Seoul Window
The short answer
- Confirmed calendar: February 6–9, 2027 is the four-day Seollal break. Seollal itself is February 7, and February 9 is the substitute holiday.
- Operating plans remain provisional. No 2027 Seollal facility schedules were found as of 2026-10-16. Expect notices mainly in January–early February; publication dates are not guaranteed.
- Palaces opened free during the 2026 holiday. National museums closed on Seollal day. These are different rules.
- Prepare cash and regular medicines by February 5. Check each shop, restaurant and attraction before setting out.
Seollal changes the rhythm of Seoul rather than closing the whole city. Family-run restaurants and some shops take several days off, while tourist districts, convenience stores and major attractions can remain busy. Build February 7 around places whose holiday opening you have checked.
What are the exact Seollal 2027 dates?
The break is February 6–9, with Seollal on Sunday, February 7. KASA’s official 2027 almanac notice is dated 2026-06-29; KASI’s calendar and the Ministry of Personnel Management’s substitute-holiday rules agree.
Confirmed dates; practical effects are planning guidance
| Date | Day | Status | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-02-05 | Friday | Weekday | Last ordinary banking day before the break |
| 2027-02-06 | Saturday | Seollal eve holiday | Some shops may begin their holiday closure |
| 2027-02-07 | Sunday | Seollal day | National museums normally close; verify every shopping stop |
| 2027-02-08 | Monday | Day-after-Seollal holiday | Some shops may reopen; others remain closed |
| 2027-02-09 | Tuesday | Substitute holiday | Ordinary banks remain closed |
| 2027-02-10 | Wednesday | Weekday | Banks normally reopen; palace substitute closures are unconfirmed |
Seollal’s three statutory days overlap Sunday, so the next non-holiday becomes a substitute holiday. February 8 is already a holiday, making February 9 the substitute. A Saturday overlap alone does not trigger a Seollal substitute day.
Leave flexibility in the itinerary
- Finish ordinary banking, prescription refills and essential shopping by February 5.
- Do not book a February 10 palace visit on the assumption it will open: in 2026, the palaces had a substitute closure after the holiday.
- Avoid assuming that a mall, its department store, museum and restaurants share one calendar.
What is likely to open on Seollal day?
There should be sightseeing options, but no general opening guarantee. This table separates usual patterns from the checks still needed for February 7, 2027.
February 7 planning overview; 2027 notices pending
| Category | Possible options | Closures or checks |
|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing | Palaces, observation decks and theme parks, subject to notices | National Museum of Korea and National Folk Museum normally close; check each DDP venue |
| Shopping | Some malls and convenience stores | Department stores, outlets and supermarkets need branch-specific confirmation |
| Food | Hotels, some chains and mall restaurants | Many independent restaurants take time off |
| Markets | Some Gwangjang food stalls may trade | Do not assume an entire market opens |
| Healthcare | Emergency departments; designated clinics and pharmacies | Ordinary clinics and pharmacies may close |
| Money | ATMs, some airport counters and accessible kiosks | Ordinary bank branches close for the holiday |
| Transport | City buses, subway, AREX and taxis | Holiday timetables; extensions not yet announced |
Will palaces and museums open?
Palaces opened during Seollal 2026; national museums closed on the day itself. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center’s Changgyeonggung notice confirms free entry on February 14–18, 2026 and closure on February 19. Do not turn that precedent into a confirmed 2027 programme.
Provisional attraction plan: O = usual/expected opening, X = usual closure, ? = check 2027 notice
| Site | Feb 6 | Feb 7 | Feb 8 | Feb 9 | Feb 10 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four main palaces | O? | O? | O? | O? | ? | 2026 free entry precedent; Changdeokgung Secret Garden has separate arrangements |
| Jongmyo and royal tombs | O? | O? | O? | O? | ? | 2027 free entry and substitute closure not announced |
| National Museum of Korea | O? | X | O? | O? | O? | Seollal itself is a regular closure; check special exhibition rules |
| National Folk Museum | O? | X | O? | O? | O? | Confirm the 2027 calendar and any site-specific arrangements |
| DDP | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Buildings, exhibitions and shops may have different hours |
| Seoul Museum of History | O? | O? | O? | O? | O? | Normally opens on a public-holiday Monday; confirm exceptions |
| N Seoul Tower observatory | O? | O? | O? | O? | O? | Check the observatory operator, not only the tower building’s website |
| Lotte World, aquarium and Seoul Sky | O? | O? | O? | O? | O? | Check each attraction’s date-specific calendar |
A useful 2026 precedent
- The Culture Ministry’s 2026 holiday guide explicitly lists February 17 closures for the National Museum of Korea and National Folk Museum. A museum inside palace grounds can close even when the palace opens.
- The 2027 palace notice may appear in January or early February. This is an estimated checking window, not an announced release date.
📍 Open in Naver Map — Gyeongbokgung
📍 Open in Naver Map — Changdeokgung
📍 Open in Naver Map — Changgyeonggung
📍 Open in Naver Map — Deoksugung
📍 Open in Naver Map — National Museum of Korea
📍 Open in Naver Map — National Folk Museum
📍 Open in Naver Map — Seoul Museum of History
When will department stores and supermarkets close?
Check the branch’s official calendar. The 2026 branch dates below were reported by Asia Economy; their original store notices could not be recovered. They remain attributed historical examples, not confirmed 2027 dates. Shinsegae’s official newsroom separately confirms its Main Store Heritage Museum closed February 17–18, 2026.
Historical examples reported by Asia Economy; no confirmed 2027 branch dates
| Branch | 2026 reported closure | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|
| Lotte Main Store and Jamsil | February 16–17 | Not announced; check late January–early February |
| Shinsegae Gangnam | February 16–17 | Not announced; check late January–early February |
| Shinsegae Main Store | February 17–18 | Not announced; check late January–early February |
| Hyundai Trade Center | February 16–17 | Not announced; check late January–early February |
| Hyundai Apgujeong Main Store | February 17–18 | Not announced; check late January–early February |
Retail channels: use official branch calendars before visiting
| Channel | Seollal-day planning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Department stores | Expect holiday closures | Exact branch dates and reopening time |
| Outlets | Check each operator | Do not apply one chain’s closure to every outlet |
| Large malls | Some may open later | Mall hours and individual tenants separately |
| Emart | Branch-specific | Official store finder and February calendar |
| Lotte Mart and Homeplus | Branch-specific | Holiday changes and regular compulsory closures |
| Costco | Check the selected warehouse | Official warehouse holiday calendar; do not use customer-service hours as store hours |
| Downtown duty-free shops | Branch-specific | Entrance arrangements when the host department store closes |
| Convenience stores | Many stay open | Individual store hours and medicine stock |
The 2027 holiday falls on the first Sunday of February. A supermarket’s usual Sunday closure pattern does not settle its Seollal schedule. No 2027 retail holiday notice was found; check official websites or apps again in late January–early February.
📍 Open in Naver Map — Lotte Main Store
📍 Open in Naver Map — Lotte Jamsil
📍 Open in Naver Map — Shinsegae Gangnam
📍 Open in Naver Map — Shinsegae Main Store
📍 Open in Naver Map — Hyundai Trade Center
📍 Open in Naver Map — Hyundai Apgujeong Main Store
Will markets and restaurants open?
Individual stalls and restaurants decide their own holiday. A market’s normal opening hours cannot tell you which food counter will serve lunch on Seollal.
Market visits: avoid treating old general hours as a holiday guarantee
| Market | Ordinary pattern | Seollal day | Practical check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangjang Market | Food stalls and clothing sections differ | Some stalls may open | Confirm a specific food stall and have a backup |
| Namdaemun Market | Each building has its own calendar | Many shops may close | Check the building or merchant notice |
| Tongin Market | Market and lunchbox programme have separate schedules | Unconfirmed | Check the lunchbox café separately |
| Gyeongdong Market | Shop and section hours vary | Unconfirmed | Check the merchant or restaurant directly |
📍 Open in Naver Map — Gwangjang Market
📍 Open in Naver Map — Namdaemun Market
📍 Open in Naver Map — Tongin Market
📍 Open in Naver Map — Gyeongdong Market
Keep a meal backup
- Check Naver Map or the restaurant’s official account shortly before visiting; call if the opening is important to the day.
- Hotels, chains and mall food courts are useful backups, but their individual hours still matter.
- Do not assume that tteokguk restaurants or hanbok rental shops will open simply because it is Seollal.
Where can you get medical help during the break?
Call 119 for an emergency. For non-emergency care, find a clinic or pharmacy on E-Gen and call before travelling. The holiday roster changes each year.
Healthcare help during the holiday
| Service | Availability | Languages | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1330 travel helpline | Daily; language hours differ | Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese: 24 hours; Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Malay/Indonesian: 08:00–19:00 | Travel assistance and interpretation connections |
| 119 | 24 hours | Interpretation can be arranged | Emergency response |
| E-Gen website | Online | Primarily Korean | Check listed operating clinics and pharmacies |
| Emergency medical information app | Online | Primarily Korean | Nearby emergency departments and open pharmacies |
1330’s language hours differ, as shown above. Buy regular medicines before the holiday: a convenience store’s limited range does not replace a pharmacy.
Where can you exchange money?
Use an ordinary bank branch by February 5. Banks normally reopen February 10. Airport counters and ATMs are alternatives, but neither every counter nor every kiosk is available around the clock.
Cash and exchange options
| Option | Holiday availability | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary bank branch | Expected closed February 6–9 | Complete branch business by February 5 |
| Incheon Airport exchange counter | Counter-specific | Terminal, location and exact hours |
| Private money changer | Shop-specific | Holiday opening notice |
| WOWPASS kiosk | Depends on access to its host building | Current fees, cash-withdrawal limit and location hours |
| Bank or convenience-store ATM | Machine-specific | Foreign-card support, access and fees |
What happens to trains, buses and airport travel?
City transport continues; intercity travel needs earlier planning. Check the journey planner for your exact date, and do not rely on an unannounced last-train extension.
Transport precedent and 2027 checks
| Transport | 2026 evidence | 2027 planning |
|---|---|---|
| Subway and city buses | Holiday timetables | Check the date-specific timetable |
| Last-service extensions | Seoul announced 01:00 terminal arrivals on February 17–18 | No 2027 dates confirmed; check city notices near the holiday |
| Night buses, AREX and taxis | Services continued | Check route, fare and availability |
| Highway tolls | Holiday exemptions require a government announcement | Do not assume free tolls until announced |
| KTX and SRT | Separate holiday reservation periods | Watch official railway notices in January |
| Incheon Airport | Holiday demand can be heavy | Allow extra time and follow the airline’s check-in guidance |
Travel with room to spare
- Reserve intercity travel and accommodation early. Avoid building a tight connection around an expected holiday timetable.
- The 2027 rail-sale dates, toll exemptions and airport forecasts were not found as of 2026-10-16. January is a checking window, not a promised announcement date.
- February 10 is a normal weekday, but demand and attraction closures can continue beyond the official break.
Is Korean Seollal on the same day as Lunar New Year elsewhere?
In 2027, Korea’s date is one day later than the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar New Year date. KASI lists February 7, while the Hong Kong Observatory lists February 6. The new moon falls near midnight across the time-zone boundary.
Lunar New Year dates and government holiday calendars
| Country or region | New Year day | 2027 break | Source/status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | February 7 | February 6–9 | KASA/KASI and Korean holiday rules |
| Taiwan | February 6 | February 4–10 | DGPA government-office calendar; private-sector arrangements may differ |
| Vietnam | February 6 | February 4–10 | Government approval dated 2026-10-02; public-sector schedule |
| China | February 6 | Not found as of 2026-10-16 | Check the State Council’s annual notice, usually in November |
If your trip runs February 4–10
- Use February 4–5 for banking and errands. Keep February 7 flexible and confirm sightseeing openings.
- For February 10, plan museum or shopping alternatives if the palaces announce substitute closures.
- Taiwanese and Vietnamese holiday demand can overlap Korean return travel; busy tourist districts are not guaranteed to be quiet.
What Seollal traditions will you notice?
It is still midwinter
- Plan warm indoor breaks between palace visits. Early February can bring freezing mornings and wind; check the cold-wave forecast.
How could you spend Seollal day?
📍 Open in Naver Map — N Seoul Tower
📍 Open in Naver Map — Lotte World Adventure
Related guides
- Korea’s 2026–2027 public holidays
- Chuseok 2026: opening and closing patterns
- Jesa and charye family rituals
- Seoul winter cold-survival guide
Sources
- KASI: official 2027 almanac reference
- KASA: 2027 almanac announcement, 2026-06-29
- Ministry of Personnel Management: public and substitute holidays
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: Changgyeonggung Seollal 2026 notice
- Culture Ministry: 2026 holiday museum closures
- National Museum of Korea: visitor information
- Shinsegae official newsroom: 2026 holiday programme and Heritage Museum closures
- Asia Economy: historical 2026 department-store dates; original branch notices not recovered
- Lotte: official branch calendar
- Hyundai: official branch information
- Emart: official store finder
- Costco: official warehouse finder
- Korea Tourism Organization: 1330 service standards
- E-Gen: operating medical facilities
- Seoul: 2026 Seollal medical and transport plan
- Hong Kong Observatory: 2027 lunar calendar
- Taiwan DGPA: 2027 government calendar
- Vietnam Government: 2027 holiday approval, 2026-10-02