Seollal 2027 for Travelers: Does the Holiday Hit Your Trip?
Seollal (설날, Lunar New Year) is a major family holiday when many Koreans return to their hometowns, and in 2027 the holiday block is expected to run from Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 9, according to the 2027 calendar guidelines. Enter your arrival and departure dates and the tool lists which of your days fall inside the block and which things to check for those days. Everything is calculated in your browser.
Dates from January 1 to March 31, 2027, trips up to 60 days.
How this tool decides
The tool counts how many of your trip days fall on each date of the 2027 Seollal block, then adds the checks that official Korean tourism sources attach to that holiday. The 2027 dates come from the 2027 calendar guidelines that the Korea AeroSpace Administration announced, as reported by Seoul Economic Daily on June 29, 2026. KASI's calendar data page matches them but says it is pre-release data and not an official announcement. Check the official calendar guidelines (월력요항) before you book; the checks come from VISITKOREA's guide for the 2026 Seollal, because no 2027 guide is published yet. Treat those checks as a pattern to confirm, not as announced 2027 facts.
| Date (2027) | Day | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| February 6 | Saturday | Holiday block, first day (the day before Seollal) |
| February 7 | Sunday | Seollal Day itself (lunar new year's day) |
| February 8 | Monday | Holiday block, day after Seollal |
| February 9 | Tuesday | Substitute holiday (대체공휴일, daechae gonghyuil), last day of the block |
| February 10 | Wednesday | First normal day. In 2026 the palaces were closed on the day after the holiday; whether that repeats in 2027 has not been announced |
- Days in the block: the number of your trip days (arrival and departure days included) that fall on February 6 to 9.
- Intercity trains and buses: if ticked and any trip day is in the block, the tool warns that VISITKOREA says travel demand surges and intercity train and bus tickets sell out fast, and suggests a backup such as a rental car.
- Museums and palaces: if ticked, the tool flags February 7 (VISITKOREA's 2026 guide says some museums, such as the National Museum of Korea, close on Seollal Day but often operate as usual during the rest of the holiday) and February 10 (the 2026 palace closure pattern). If any trip day is in the block, it also notes the free palace admission offered in 2026.
- Restaurants and shops: any trip day in the block triggers the VISITKOREA note that many department stores, malls and restaurants close on Seollal Day or for part of the holiday, while convenience stores and shops near tourist areas often stay open.
- What it cannot do: it does not know individual shop hours or train availability. Those must be checked with each business or operator.
What this looks like when you arrive
Why the dates are listed as Feb 6 to 9
Seollal Day is February 7, 2027, a Sunday. Korean media reporting on the 2027 calendar guidelines (a calendar reference document from the Korea AeroSpace Administration, reported by the Seoul Economic Daily on June 29, 2026) describe the Seollal holiday as February 6 to 9. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute's 2027 calendar data page lists the holiday days as February 6 to 8 (Saturday to Monday). KASI lists February 9 (Tuesday) as a substitute holiday (대체공휴일), which makes the block four days, February 6 to 9.
A holiday where locals leave town
Seollal is a family holiday. VISITKOREA describes the ritual of honoring ancestors, the deep bow called sebae from younger family members to elders, and tteokguk (rice cake soup) as the main dish of the day. For a visitor this mostly means that Koreans travel to their hometowns, so, per VISITKOREA, travel demand surges and intercity train and bus tickets sell out fast. VISITKOREA notes that recreational and cultural facilities such as amusement parks, national parks and major palaces stay open to the public.
Palaces: the 2026 pattern
For Seollal 2026 the National Heritage Administration announced free admission to the four palaces in Seoul, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs, with the Changdeokgung Secret Garden still charging its usual fee, and a closure on the day after the holiday ended. The 2027 plan has not been announced as of October 2026, so check the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center before you build a day around a palace.
Examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| Arrive Feb 4, depart Feb 11, trains and museums ticked | 4 of 8 days in the block (Feb 6–9). Seollal Day (Feb 7) is in your trip. Feb 10 is the day after the holiday. Train/bus and shop-closure checks apply. |
| Arrive Feb 10, depart Feb 15, nothing ticked | 0 days in the block. The holiday is over before you arrive. |
| Arrive Feb 8, depart Feb 9, nothing ticked | 2 of 2 days in the block. Both your arrival and departure days are holiday days. |
FAQ
Is Seollal on the same date every year?
No. It follows the lunar calendar, so the Gregorian date changes each year. VISITKOREA's guide gives February 17 for 2026; 2027 is February 7.
Should I avoid traveling during Seollal?
That depends on your plan. A Seoul-only trip centered on palaces and convenience-store meals is affected less than a trip that needs train tickets and sit-down restaurants. The tool shows which of your days are affected; the decision is yours.
Is my information sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Sources (checked 2026-10-28)
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute – 2027 calendar data (Korean) (Seollal holiday February 6 to 8; substitute holiday February 9. The page notes it is not the official announcement)
- Seoul Economic Daily – South Korea to have 119 holidays in 2027 (Seollal on February 7, Sunday; holiday February 6 to 9; guidelines released by the Korea AeroSpace Administration)
- VISITKOREA – 2026 Seollal Holiday Travel Guide (ticket sell-outs, closures, museums closed on Seollal Day, palace free admission and closure day, 2026 dates)
- VISITKOREA – Seollal in Korea: A Glimpse of Local Customs (sebae, tteokguk, what stays open)
- The Asia Business Daily – Seollal 2026 palace and royal tomb free admission (reporting on the National Heritage Administration announcement; Secret Garden fee; closure after the holiday)
This page is a planning aid, not a booking or a guarantee of opening hours. Confirm dates and hours with each provider.