Start Planning
National Foundation Day

National Foundation Day 2023, 2024 and 2025

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.

YearDateDayHoliday
20233 OctTueNational Foundation Day
20243 OctThuNational Foundation Day
20253 OctFriNational Foundation Day
20263 OctSatNational 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

YearDateDayHoliday
20223 OctMonNational Foundation Day
20213 OctSunNational Foundation Day
20203 OctSatNational Foundation Day
20193 OctThuNational Foundation Day
20183 OctWedNational Foundation Day
20173 OctTueNational Foundation Day