There are 18 public holidays in North Korea in 2023, five of which fall on weekends.
New Year's Day
New Year Holiday, celebrated on January 1, 2023, is the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar, and it is one of the most popular holidays in the world.
Seollal Holiday
Seollal is one of the most important traditional Korean holidays, and it is a great time for a family union. Like Chinese New Year traditions, during the festival, people visit families, perform ancestral rites and eat traditional food. It falls on January 22, 2023.
Daeboreum
Daeboreum, observed on February 5, 2023, is an ancient Korean festival that celebrates the first full moon after Korean New Year, and it is the Korean version of the Lantern Festival.
Day of the Shining Star
Day of the Shining Star is a public holiday in North Korea, observed on February 16, 2023. The holiday celebrates the birthday of Kim Jong-il, who served as the second Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011.
International Women's Day
The holiday is one of the most important days to recognize women's achievements and raise awareness about women's equality. It is observed on March 8, 2023.
Chungmyung Day
Chungmyung Day is a public holiday in North Korea on April 5, 2023. During the holiday, people will go to family graves, clean up the graves and perform a ceremony. People will also spend time doing home repairs because spring is coming, and the weather is getting warm.
Day of the Sun
Day of the Sun is a public holiday in North Korea, observed on April 15, 2023. The holiday celebrates the birthday of Kim Il-sung, who was the founder and Eternal President of North Korea.
Military Foundation Day
Military Foundation Day, celebrated on April 25, 2023, celebrates the anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) being founded on April 25, 1932, the name of the Korean units of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.
Labour Day
Labour Day is observed on May 1, 2023, and it celebrates the achievements of workers. The holiday originates in the eight-hour day movement, which is eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
Korean Children's Union Foundation Day
Korean Children's Union Foundation Day is a public holiday in North Korea on June 6, 2023. The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the Korean Children's Union, founded on June 6, 1946, by Kim Il-sung, the founder and Eternal President of North Korea.
Victory Day
Victory Day is a public holiday in North Korea on July 27, 2023. The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953, which brought a cease-fire to the Korean War.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day, observed on August 15, 2023, commemorates the victory over Japan during World War II, when Japan's surrender was announced on August 15, 1945. On this day, the United States and Soviet forces helped end the Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945.
Day of Songun
Day of Songun is a public holiday in North Korea, observed on August 25, 2023. The holiday commemorates Kim Jong-il's inspection of the 105th Armored Division on August 25, 1960, with his father, Kim Il-sung, which was considered the beginning of the Songun leadership.
National Day
National Day, also known as the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, is a public holiday in North Korea, observed on September 9, 2023. National Day celebrates the anniversary when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established on September 9, 1948.
Chuseok
Chuseok, observed on September 29, 2023, is also a festival for people to perform ancestral worship rituals. People will visit and clean the area of the tombs of their immediate ancestors during the festival.
Party Foundation Day
Party Foundation Day, observed on October 10, 2023, celebrates the anniversary when the Central Organizing Committee of the Communist Party of North Korea was established on October 10, 1945, and considered the predecessor of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
Mothers' Day
Mother's Day is a public holiday in North Korea on November 16, 2023. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the first National Meeting of Mothers in 1961 when Kim Il-sung delivered a speech on the Duty of Mothers in the Education of Children.
Constitution Day
Constitution Day is a public holiday in North Korea, observed on December 27, 2023. The holiday commemorates the adoption of the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1972.
The following is the list of public holidays in North Korea 2023.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 01, 2023 | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| Seollal Holiday | Jan 22, 2023 | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| Daeboreum | Feb 05, 2023 | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| Day of the Shining Star | Feb 16, 2023 | Thursday | Public Holiday |
| International Women's Day | Mar 08, 2023 | Wednesday | Public Holiday |
| Chungmyung Day | Apr 05, 2023 | Wednesday | Public Holiday |
| Day of the Sun | Apr 15, 2023 | Saturday | Public Holiday |
| Military Foundation Day | Apr 25, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Korean Children's Union Foundation Day | Jun 06, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Victory Day | Jul 27, 2023 | Thursday | Public Holiday |
| Liberation Day | Aug 15, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Day of Songun | Aug 25, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| National Day | Sep 09, 2023 | Saturday | Public Holiday |
| Chuseok | Sep 29, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Party Foundation Day | Oct 10, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Mothers' Day | Nov 16, 2023 | Thursday | Public Holiday |
| Constitution Day | Dec 27, 2023 | Wednesday | Public Holiday |
Please also check the working days in North Korea in 2023.
