Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Public Holidays
Eight Korean public holidays are set according to the solar calendar and three according
to the lunar calendar, meaning that they fall on different days each year. Restaurants,
shops and tourist sights stay open during most holidays, but may close over the three-day
Lunar New Year and Chuseok (harvest-festival) holidays. School holidays mean that
beaches and resort areas are busy in August.
New Year's Day
(1 January)
Lunar New Year
(12 February 2013, 31 January 2014, 19 February 2015) Korea grinds
to a halt during this three-day holiday when many people return to their hometown and
visits relatives. Trains and planes are booked up months ahead and expressways are one
long traffic jam.
Independence Movement Day
(1 March) The anniversary of the day in 1919 when na-
tionwide protests against Japanese colonial rule began.
Children's Day
(5 May) Take the darlings out for the day and load them up with gifts.
Buddha's Birthday
(17 May 2013, 6 May 2014, 25 May 2015) Colourful lanterns decor-
ate all the Buddhist temples and overflow into the streets.
Memorial Day
(6 June) Honours those who died fighting for their country.
Constitution Day
(17 July) Commemorates the founding of the Republic of South Korea
in 1948.
Liberation Day
(15 August) Celebrates the day the Japanese surrendered to Allied forces
in 1945, marking the end of their 35-year rule of Korea.
Chuseok
(19 September 2013, 8 September 2014, 27 September 2015) The Harvest
Moon Festival is a three-day holiday when families get together, eat crescent-shaped rice
cakes and visit their ancestors' graves. Avoid travelling at this time.
National Foundation Day
(3 October) Dangun, the legendary founder of the Korean na-
tion, was supposedly born on this day in 2333 BC.
Christmas Day
(25 December)
