South Korea 2025 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Labor Day

1 May in most countries; the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada.

The workers' holiday. Almost everywhere it falls on 1 May; in the United States and Canada it was deliberately placed in September to avoid the associations of May Day.

Children's Day

1 June across the post-Soviet states and much of Asia; other dates elsewhere.

Honours children. A public holiday in a number of countries, and in China a day off for children under thirteen rather than for everyone.

Memorial Day

The last Monday of May in the United States; other dates elsewhere.

Honours military personnel who died in service. In the United States it also marks the unofficial start of summer.

Liberation Day

The anniversary of liberation from occupation — varies by country.

Marks the end of a foreign occupation, most often the end of Axis occupation in 1944–45. Observed in Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and a number of African and Asian states.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.