Public holidays in North Korea


This is a list of public holidays in North Korea. See also the Korean calendar for a list of traditional holidays., the North Korean calendar has 71 official public holidays, including Sundays. In the past, North Koreans relied on rations provided by the state on public holidays for feasts. Recently, with marketization people are able to save up money and buy the goods they need.
The Day of the Sun, the birthday of its founder and first leader Kim Il-sung, on 15 April is the most important holiday in the country. The second most important is the Day of the Shining Star on 16 February, the birthday of Kim Jong-il., Kim Jong-un's birthday is still not a public holiday. Other holidays of great importance are the Party Foundation Day and the Day of the Foundation of the Republic. North Koreans often schedule their wedding days on important national holidays.
North Korea regularly carries out missile and nuclear tests on such important anniversaries.

List

DateEnglish nameNotesRemarksLocal name
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayCelebrates the opening of the Gregorian New Year.
15 JanuaryChosongul DayThe day commemorates the invention and the proclamation of Chosongul, the native alphabet of the Korean language. King Sejong the Great, inventor of Chosongul, is one of the most honored rulers in Korean history.
8 FebruaryArmy DayThe Korean People's Army was established on 8 February 1948, and that day was celebrated as Army Day until 1978, when it was moved to 25 April. It was reinstated as a public holiday in 2015.--
14 FebruaryGeneralissimo DayHonors the day when Kim Jong-il received the title "Generalissimo of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" posthumously in 2012.
16 FebruaryDay of the Shining StarKim Jong-il's birthday.2 days
2 MarchTree Planting DayPeople across the country plant trees.
8 MarchInternational Women's Day
last day of 12th lunar monthSeotdal GeumeumKorean New Year, based on the Korean calendar.
1st day of 1st lunar monthSeolmyeongjeolKorean New Year, based on the Korean calendar.
15 AprilDay of the SunBirthday of Kim Il-sung.3 days태양절
21 AprilKang Pan-sok's birthdayCommemorates the birth of Kim Il-sung's mother.
25 AprilMilitary Foundation DayKim Il-Sung moved date from 8 February to the date of establishment of his guerilla army in 1932, considered the predecessor of the Korean People's Army.인민군 창건일
15th day of 1st lunar monthDaeboreumBased on the Korean calendar.
1st day of 2nd lunar monthMeoseumnalBased on the Korean calendar.
3rd day of 3rd lunar monthSamjinnalBased on the Korean calendar.
105th day of after Winter SolsticeHansikBased on the Korean calendar.
8th day of 4th lunar monthChopailBased on the Korean calendar.
1 MayLabour DayCelebrates the economic and social achievements of workers.
6 JuneKorean Children's Union Foundation DayPublic holiday marking the 1946 foundation of the Korean Children's Union.
19 JuneAnniversary of Kim Jong Il's commencement of work in the Workers' Party Central CommitteeOfficially a public holiday since 2015 but celebrated unofficially before, this holiday marks Kim Jong-il's 1964 graduation from Kim Il-sung University and start of work in the party organization.
5th day of 5th lunar monthSurinalBased on the Korean calendar.
3 JulyDay of the Strategic ForcesA new holiday established on 24 June 2016 by Ordinance No. 1177 of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly which commemorates the foundation of the Korean People's Army Strategic Force on 3 July 1999.
27 JulyDay of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation WarThe 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement조국해방전쟁 승리 기념일
15 AugustLiberation DayEstablished after the liberation of Korea in 1945.조국해방기념일
25 AugustDay of SongunA new holiday established in 2013 commemorating Kim Jong-il's inspection visit to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Armored Division of the Korean People's Army on August 25, 1960, which is always regarded as the "start of the Songun revolutionary leadership" by the North Korean government.광명성절
9 SeptemberDay of the Foundation of the RepublicFounding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.인민정권 창건일
15th day of 6th lunar monthYuduBased on the Korean calendar.
7th day of 7th lunar monthChilseokBased on the Korean calendar.
15th day of 7th lunar monthBaekjungBased on the Korean calendar.
15th day of 8th lunar monthHangawiBased on the Korean calendar.
10 OctoberParty Foundation DayFounding of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1945.노동당 창건일
9th day of 9th lunar monthJungyangjeolBased on the Korean calendar.
16 NovemberMother's DayA new holiday from 2012 onward honoring all mothers.
20 DecemberDongjiWinter solstice, based on the Korean calendar.
24 DecemberKim Jong-suk's birthdayCommemorates the birth of Kim Jong-il's mother.
27 DecemberConstitution DayEnactment of the Socialist Constitution of North Korea in 1972.
31 DecemberNew Year's EveCelebrates the closing of the Gregorian New Year.