Plan Well and Rest for 9 Days... When Are the Golden Holidays in the New Year?

Holidays and Public Holidays Clustered on Weekdays
Maximize Annual Leave for Longer Breaks
Consecutive Rest Periods Centered Around Lunar New Year and Chuseok

In 2026, holidays and public holidays are concentrated on weekdays, making it possible to enjoy extended breaks by using just a few days of annual leave. With consecutive holiday periods centered around Lunar New Year and Chuseok, more people are already making vacation plans early in the year.

February 2026 Calendar. Naver

The most notable and longest consecutive break in 2026 is the Lunar New Year holiday in February. Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, February 17, so the basic holiday period runs from Monday, February 16 to Wednesday, February 18-a total of three days. By taking annual leave on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, it is possible to rest for nine days in total, from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday, February 22. Although substitute holidays do not apply since the Lunar New Year holiday falls on weekdays, the duration of the break can be greatly extended by combining annual leave.

In May and June, there are shorter but highly useful holidays. Children's Day on May 5 falls on a Tuesday, so by taking annual leave on Monday, May 4, one can enjoy a four-day break including the weekend. This is a good schedule for a short rest rather than a long vacation. The local election day on Wednesday, June 3 is a single public holiday, making it suitable for a nearby outing or a brief break.

On the 31st, ahead of the New Year's bridge holiday, Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 was crowded with travelers. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

In the second half of the year, an effective "autumn break period" is formed. The Chuseok holiday runs for four days from September 24 to 27. If you combine this with National Foundation Day on Saturday, October 3, and the substitute holiday on Monday, October 5, it is possible to have a relatively long vacation by using annual leave. Including Hangeul Day on October 9, October is considered the month with the highest density of holidays.

In 2026, there will be a total of eight holidays where you can rest for three days or more, including weekends: Lunar New Year, Independence Movement Day, Buddha's Birthday, Liberation Day, Chuseok, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, and Christmas.

There are no public holidays on the calendar in April, July, or November. However, the possible reinstatement of Constitution Day (July 17) as a statutory holiday and the potential establishment of "National Sovereignty Day" on December 3 remain variables. If these changes are introduced, the total number of annual holidays may increase further.