Holidays, Festivals & Events Calendar

South Korea Public Holidays
South Korea has three categories of public holidays – National Celebration Day, National Flag Raising Day, and Public Day off.

One public holiday in South Korea may belong to one or two categories above. All public holidays in the category of National Celebration Day also belong to the category of Flag Raising Day. However, public holidays included in the Flag Raising Day do not necessarily belong to National Celebration Day.

The list of South Korea Public Holidays for calendar year 2013 is available below. Please note that the calendar is based on estimate only. Therefore, we do not and cannot guarantee the accuracy the information available.

South Korea Holidays 2013
Here is South Korea 2013 holidays calendar.

New Year’s Day (Sinjeong)
The first day of the year according to Gregorian calendar.
(Public Day Off)
Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Korean New Year’s Day (Seollal)
The 1st day of lunar Korean calendar. One of the most important traditional Korean holiday.
(Public Day Off for 3 days)
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Monday, 11 February 2013

Independence (Declaration) Day (Samiljeol)
Commemorates the March 1st Independent Movement in 1919 and the declaration of Korean independence from Imperial Japan.
(Public Day Off)
Friday, 1 March 2013

Children’s Day (Eorininal)
Celebrates childhood and promote children’s happiness. Children’s Day had been celebrated on May 1st since 1922 until 1945. In 1946, Children’s Day was moved to May 5th, and then declared as public holiday in 1975.
(Public Day Off)
Sunday, 5 May 2013

Buddha’s Birthday (Seokgatansinil)
A Buddhism festival to celebrate the birthday of Gautama Buddha. Buddhism is one of the two major religions in South Korea.
(Public Day Off)
Friday, 17 May 2013

Memorial Day (Hyeonchung-il)
Commemorates those who died in military service to defend the nation or the ones who carried out independence movement in South Korea.
(Public Day Off)
Thursday, 6 June 2013

Constitution Day (Jeheonjeol)
Celebrates the declaration of the first constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948.
(Public Day Off)
Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Liberation Day(Gwangbokjeol)
Celebrates the national liberation from the Japanese colonization in 1945.
(Public Day Off)
Thursday, 15 August 2013

Korean Thanksgiving (Chuseok)
Also called “Han-gawi” or Mid-Autumn festival. A Korean traditional harvest festival to celebrate the good harvest. One of the most important holidays in South Korea.
(Public Day Off for 3 days)
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Friday, 20 September 2013

Armed Forces Day (Gukgunuinal)
A day to recognize, venerate, and honor the military forces of the Republic of Korea.
(Working Day)
Tuesday, 1 October 2013

National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol)
Celebrates the foundation of the first state of Korean nation – Gojoseon.
(Public Day Off)
Thursday, 3 October 2013

Hangul Day (Hangeullal)
Commemorates the invention of Hangul (1443) and its proclamation (1446). Hangul is the native alphabet of the Korean language.
(Working Day)
Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Christmas Day (Gidoktansinil)
A Christian festival to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.
(Public Day Off)
Wednesday, 25 December 2013

National Celebration Day
Public holidays in this category celebrate events considered joyous to Korea. Independence Declaration Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangul Day belong to this category.

National Flag Raising Days
During this kind of holidays, all households in Korea are suggested to raise South Korean national flag (Taegukgi). All the National Celebration Days are National Flag Raising Days in addition to January 1 and Memorial Day (half staff).

Public Days Off
Public Days Off are non-working holidays intended for government offices. Yet, most businesses usually follow these holidays.

Happy South Korea Holidays 2013!