Korean National Holidays: Chuseok, Lunar New Year, and Business Closures

South Korea has 16 official public holidays in 2026, but two of them, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Seollal (Lunar New Year), effectively pause the country for three to five days each. Arrive during either without knowing this and you will find shuttered restaurants, sold-out trains, and hotel rates that have doubled overnight.

The Two Holidays That Define the Calendar

Seollal, Lunar New Year

Seollal falls on the first day of the lunar calendar, which lands in late January or early February on the Gregorian calendar. The statutory holiday covers the day before, the day itself, and the day after, three days minimum. When the holiday touches a weekend, the government adds a substitute holiday (대체공휴일, daechehyuil), pushing the closure to four or even five consecutive days.

In 2026, Seollal falls on 17 February. The official holiday window runs 16–18 February, with 19 February added as a substitute holiday because the 18th is a Wednesday (no weekend bridge needed, but check the official Korea government notice at moleg.go.kr each autumn for final confirmation).

The cultural obligation is to travel to the family's ancestral home for charye (제사), a memorial ritual with ancestral offerings. This triggers the largest mass migration in the country: KTX high-speed rail and intercity Express Bus Terminal tickets sell out 30–45 days in advance through Korail (korail.com) and Kobus (kobus.co.kr). Book the moment the reservation window opens, usually announced in December.

Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving

Chuseok lands on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, typically mid to late September. Like Seollal, it carries a three-day official window (day before, day itself, day after) plus potential substitute days. In 2026, Chuseok falls on 25 September, with the official holiday running 24–26 September.

The ritual structure mirrors Seollal: families gather, songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) are prepared, and ancestors are honoured. Mass return travel means transport books out just as fast.

What Closes, and What Does Not

Expect to find closed:

• Government offices, banks, post offices, and courts (all statutory closures)
• Most independent restaurants and cafes, especially outside Seoul, family-run sikdang lock up entirely
• Large department stores: Lotte, Hyundai, and Shinsegae close on Chuseok and Seollal day itself (not all three days)
• Cosmetics chains and fashion retailers in shopping districts like Myeongdong, check individual store announcements

Usually open or operating on reduced hours:

• Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24), open 24/7 by franchise mandate; food, ATMs, and package lockers remain accessible
• Most tourist attractions: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and national museums typically run holiday programmes with free admission on Chuseok and Seollal day
• Subway and city bus networks in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu operate on public holiday schedules (slightly reduced frequency but not suspended)
• Incheon International Airport and its transit connections operate normally

Other Public Holidays Worth Noting

Beyond the two big celebrations, these dates regularly catch visitors off guard:

• Children's Day (어린이날), 5 May: theme parks are at maximum capacity; Everland and Lotte World report year-long visitor peaks
• Buddha's Birthday (부처님오신날), varies (lunar calendar, often May): lantern festivals in temple districts; some Buddhist-run restaurants close
• Liberation Day (광복절), 15 August: national flag displays, ceremonies at Seodaemun Prison History Hall; most businesses open
• Hangeul Day (한글날), 9 October: a newer statutory holiday since 2013; closures similar to minor holidays

Practical Survival Checklist

• Check the substitute holiday rule each year at the Ministry of the Interior website (mois.go.kr), the exact dates shift with the lunar calendar
• Stock up at a convenience store the day before a major holiday if you are not in a large city; rural areas can go nearly dark
• Withdraw Korean won (KRW) cash before the holiday begins, some rural ATMs are serviced less frequently over the break
• Hotel rates in Seoul and Busan surge during Chuseok and Seollal; book at least six to eight weeks ahead through Booking.com or directly with chains like Lotte Hotel or Signiel
• Museums running holiday cultural programmes (hanbok try-on, yutnori games) are excellent free options, check the Korea Tourism Organization site (visitkorea.or.kr) for the annual schedule

Plan around these windows and you will encounter a version of Korea most tourists miss: quieter streets, open temple grounds, and the rare sight of a capital city briefly exhaling.