Korea’s Golden Holidays Begin This May
- Doyoung Lim
- Apr 29
- 1 min read
April 29, 2025
Doyoung Lim
Starting from the first week of May (May 3-4), Children’s Day and Buddha’s Birthday (May 5), and the alternative holiday for Children’s Day (May 6) will provide Koreans with an extended holiday. Workers could enjoy six days off from May Day (May 1) to the alternative holiday (May 6), if they take one day off on May 2.
Many travelers are planning trips to nearby countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are expected to be the most visited destinations during the holiday season. While domestic destinations such as Jeju Island and Busan are also in demand, with numerous hotel bookings, experts recommend booking as early as possible to catch better deals.
According to the Korean travel agency Hana Tour, there has been a 40% increase in group tour bookings from April 30 to May 4 compared to last year. It was officially reported that nearby destinations, mainly in Southeast Asia, Japan, and China, are expected to be the most popular among travelers.
Meanwhile, as more people choose to travel abroad, this trend is expected to exert a negative impact on the domestic economy. In addition, if workers take one more day off on May 2 to have a longer holiday, it could significantly affect the income of self-employed individuals, as the increase in overseas travel is likely to lead to a decline in domestic consumption.
