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South Korea festivals and events 2027: month-by-month calendar

Two holidays shape travel in Korea more than any other: Seollal, the Lunar New Year, and Chuseok, the harvest festival. For three days each, much of the country goes home, trains sell out and many shops and restaurants close. Around them sit a dozen single-day holidays, several with a substitute Monday in 2027, and festivals that are worth a trip in their own right, from ice fishing in Hwacheon to cherry blossoms in Jinhae and mud at Boryeong.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated Facts checked 5 min read
Hundreds of people ice fishing on a frozen river below a snowy hillside in Hwacheon
Ice fishing on the frozen river at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.
Suggested time
Seollal and Chuseok last three days each, Seollal plus a substitute day in 2027; other holidays are single days.
Where to stay
Seoul for most visitors; Hwacheon in Gangwon for the ice festival, Changwon's Jinhae district for cherry blossoms, Daecheon Beach in Boryeong for the mud festival.
Season and timing
Avoid Seollal and Chuseok for long-distance travel unless you book early; spring and autumn bring the best festival weather.

The short answer

Plan around Seollal (6-9 February 2027) and Chuseok (14-16 September 2027): trains and express buses sell out quickly, and many department stores, malls and restaurants close for the day or part of the holiday. Festival highlights are the Hwacheon ice fishing festival (9-31 January), Jinhae's cherry blossom festival (usually late March to early April) and the Boryeong Mud Festival (usually in July or August). Several 2027 holidays fall at a weekend and move to the Monday.

How to read this calendar

Public holiday dates come from the official 2027 list published by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). Two extra substitute days, 3 May and 19 July, follow from the government's current holiday regulation and appear in the national astronomy institute's preliminary 2027 calendar, but were not on KTO's list when we checked; treat them as very likely rather than final.

Not every holiday that falls at a weekend gets a substitute day: the rule depends on the holiday. In 2027, for example, Memorial Day falls on a Sunday and has no substitute. Festival dates come from KTO; where only the usual season is known, we say so.

January: New Year and the Hwacheon ice festival

New Year's Day, Friday 1 January, is a public holiday.

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival runs from Saturday 9 to Sunday 31 January 2027 in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, according to KTO. Visitors fish through the ice of the frozen river for sancheoneo and can grill their catch on the spot.

A crowd of mud-covered visitors walking along Daecheon Beach during the Boryeong Mud Festival
Mud-covered festival-goers at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong.

February: Seollal, the Lunar New Year

Seollal runs from Saturday 6 to Monday 8 February 2027, with Lunar New Year's Day itself on Sunday 7 February. Because part of the holiday falls on a weekend, Tuesday 9 February is a substitute holiday. Families gather, eat tteokguk (rice-cake soup) and play traditional games.

For travellers, KTO says many department stores, malls and restaurants close on the day or for part of the holiday, while convenience stores and shops in tourist areas often stay open. Intercity train and bus tickets sell out fast, so check when advance sales open and book early.

March and April: Independence Movement Day and Jinhae's cherry blossoms

Independence Movement Day, Monday 1 March, commemorates the independence movement of 1 March 1919 and makes a long weekend.

The Jinhae Gunhangje, Korea's best known cherry blossom festival, is held in the Jinhae district of Changwon each year when the trees bloom, usually from late March to early April. Alongside the blossom there are memorial ceremonies and military band events. The 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked; they depend on the season.

A stream lined with cherry trees in full white bloom in Jinhae
Cherry blossom along a stream in Jinhae.

May: Labour Day, Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday

Labour Day, Saturday 1 May, became a public holiday in 2026; because it falls on a Saturday in 2027, Monday 3 May should be a substitute holiday. Children's Day, Wednesday 5 May, brings family events to parks and leisure facilities.

Buddha's Birthday falls on Thursday 13 May. Temples display colourful lanterns. Seoul's Lotus Lantern parade has its own date, which had not been announced for 2027 when we checked.

June and July: Memorial Day, Constitution Day and the mud festival

Memorial Day, Sunday 6 June, honours those who died for the country; there is no substitute day.

Constitution Day, Saturday 17 July, became a public holiday again in 2026; Monday 19 July should be its substitute day.

The Boryeong Mud Festival takes over Daecheon Beach in Boryeong in July or August each year, with mud activity zones and performances. Its 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked.

Rows of colourful paper lanterns hanging in front of the lit main hall of Jogyesa temple in Seoul at dusk
Lanterns at Jogyesa temple in Seoul.

August and September: Liberation Day and Chuseok

Liberation Day, Sunday 15 August, marks liberation in 1945 and the founding of the Republic of Korea's government in 1948; Monday 16 August is the substitute holiday.

Chuseok, the harvest festival, runs from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2027, with Chuseok itself on Wednesday 15 September. Families visit ancestral homes and eat songpyeon, half-moon rice cakes. As at Seollal, KTO says many department stores, malls and restaurants close for the day or part of the holiday, convenience stores and tourist-area shops often stay open, and major national museums generally close on Chuseok Day itself but open on the other days. Train and express-bus tickets sell out quickly.

October to December: Foundation Day, Hangeul Day and Christmas

National Foundation Day, Sunday 3 October, commemorates the founding of ancient Gojoseon; Monday 4 October is the substitute holiday. Hangeul Day, Saturday 9 October, celebrates the Korean alphabet, with Monday 11 October as the substitute.

November has no public holiday.

Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 December, with Monday 27 December as the substitute holiday. KTO describes city decorations and illuminations through the season.

Practical questions

When is Chuseok 2027?

From Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2027, with Chuseok Day on 15 September. Book trains early, and expect many department stores and restaurants to close for part of the holiday.

When is Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) 2027?

From Saturday 6 to Monday 8 February 2027, with a substitute holiday on Tuesday 9 February. Lunar New Year's Day is 7 February.

Is everything closed in Korea during Chuseok and Seollal?

No. KTO says many department stores, malls and restaurants close on the day or for part of the holiday, but convenience stores and shops in tourist areas often stay open. Major national museums generally close only on the main day.

When is the Boryeong Mud Festival 2027?

It is held at Daecheon Beach each July or August; the 2027 dates had not been announced in October 2026.

When is the Jinhae cherry blossom festival 2027?

Usually from late March to early April, timed to the blossom. The 2027 programme had not been announced in October 2026.

Which 2027 holidays have a substitute Monday?

Seollal (Tuesday 9 February), Liberation Day (16 August), National Foundation Day (4 October), Hangeul Day (11 October) and Christmas (27 December), plus very likely 3 May for Labour Day and 19 July for Constitution Day. Memorial Day on Sunday 6 June has none.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 22 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

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