In this article
Term dates for Korean state schools are set within a national framework by the Ministry of Education and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, with each school finalising its own exact dates. International schools layer their own calendar on top. Our Seoul city guide covers the sector; this page sets out the 2026 dates. The two anchors of the Korean year are the short summer vacation and the long winter vacation around the Lunar New Year.
Seoul public holidays 2026
Seoul schools close on Korean national public holidays. Several are tied to the lunar calendar and move each year; the confirmed 2026 dates are below.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Seollal (Lunar New Year) | Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 February |
| Independence Movement Day | Sunday 1 March (observed Monday 2 March) |
| Children's Day | Tuesday 5 May |
| Buddha's Birthday | Sunday 24 May (indicative) |
| Memorial Day | Saturday 6 June |
| Liberation Day | Saturday 15 August |
| Chuseok | Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September |
| National Foundation Day | Saturday 3 October |
| Hangeul Day | Friday 9 October |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
Seollal and Chuseok are the two biggest holidays and create the heaviest domestic travel of the year, with trains and intercity buses booked out well in advance. When a holiday falls on a weekend a substitute day off may be granted, so check the official notice for any added weekday.
Term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
The table shows the typical Seoul state-school shape. The Korean year runs March to February in two semesters: the first from March to mid-July, then the summer vacation, the second from late August to mid-February, then the winter vacation and a short spring break before the new year begins in March.
| Period (Seoul state schools) | Dates |
|---|---|
| First semester begins | early March 2026 (around Monday 2 March) |
| Summer vacation | around 20 July to 18 August 2026 |
| Second semester | late August to mid-February 2027 |
| Winter vacation (2025-26 reference) | late December 2025 into February 2026 |
| Short spring break | late February, before the March 2027 start |
These are typical Seoul dates within the national framework; each school sets its own exact start and end days, and vacation lengths vary by a week or so. The summer and winter vacation dates above are indicative and should be confirmed against your school's published calendar before booking travel.
Building your Seoul school shortlist?
Seoul has a well-established international sector, including British, American and IB schools, alongside Korean state and private schools. Our school finder filters by curriculum and fee tier.
International school term dates
This is the key split for expatriate families in Seoul. Korean state schools run the March to February year described above, but most international schools in the city follow a northern-hemisphere August or September to June year instead. On that calendar the long break falls across July and August rather than in winter, the school year starts in late August, and there is a two-week Christmas break and a spring break around late March or April. British international schools keep three terms with an October half-term; IB and American schools run two semesters with the IB Diploma exam season in May. Both systems still close for Seollal and Chuseok. If curriculum is still open, our curriculum guide explains how each system shapes the year and its assessment seasons.
Planning the year
Two practical notes for Seoul families. First, the short Korean summer vacation overlaps the peak of the humid monsoon and the busiest domestic travel season, so flights and coastal accommodation fill quickly; book early. Second, families with children in both Korean and international schools will face two different calendars in the same household, which complicates joint trips, so map both before committing to dates. Weigh your shortlist against our Seoul international school fees guide, and see the national framework in our South Korea country guide. Start a shortlist from the Seoul city hub.
Common questions
When do schools break up for summer in Seoul? Korean state schools in Seoul break for summer in mid to late July 2026, with the summer vacation running roughly four to five weeks before the second semester resumes in mid to late August.
How long is the summer holiday in Seoul? The Korean summer vacation is short by European standards, about four to five weeks, roughly 20 July to 18 August 2026. International schools in Seoul take a longer summer break of seven to eight weeks.
When does the school year start in Seoul? Korean schools start their academic year in early March. The 2026 school year begins around 2 March 2026. International schools instead start in late August on a northern-hemisphere calendar.
When is the winter vacation in Seoul? Korean schools take a long winter vacation from late December to February, with a short spring break before the new year begins in March. For 2025-26 the winter vacation runs roughly from late December 2025 into February 2026.
Do Seoul schools close for Seollal and Chuseok? Yes. Schools close for Seollal, the Lunar New Year, on 16 to 18 February 2026, and for Chuseok on 24 to 26 September 2026. Both are major national holidays.