Buddha’s Birthday

Buddha’s Birthday in South Korea is observed on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month and is formally called Bucheonnim Osin Nal, ‘the day the Buddha came’. Korean Buddhist communities mark the birth of Siddhartha Gautama through worship, teaching, lanterns and generosity. The festival reflects centuries of Buddhism on the peninsula, including periods of royal patronage, restriction and modern revival, while remaining open to respectful participation by visitors who do not identify as Buddhist.

Temples hang lotus lanterns, hold services, bathe a baby-Buddha image and share vegetarian meals. The Yeondeunghoe lantern-lighting tradition includes processions and community lantern making and is recognised by UNESCO, although its schedule need not coincide exactly with the public holiday. Participants should observe temple etiquette, photography rules and local crowd controls rather than treating worship spaces only as illuminated attractions.

The lunar date is Sunday, May 24 in 2026. Current substitute rules move the government-office holiday to Monday, May 25; the sacred date itself remains Sunday. Government offices and most banks close. Under Labour Standards Act Article 55, workplaces ordinarily employing five or more workers must provide government-office public holidays and substitute holidays as paid holidays; smaller workplaces are not automatically covered by that provision. Essential services and businesses using holiday rosters may operate under separate lawful arrangements.