Earlier, like many agrarian societies, Korea too used a lunar calendar. However, with the rest of the world encroaching on Korea, it eventually took to the solar calendar. Still in many pockets of the country, many people in South Korea still go by the lunar calendar to keep track of births and deaths and some traditional holidays. Due to the two calendars being followed, many people in South Korea celebrate their birthdays according to both Lunar and Solar calendars, and the first days of each calendar are national holidays. Also the South Korea Public Holidays are announced following both solar and lunar calendar.
South Korea Public Holidays according to the Solar Calendar
- New Year's-January 1st and 2nd
- Independence Movement Day- March 1
- Arbor Day- April 5
- Children's Day- May 5
- Memorial Day- June 6
- Constitution Day- July 17
- Liberation Day- August 15
- National Foundation Day- October 3
- Christmas Day-December 25
South Korea Public Holidays according to the Lunar Calendar
- New Year's (Seol-nal)- 1st day of 1st month, plus the day before and after
- Buddha's Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il)- 8th day of 4th month
- Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok)- 14-16th days of 8th month
- Thanks Giving Day - 8th month, 15th day of the lunar calendar Other Holidays observed in South Korea: - Labour Day on May 1 (not a public holiday, but many companies and the financial markets are closed)
- Parents' Day on May 8 (not a public holiday)
- Teachers' Day on May 15 (not a public holiday)
- Hangul Day on October 9 (not a legal holiday since 1991, but still a national commemoration day)
Traditional Holidays of South Korea: - Daeboreum - First full moon, Day 15 of Month 1
- Dano - Spring festival, Day 5 of Month 5
- Dongji - Winter Solstice, Around December 22 in the solar calendar
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