break. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 6 to 9 February.
• Monday, March 1: 3·1절. Independence Movement Day on 1 March remembers the 1919 movement against Japanese rule. Ceremonies take place nationwide, and spring is close. You get 3 free days in a row, 27 February to 1 March, with no leave needed.
• Monday, May 3: 노동절. Labour Day on 1 May honours workers and sits at the start of the spring travel season, often close to Children's Day. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 May, with no leave needed.
• Wednesday, May 5: 어린이날. Children's Day on 5 May is a day of family outings, amusement parks and gifts for children, in the middle of the spring travel season. Take Tuesday, May 4 off and you have 5 days in a row, 1 to 5 May.
• Thursday, May 13: 부처님 오신 날. Buddha's Birthday is celebrated with lanterns hung in temples and the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul. Temple stays are popular on this day. Take Friday, May 14 off and you have 4 days in a row, 13 to 16 May.
• Sunday, June 6: 현충일. Memorial Day on 6 June honours those who died for the country, with a siren and a minute of silence at 10 a.m. It falls on a Sunday, and South Korea's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2027.
• Monday, July 19: 제헌절. Constitution Day on 17 July marks the proclamation of the 1948 constitution. It falls at the start of the summer holiday season. You get 3 free days in a row, 17 to 19 July, with no leave needed.
• Monday, August 16: 광복절. Liberation Day on 15 August marks the end of Japanese rule in 1945. Flags fly across the country in the middle of summer holidays. You get 3 free days in a row, 14 to 16 August, with no leave needed.
• Tuesday, September 14: 추석. Chuseok, the harvest moon festival, is Korea's biggest family holiday. Over three days, people travel home, visit ancestors' graves and share songpyeon rice cakes. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 14 to 16 September.
• Wednesday, September 15: 추석. Chuseok, the harvest moon festival, is Korea's biggest family holiday. Over three days, people travel home, visit ancestors' graves and share songpyeon rice cakes. You get 3 free days in a row, 14 to 16 September, with no leave needed.
• Thursday, September 16: 추석. Chuseok, the harvest moon festival, is Korea's biggest family holiday. Over three days, people travel home, visit ancestors' graves and share songpyeon rice cakes. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 14 to 16 September.
• Monday, October 4: 개천절. National Foundation Day on 3 October celebrates the legendary founding of the first Korean kingdom. It often brings an autumn long weekend. You get 3 free days in a row, 2 to 4 October, with no leave needed.
• Monday, October 11: 한글날. Hangul Day on 9 October celebrates the Korean alphabet created under King Sejong. It is a popular autumn day for short trips to see the foliage. You get 3 free days in a row, 9 to 11 October, with no leave needed.
• Saturday, December 25: 크리스마스. Christmas in Korea is a public holiday, often spent by couples and friends in the festive city lights rather than with family. It falls on a Saturday, so South Korea adds 기독탄신일 대체 휴일 on Monday, December 27 instead.
• Monday, December 27: 기독탄신일 대체 휴일. A substitute holiday: when a major holiday falls on a weekend or another holiday, the next weekday is given off, so the break keeps its length. You get 3 free days in a row, 25 to 27 December, with no leave needed.