2027 South Korea Public Holidays: How 2 PTO Days Can Create a 9-Day Break
In 2027, South Korea has 10 holiday periods lasting at least three days. Depending on where you add PTO, some breaks can be extended to five or even nine days.
Chuseok can become a nine-day break with just two PTO days. Lunar New Year can also be extended to five days by taking one extra day off.
How many public holidays are there in South Korea in 2027?
According to the 2027 calendar guidelines announced by the Korea AeroSpace Administration, there are 72 official public holidays for government offices.
For people working a five-day week, the total number of days off rises to 119 days when Saturdays are included.
Labor Day and Constitution Day are also included as public holidays in 2027. Several holiday periods connect directly with weekends.
There are 10 breaks lasting three days or longer, making 2027 a useful year for planning trips and vacations in advance.
10 long weekends of three days or more in 2027
| Holiday | Holiday period | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1–January 3 | 3 days |
| Lunar New Year | February 6–February 9 | 4 days |
| March 1st Movement Day | February 27–March 1 | 3 days |
| Labor Day | May 1–May 3 | 3 days |
| Constitution Day | July 17–July 19 | 3 days |
| Liberation Day | August 14–August 16 | 3 days |
| Chuseok | September 14–September 16 | 3 days |
| National Foundation Day | October 2–October 4 | 3 days |
| Hangeul Day | October 9–October 11 | 3 days |
| Christmas | December 25–December 27 | 3 days |
With several three-day weekends throughout the year, there are plenty of opportunities for short domestic trips or one-night getaways.
Lunar New Year 2027: 5 days off with 1 PTO day
The 2027 Lunar New Year holiday runs from Saturday, February 6 through Tuesday, February 9.
That already provides four consecutive days off without using any PTO.
If you take Friday, February 5 as one PTO day, you can extend the break to five days from February 5 through 9.
This is a useful period to note in advance if you are planning a family trip or traveling home for Lunar New Year.
Chuseok 2027: 9 days off with just 2 PTO days
Among the 2027 holidays, Chuseok offers the biggest opportunity to extend time off with PTO.
The Chuseok holiday itself runs from Tuesday, September 14 through Thursday, September 16.
Take PTO on the weekdays immediately before and after: Monday, September 13 and Friday, September 17.
That creates a nine-day break from Saturday, September 11 through Sunday, September 19.
Since two PTO days create a nine-day holiday, this period is especially useful for planning a longer trip.
Dates when 1 PTO day creates a 4-day weekend
If you cannot use much PTO, there are several periods where adding just one day creates a four-day break.
- Friday, August 13: Connects with the Liberation Day holiday for 4 days off
- Friday, October 1: Connects with the National Foundation Day holiday for 4 days off
- Friday, October 8: Connects with the Hangeul Day holiday for 4 days off
- Friday, December 24: Connects with the Christmas holiday for 4 days off
These dates may attract heavy vacation demand, so it is worth checking them early against your workplace schedule and PTO plans.
When are the best times to plan travel in 2027?
Because there are several three-day weekends, it is easy to spread shorter trips across different seasons.
- Spring: March 1st Movement Day weekend
- Summer: Constitution Day and Liberation Day weekends
- Autumn: Chuseok, National Foundation Day and Hangeul Day weekends
- Winter: Christmas weekend
Among these, the September Chuseok period can become a nine-day break with two additional PTO days.
It is a particularly useful period to watch if you are considering a longer-distance trip.
Best PTO opportunities in 2027 at a glance
| Holiday | PTO date | Maximum break |
|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year | February 5 | February 5–February 9, 5 days |
| Liberation Day | August 13 | 4 days |
| Chuseok | September 13, September 17 | September 11–September 19, 9 days |
| National Foundation Day | October 1 | 4 days |
| Hangeul Day | October 8 | 4 days |
| Christmas | December 24 | 4 days |
Why it helps to check the 2027 holiday calendar early
In 2027, it is not just the number of public holidays that matters. The total length of your breaks changes significantly depending on where you add PTO.
Two PTO days around Chuseok create a nine-day break, while one PTO day around Lunar New Year creates five days off.
Checking the public holiday calendar and long-weekend dates when planning PTO at the start of the year makes it easier to organize vacation time efficiently.
If you are planning a trip, it also gives you more time to look at flight and accommodation schedules in advance.
