Your guide to 2025's long weekends

As the new year begins, many South Koreans are already planning how to make the most of 2025’s holidays. With a total of 119 days off, including weekends and public holidays, there are six opportunities for long weekends lasting three days or more.

Notably, October offers a rare seven-day holiday stretch -- the longest of the year. Here's a breakdown of the key holiday periods and how to maximize your time off.

South Korea’s substitute holiday system ensures that when a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following weekday becomes a day off. This year, the system applies to three holidays:

1. Independence Movement Day (March 1) falls on a Saturday, so the substitute holiday will be on Monday, March 3.

2. Children’s Day (May 5) coincides with Buddha’s Birthday, so the substitute holiday will be on May 6, which is Tuesday.

3. The three-day Chuseok holiday starts on a Sunday, Oct. 5, so the substitute holiday will be added on Oct. 8, Wednesday.

Additionally, strategic use of annual leave -- particularly around Labor Day (May 1) and October’s string of holidays -- can help stretch these holidays into longer vacations.

Here are the long weekends to mark on your calendar:

1. Seollal (Lunar New Year): Jan. 28–30 (Tuesday–Thursday) – 3 days

2. March 1st Movement Day: March 1–3 (Saturday–Monday, with a substitute holiday) – 3 days

3. Children’s Day and Buddha’s Birthday: May 3–6 (Saturday–Tuesday, with a substitute holiday) – 4 days

4.Memorial Day: June 6–8 (Friday–Sunday) – 3 days

5.Liberation Day: Aug. 15–17 (Friday–Sunday) – 3 days

6. October Golden Week: Oct. 3–9 (Thursday–Wednesday, with a substitute holiday) – 7 days

Now, let’s take a closer look at these key holidays and the opportunities they offer for extended breaks.

Dates: Jan. 28–30 (Tuesday–Thursday)

The first holiday stretch of the year is Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year celebration. Although there is no substitute holiday, the midweek break offers a chance to reconnect with family and rest.

Dates: March 1-3 (Saturday-Monday)

Thanks to the substitute holiday system, this important national holiday creates a three-day weekend for reflection and relaxation.

Dates: May 3–6 (Saturday–Tuesday)

A rare overlap of Children’s Day and Buddha’s Birthday creates a four-day holiday. Those with flexible leave policies can take off May 2 (Friday) to create a six-day vacation from May 1 (Labor Day) to May 6.

Dates: June 6–8 (Friday–Sunday)

This solemn holiday commemorating South Korea’s fallen heroes provides an opportunity for a brief but meaningful summer escape.

Dates: Aug. 15–17 (Friday–Sunday)

Marking Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, this holiday offers another three-day summer break for relaxation or travel.

Dates: Oct. 3–9 (Friday–Thursday)

October’s "Golden Week" is the highlight of 2025, combining National Foundation Day, the three-day Chuseok holiday, or harvest festival, and Hangeul Day into a seven-day stretch. Those taking annual leave on Oct. 10 (Friday) can extend this into a 10-day vacation when combined with the following weekend (Oct. 11–12).