What are Korea's national holidays and major seasonal events, and how do they affect daily life for foreigners?

The two biggest holidays are Seollal, the Lunar New Year around late January or February, and Chuseok, often called Korean Thanksgiving, around September or October. Both are three-day holidays when families travel to their hometowns, so trains and buses sell out weeks ahead, highways get jammed, and a lot of shops, restaurants, and even big supermarkets like E-Mart close, especially on the main day. Stock up on groceries beforehand.

The other public holidays are New Year's Day, Independence Movement Day on March 1, Children's Day on May 5, Buddha's Birthday on a spring date that shifts each year, Memorial Day on June 6, Liberation Day on August 15, National Foundation Day on October 3, Hangeul Day on October 9, and Christmas. One nice thing to know is the 대체공휴일, the substitute holiday, which gives you an extra weekday off when certain holidays fall on a weekend. For daily life as a foreigner, the main things to plan around are the Seollal and Chuseok travel rush and closures. Hospitals keep emergency rooms running, and 1339 is the medical helpline if you need it. Cafes, cinemas, and city attractions mostly stay open, so a holiday is actually a lovely quiet time to explore Seoul once the crowds leave town.