National Foundation Day 2026, 2027 and 2028
South Korea celebrates National Foundation Day every 3 October to look back to the founding of the Korean kingdom of Gojoseon in ancient times. This powerful kingdom is traditionally believed to have been founded by one Tangun, the son of a heavenly king and a bear that transformed itself into a woman.
In 2026, National Foundation Day falls on Saturday 3 October. The holiday will be on Sunday 3 October in 2027.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 Oct | Sat | National Foundation Day |
| 5 Oct | Mon | National Foundation Day Holiday | |
| 2027 | 3 Oct | Sun | National Foundation Day |
| 4 Oct | Mon | National Foundation Day Holiday | |
| 2028 | 3 Oct | Tue | National Foundation Day |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | |||
The capital of the kingdom of Gojoseon was Asadel. It is believed the kingdom was set up around 2300 B.C. Many centuries later, Joseon was founded, which was a kind of successor state. The “go” of Go-joseon means “ancient”.
For a long time, this holiday was an unofficial harvest festival, and it was observed in accord with the Korean lunar calendar. However, it became a national holiday in 1909 and was dated on 3 October from 1949 onwards.
The main event of National Foundation Day is a special ceremony held at Tangun’s mausoleum. In general, it is a patriotic holiday and a welcome day off for Korean workers.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 Oct | Fri | National Foundation Day |
| 2024 | 3 Oct | Thu | National Foundation Day |