What's Open During Chuseok and Seollal in Korea (and Where Residents Go)

The big holidays empty out most of your neighborhood. Banks close for three days. Your usual lunch spot closes because the owner went home to Gyeongsang-do. If you have not planned ahead, the holiday stretch can feel stranded.

This guide covers what closes, what stays open, how to find a pharmacy when yours is shut, and what foreign residents typically do during the five-day stretches around Seollal (설날) and Chuseok (추석).

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When are the holidays in 2026 and 2027?

Seollal (설날, Lunar New Year)

With the prior weekend included, Seollal 2026 effectively gives most workers five days off from Saturday February 14 through Wednesday February 18.

Chuseok (추석, Harvest Festival)

The substitute holiday (대체공휴일) system is not a blanket "weekend means Monday" rule. For Seollal and Chuseok, the current regulation adds a substitute holiday when the holiday overlaps a Sunday or another public holiday. Chuseok 2026 overlaps a Saturday, so most workers should plan around the official September 24 to 26 cluster plus the following Sunday, September 27.

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What closes, and for how long?

The closures below apply to all three official holiday days.

A practical note on restaurants: the closures are driven by staff traveling home for the hometown-return exodus (귀성/귀향). In areas with a high concentration of tourists or hotels, more restaurants stay open, but you may wait longer and pay higher prices. Convenience stores (편의점) fill the gap reliably.

What stays open:

• Convenience stores (편의점): GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and emart24 run 24 hours on every public holiday
• Cinemas: CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox stay open and often see high attendance; major films release specifically for the holiday period
• Western fast food chains and hotel restaurants: usually open, sometimes with reduced hours
• Coffee chains: usually open, sometimes closing earlier than normal
• Emergency rooms (응급실): legally required to operate 24 hours
• National parks and hiking trails: open year-round; busier than usual during holidays

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How to find an open pharmacy during the holiday

Most neighborhood pharmacies close on the main holiday days. Korea's system of designated holiday duty pharmacies (휴일지킴이 약국) ensures that some are open in every district, but you need to know where to look.

The fastest method: E-Gen portal

1. Go to e-gen.or.kr on your phone or computer.
2. The portal automatically switches to a holiday screen at midnight on each holiday day.
3. Tap "문 여는 병원·약국" (Open hospitals/pharmacies).
4. Allow location access. The portal shows the nearest open pharmacies and their hours on a map.

The mobile app version is called 응급의료정보제공 (Emergency Medical Information) and is available on both Android and iOS. Download it before the holiday so you are not searching for it when you need it.

Backup contacts:

• 129: National health call center. Connects you to a Korean-language operator who can direct you to an open clinic or pharmacy near you.
• 120: Seoul citizen helpline (operates in Korean; limited English).
• 119: Emergency services. For genuine emergencies only; they can advise on hospital transport.

Emergency rooms:

All hospital emergency rooms (응급실) are legally required to stay open 24 hours throughout every public holiday. If your clinic is closed and you need a doctor, the ER is always an option. For non-emergency care, the ER may feel overwhelming and the wait will be longer than usual. Use E-Gen to find an open clinic first if your situation is not urgent.

For more on how Korean emergency rooms work for foreign residents, see the Korea emergency room guide.

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Palaces: free entry on the holiday days

Five major royal sites offer free admission on the official Seollal and Chuseok days:

• Gyeongbokgung (경복궁)
• Changdeokgung (창덕궁)
• Deoksugung (덕수궁)
• Changgyeonggung (창경궁)
• Jongmyo Shrine (종묘)

Traditional performances run at several of these on the holiday day. Lines form early at Gyeongbokgung; arrive by 9:00 am if you want to enter without a long wait.

One timing note: palaces typically close the day after the final holiday day. For Seollal 2026, that means February 19 is a closure day. Check the current schedule at the Cultural Heritage Administration website before you go, because exact closure patterns are confirmed annually.

The National Folk Museum (국립민속박물관), located inside Gyeongbokgung, runs special holiday programming but has its own closure day within the cluster. Confirm the exact closed day at nfm.go.kr each year, as it varies.

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Transit: what to expect

Subway and city buses

Seoul subway and major bus lines operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule throughout the holiday cluster. Frequency drops compared to a normal weekday. Seoul extends subway service and major bus lines until approximately 2:00 am on the eve of the holiday and on the day after.

KTX and express buses

Popular routes sell out fast. Routes from Seoul to Busan, Gwangju, and Daegu are the first to go. Korail opens a special advance reservation window roughly 30 days before the main travel period. For Chuseok 2026, watch for Korail's announcement in late August. Book the moment reservations open on the Korail website (letskorail.com) or the Korail Talk app. The booking hotline is 1544-8545 (Korean).

Expressways

Expressway travel during the holiday exodus can take two to three times longer than normal. If you are driving anywhere outside Seoul, budget extra time or travel late at night to avoid the worst congestion.

Jeju flights

Jeju routes from Gimpo and Gimhae fill quickly. Book at least six to eight weeks ahead if you plan to go over the holiday.

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Where foreign residents go during the holidays

Travel abroad

Japan is the top destination for residents leaving Korea during Seollal and Chuseok. Vietnam and Thailand are also popular. Incheon International Airport gets crowded on the first and last days of the cluster. Book flights six to eight weeks ahead for reasonable fares and seats.

Hiking and national parks

Bukhansan (북한산, Seoul), Seoraksan (설악산, Gangwon), and Jirisan (지리산, South Gyeongsang) are all accessible and busier than normal. Trailhead parking fills by 7:00 am on the holiday day. Take transit if possible.

KTX day trips

Jeonju (전주), Gyeongju (경주), and Busan (부산) are the most popular one- or two-night options. Jeonju is particularly associated with Seollal, with a traditional culture program in the hanok village (한옥마을). Book accommodation and train tickets together, because both sell out.

Temple stays

Buddhist temples offer overnight programs (템플스테이, temple stay) that are popular during the holiday period. Days surrounding the main holiday are bookable at eng.templestay.com. Availability on the holiday day itself varies by temple, so check the booking calendar for each specific temple rather than assuming.

Hotel staycations

Seoul hotel rates rise during the holidays, but some properties offer package deals specifically for foreign residents who are not traveling. Searching for "Seollal staycation" or "Chuseok staycation" in late December or July gives you the widest choice before sold-out dates appear.

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FAQ

When exactly is Seollal in 2026?

Seollal (설날) 2026 runs February 16 to 18. February 17 is the holiday day itself (Lunar New Year's Day). There is no substitute holiday this year because the cluster does not land on a weekend.

When exactly is Chuseok in 2026?

Chuseok (추석) 2026 runs September 24 to 26. September 25 is the holiday day itself. There is no Monday September 28 substitute holiday for Chuseok 2026 because the cluster overlaps a Saturday, not a Sunday. With the following Sunday included, many workers still have a four-day stretch from September 24 to 27.

Are pharmacies open during Chuseok and Seollal?

Most neighborhood pharmacies close on the main holiday days. Designated holiday duty pharmacies (휴일지킴이 약국) stay open by rotation. Find the nearest open pharmacy in real time at e-gen.or.kr. You can also call 129 (health call center) or 120 (Seoul citizen helpline) for guidance.

Are palaces free during Chuseok and Seollal?

Yes. Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo all offer free admission on the official Seollal and Chuseok day. Traditional performances run on those days. Palaces typically close the day after the final holiday day (for example, February 19 after Seollal 2026), so check the official palace schedule before you go.

How do I find an open clinic or hospital on a holiday?

Go to e-gen.or.kr and tap "Open Hospitals/Pharmacies" (문 여는 병원·약국). The portal switches to a holiday screen automatically and shows locations near you. The mobile app is called 응급의료정보제공. Emergency rooms (응급실) are legally required to operate 24 hours regardless of the holiday.

How do I book KTX tickets for the holiday travel period?

Korail opens advance reservations roughly 30 days before the main holiday travel window. Check letskorail.com or the Korail Talk app for the exact reservation-open date, which Korail announces each year. Popular Seoul to Busan, Gwangju, and Daegu trains sell out within hours of reservations opening, so set an alarm and be ready to book the moment the window opens.

@misc{seoulstart-korea-holiday-closures-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{What's Open During Chuseok and Seollal in Korea (and Where Residents Go) (2026)}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/korea-holiday-closures-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 5, 2026}
}