As the Chuseok holiday period comes to an end, moves are underway to check the early October holiday schedule. In particular, attention is focused on whether October 1, Armed Forces Day, will be a holiday. However, as of now, with no separate temporary public holiday designated, Armed Forces Day in 2026 is not a holiday, and Thursday, October 1, is a regular working day.

Why Is Armed Forces Day Not a Public Holiday?

Armed Forces Day is a government commemorative day fixed on October 1 every year. It is one of the government commemorative days designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, with the Ministry of National Defense hosting related events.

However, Armed Forces Day does not automatically become a public holiday every year. Under the current 'Regulations on Holidays of Public Offices,' public holidays include national holidays, the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, Buddha's Birthday, Children's Day, Memorial Day, and Christmas, but Armed Forces Day is not specified as a separate item. The government does have grounds to designate separate public holidays as needed.

Confusion Left by the 2024 Temporary Public Holiday

The 2024 case appears to have contributed significantly to the confusion over whether Armed Forces Day is a holiday. In 2024, the government designated October 1, Armed Forces Day, as a temporary public holiday and actually operated it as a holiday. However, that measure was a temporary holiday designation applicable only to 2024. Since Armed Forces Day itself was not changed to a permanent statutory public holiday, the holiday does not automatically carry over to 2025 or 2026.

Monday, September 28, Is Also Not a Substitute Holiday

This year's Chuseok schedule also needs to be checked. In 2026, Chuseok Day falls on Friday, September 25, and the Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26. Since September 27 is a Sunday, this effectively results in a four-day break from September 24 to 27.

The 2026 calendar released by the Ministry of Science and ICT's Korea AeroSpace Administration also presents this year's public office holiday schedule. Monday, September 28, is not a Chuseok substitute holiday. Current regulations provide for a substitute holiday when a public holiday during the Chuseok period overlaps with a Sunday, among other cases. Since the last day of this year's Chuseok holiday, September 26, falls on a Saturday, September 28 is not designated as a substitute holiday under this rule.

Ultimately, following regular work on Monday, September 28, Armed Forces Day on Thursday, October 1, is also currently a weekday. However, October includes statutory public holidays such as National Foundation Day and Hangul Day, so it is necessary to distinguish holidays on the calendar and check whether substitute holidays apply.

[This article was written for informational purposes, and AI was used in the process of refining some sentences. Public holidays and temporary public holiday designations may change depending on government decisions or revisions to related regulations, so it is advisable to check the latest official announcements.]