Many Asian countries celebrate new year at this time, including Vietnam and Korea. Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant holidays in Korea, marking the first day of the lunar calendar. It’s usually in January or February, and coincides with the second new moon The reason “Chinese New Year” is a misnomer is that the holiday is also observed on the same date in South Korea and Vietnam –- two neighbors of China that were heavily influenced by Chinese In South Korea, for instance, the Lunar New Year festival is called Seollal. The first three days are filled with tributes to ancestors, festive games and foods such as rice cakes ( tteokguk ) and To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. History of Korean New Year. Seollal is a cultural holiday, which has its roots in traditional Chinese Confucianism and is celebrated on the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. It usually lasts three days — the day before Korean New Year, Korean New Year itself, and the day after Korean New Year. Today – 22 January 2025 – is not a holiday in South Korea. Discover upcoming public holiday dates for South Korea and start planning to make the most of your time off. South Koreans are entitled to 16 holidays per year. This makes South Korea one of the countries with the top holiday entitlements, behind India and Colombia. Seollal, or Korean Lunar New Year, is a major holiday in the lives of South Koreans. Seollal comes in January or February and involves family visits, ancestral rites, eating of traditional foods and playing of Korean games. Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. Is Seollal a Public Holiday? Seollal is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Lunar New Year is a festive occasion that calls for celebration in many places around the world. Read more about Seollal. In 2025, Seollal is on January 29, Wednesday. Seollal falls on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Because Koreans celebrate this holiday according to the lunar calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar changes every year. For your information, these are the dates of Seollal in the next five years. The government has designated Jan. 27th 2025, the day before this year's Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary public holiday. The government and the conservative People Power Party (PPP) approved the designation during a meeting on Wednesday to "stimulate domestic spending and boost tourism during the Lunar New Year period." Holiday; 1 Jan: Wed: New Year Holiday: 28 Jan to 4 Feb: Tue to Tue: Spring Festival: 4 Apr: Fri: Ching Ming Festival: 1 May to 5 May: Thu to Mon: Labour Day Holiday: 31 May to 2 Jun: Sat to Mon: Dragon Boat Festival: 1 Oct to 8 Oct: Wed to Wed: National Day Holiday: 6 Oct: Mon: Mid-Autumn Festival: Visit gov.cn for the original release. New Year's Day: 1 January. Seollal / Korean New Year Holiday: 28 January. Seollal / Korean New Year Holiday: 29 January. Seollal / Korean New Year Holiday: 30 January. Independence Movement Day: 1 March. Independence Movement Day: 3 March. Buddha's Birthday: 5 May. Children's Day: 6 May. Memorial Day: 6 June. Liberation Day: 15 August. In 2025, Seollal falls on on January 29th but the Korean holiday includes the day before and after as well. Because Seollal is on a Wednesday this year, the official public holiday for Lunar New Year in Korea spans January 28, 2025 to January 30, 2025. The new year in 2025 falls on Jan. 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Wednesday to Feb. 4. Home. South Korea Public Holidays 2025. This page contains a national calendar of all 2025 public holidays. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates. Overview of holidays and many observances in South Korea during the year 2025. New Year's Day: Public Holiday: Lunar New Year is the first day of the Chinese The 2024 Korean Lunar New Year holiday, or Seollal, is a widely celebrated holiday in Korea, and many public agencies and companies will be on vacation. Most tourist areas will still be open throughout the entire holiday season, with the exception of most businesses being closed on the actual day of Seollal (Feb 10th). Compared to 2024, the number of public holidays for all citizens has increased by two days, specifically for Lunar New Year’s Eve and May 2nd. The announcement also clarifies the adjusted holiday arrangements, stating that the continuous work period before and after statutory holidays generally should not exceed six days, except for certain
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