Korean Holidays

Major Korean National Holiday Info and Dates

These two major holidays are a great time to visit Seoul. Yes, many stores will be closed, but in a city of millions you’ll find plenty open and get a different feel for the city as so many have left for the country side for a few days. What may usually be a 3 hour car ride to the east coast can turn into eight plus hours these times of year, so it is a good time to avoid crowds and see some city sites.

Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving

The traditional harvest celebration holiday, this ‘red day’ is when Koreans all over the country head for their hometown for 3 days of eating, resting and visiting relatives. Songpyeon is usually eaten this time of year, a special kind of rice cake usually filled with something sweet. Gifts are commonly given this time of year to coworkers and family, including specially wrapped boxes of dried fish, cooking oil, or spam. Other ideas include department store gift certificates and shampoo.

Chuseok Dates

The day before and after are also government holidays.

2012 : September 30

2013 : September 19

2014 : September 8

2015 : September 27

2016 : September 15

2017 : October 4

Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year

It’s not the Chinese New Year, it is the Lunar New Year! The elderly and children enjoy wearing colorful Korean traditional dress called hanbok this time of year. Family members bow to their elders, usually recieving an envelope of money in return, and everyone wishes each other a blessed New Year (Korean, formal : sae hae bok mani pad euh se yo, 새해복많이받으세요). A traditional stick / board game called yunnori is often played, and massive amounts of Korean home cooking is consumed.

Seollal Dates

2012 : January 23            

2013 : February 10

2014 : January 31            

2015 : February 19

2016 : February 8           

2017 : January 28