This year's Chuseok holiday spans four days, prompting many employees to start planning their leave.
Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25, 2026. The official holiday period runs from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26, with Sunday, September 27, included, providing a total of four days off.
Employees are particularly interested in how to maximize their time off with just one day of leave. The timing of leave can significantly extend the actual break, as the placement of leave days around weekends and holidays affects the total time off.
By taking leave from Monday, September 21, to Wednesday, September 23, employees can enjoy a total of nine consecutive days off, starting from the previous weekend on September 19 and 20, through to the last day of the Chuseok holiday on September 27. This means that three days of leave can effectively stretch the holiday to nine days.
While the short four-day Chuseok holiday may seem insufficient for international travel, combining it with three days of leave creates a more appealing nine-day vacation. This extended break allows for not only domestic travel but also short trips to Japan and Southeast Asia, and potentially longer trips to Europe or North America, depending on individual schedules.
Travel industry analysts report a 35% increase in demand for international flight bookings around the September Chuseok holiday compared to the same period last year. The proximity of Chuseok to the October holiday has led to increased consideration among employees regarding their leave usage for long-distance travel.
Ultimately, the experience of this year's Chuseok holiday will depend significantly on how effectively employees can plan their leave. This has sparked a 'leave war' among workers at major companies, public institutions, and small businesses, as employees vie for the best dates to take off. The structure of leave approval often requires that colleagues do not have overlapping schedules, making the days before and after the holiday particularly competitive.
Notably, September 21 to 23 are weekdays just before Chuseok, which could lead to staffing shortages if multiple team members request leave simultaneously. In roles where one person's absence necessitates coverage by another, coordination among team members becomes essential.
In workplace communities, discussions frequently arise about who will request leave first, how to gauge team dynamics, and when to approach supervisors about time off. While the calculation of 'three days of leave equals nine days off' is possible, not all employees will be able to take the full nine days due to company policies, team workloads, and colleagues' leave schedules.
This year, with opportunities to use leave for extended vacations in October following Chuseok, employees are expected to engage in even more intense planning regarding their remaining leave days.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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