Best Leave Timing

Based on public holidays and substitute holidays within the next 12 months, see in advance where to place your leave days for the longest possible break.

2026

Aug

Liberation Day substitute holiday break

Liberation Day (Aug 15) falls on a Saturday, so Aug 17 (Mon) is designated a substitute holiday.

8.15(Sat) ~ 8.17(Mon)3 days off totalRest without using leave

Sep

Chuseok efficient break

The Chuseok holiday (Thu 9/24 - Sat 9/26) runs straight into Sunday. Add just one leave day, before (Wed) or after (Mon), for a 5-day break.

9.24(Thu) ~ 9.27(Sun)5 days off total1 leave days needed (9.23(Wed) or 9.28(Mon))

Oct

National Foundation Day substitute holiday break

National Foundation Day (Oct 3) falls on a Saturday, so Oct 5 (Mon) is designated a substitute holiday.

10.3(Sat) ~ 10.5(Mon)3 days off totalRest without using leave

Oct

Hangeul Day break

Hangeul Day (Oct 9) falls on a Friday — a Fri-Sat-Sun 3-day break with no leave needed.

10.9(Fri) ~ 10.11(Sun)3 days off totalRest without using leave

Dec

Christmas break

Christmas (Dec 25) falls on a Friday — enjoy a 3-day break to close out the year with no leave needed.

12.25(Fri) ~ 12.27(Sun)3 days off totalRest without using leave

2027

Feb

Seollal break

The Lunar New Year holiday (Sun 2/7 - Tue 2/9, including the substitute holiday) already runs into the weekend for 4 days as a baseline. Use leave for the remaining 3 days (Wed-Fri) for a 9-day break.

2.6(Sat) ~ 2.14(Sun)9 days off total3 leave days needed (2.10(Wed), 2.11(Thu), 2.12(Fri))

Mar

Independence Movement Day break

March 1, 2027 falls on a Monday, giving a 3-day break straight through the weekend with no substitute holiday needed.

2.27(Sat) ~ 3.1(Mon)3 days off totalRest without using leave

May

Children's Day bridge

May 5 (Children's Day) falls on a Wednesday. Fill Thursday and Friday with leave for a 5-day break through the weekend.

5.5(Wed) ~ 5.9(Sun)5 days off total2 leave days needed (5.6(Thu), 5.7(Fri))

May

Buddha's Birthday bridge

Buddha's Birthday (May 13) falls on a Thursday. Use just one leave day on Friday for a 4-day break.

5.13(Thu) ~ 5.16(Sun)4 days off total1 leave days needed (5.14(Fri))

Jul

Constitution Day break

Constitution Day (July 17) falls on a Saturday, so July 19 (Mon) is designated a substitute holiday — 3 days off with no leave needed.

7.17(Sat) ~ 7.19(Mon)3 days off totalRest without using leave

Leave-Use Guide for Office Workers

Are substitute holidays always a day off?

In 2026, Independence Movement Day, Buddha's Birthday, Liberation Day, and National Foundation Day all overlap with a weekend, so the following Monday is designated a substitute holiday. However, workplaces with fewer than 5 employees aren't subject to paid-holiday rules under the Labor Standards Act, so check your company's size first.

Can my company force me to use leave on specific dates?

In principle, leave is used whenever the worker wants. A company can only request a change in timing if it can prove significant disruption to business operations, and if it wants to designate a company-wide day off during a bridge holiday and substitute it with leave, it needs a written agreement with the worker representative.

Kaltoesa tip: Handling leave before you resign

If you're planning to change jobs or resign, decide first whether to use up your remaining leave before leaving (extends your service period, which can be favorable for severance pay) or settle it as leave allowance (better if you need cash right away).

Check my real take-home pay

Holiday and substitute holiday information is for reference based on 2026-2027 and may change with government announcements or additional temporary holidays. For the exact schedule, please check the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's notices. The legal basis for designating holidays and substitute holidays can be found in the Regulation on Public Holidays (Korea Law Information Center).