Definition — The Korean stock market is normally open Monday through Friday, but KOSPI and KOSDAQ close on Korean public holidays, Labor Day, and the exchange's year-end closing day. If you're trading Korean stocks in 2026, checking the KRX holiday calendar matters just as much as knowing the regular market hours.

Is the Korean Stock Market Open Today?

On a normal trading day, the Korea Exchange (KRX) regular stock session runs from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Korea Standard Time (KST).

KOSPI and KOSDAQ follow the same regular trading calendar.

The market is generally closed on:

• Saturdays and Sundays

• Korean public holidays

• Labor Day on May 1

• The exchange's year-end closing day

• Other days designated by KRX when necessary

This means a weekday is not automatically a trading day. A Monday or Friday that falls on a Korean market holiday may still be a full market closure.

2026 Korean Stock Market Holiday Calendar

Here are the key 2026 dates international investors should know when following KOSPI and KOSDAQ:

Some Korean public holidays fall on weekends in 2026, so they do not always create an additional weekday market closure unless a substitute holiday applies.

Exchange schedules can also be adjusted, so traders should verify the latest KRX calendar before relying on a date for execution or settlement.

Do KOSPI and KOSDAQ Have the Same Holidays?

Yes.

KOSPI and KOSDAQ are both operated by the Korea Exchange and generally follow the same trading-day calendar.

If the Korean stock market is closed for a public holiday, both markets are normally closed.

That means you don't need a separate holiday calendar for:

KOSPI
and
KOSDAQ

The main difference between the two is the type of companies they list, not their trading calendar.

For more on their differences, see KOSPI vs KOSDAQ: What's the Difference?.

Is KOSPI Open on Korean Public Holidays?

Generally, no.

KRX rules specify that the securities market is closed on public holidays recognized under Korean government regulations.

That includes major holidays such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok, as well as public holidays including Children's Day, Liberation Day, Hangul Day, and Christmas when they fall on an exchange trading day.

One important exception to keep in mind when looking at a simple list of Korean national days is that not every commemorative date necessarily results in a stock market closure.

What matters to investors is the KRX trading calendar, not simply whether a date has national significance.

What Happens During Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is one of Korea's most important holidays and creates one of the longest market closures of the year.

In 2026, the Lunar New Year holiday period falls around February 16–18.

That means Korean equities can be closed for several consecutive calendar days once the weekend is included.

For international investors, longer closures matter because overseas markets continue to move.

For example, if U.S. semiconductor stocks move sharply while Korea is closed, Korean semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics or SK hynix cannot immediately react during the local holiday.

When KRX reopens, some of that accumulated information may be reflected in the opening price.

What Happens During Chuseok?

Chuseok, often described as Korea's harvest festival, is another major multi-day holiday.

In 2026, the holiday period includes September 24–25 as weekday market closures, alongside the surrounding holiday calendar.

Like Lunar New Year, Chuseok can leave Korean stocks unable to respond immediately to movements in overseas markets.

This is particularly relevant for globally exposed Korean companies whose U.S., Japanese, Taiwanese, or European peers may continue trading while KRX is closed.

Why Is the Korean Stock Market Closed on May 1?

May 1 is Labor Day, or Workers' Day, in Korea.

KRX specifically lists Labor Day as a market holiday even though its treatment can differ from that of ordinary Korean public holidays.

In 2026, May 1 falls on a Friday, so KOSPI and KOSDAQ are closed that day.

This is an easy date for international investors to miss because May 1 is not a U.S. stock market holiday.

The result is that U.S. equities may be trading normally while Korean equities are closed.

Does Korea Have Substitute Market Holidays?

Yes.

Korea uses substitute holidays in certain cases when major public holidays fall on weekends or overlap with other holidays.

When an official substitute holiday falls on a weekday and is recognized as a public holiday, the Korean stock market is generally closed as well.

This is why simply memorizing the fixed date of a holiday is not enough.

For example, a holiday may officially fall on Saturday or Sunday while the effective weekday closure occurs on the following Monday.

Checking the calendar for the specific year is therefore important.

Is the Korean Stock Market Open on December 31?

Normally, no.

KRX rules include the final day of the year as a market holiday. If the relevant year-end date falls on a weekend or holiday, the exchange can move the final trading day accordingly.

For 2026, investors should therefore not assume that December 31 is a normal Thursday trading session.

Year-end schedules can also affect settlement timing, portfolio rebalancing, and the final trading opportunity of the calendar year.

Korean Market Holidays vs U.S. Market Holidays

Korean and U.S. stock markets follow different holiday calendars.

For example, Korea closes for holidays such as:

Lunar New Year
Labor Day
Chuseok
Hangul Day

while the U.S. market closes for dates such as:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Thanksgiving

That means one market can be closed while another is trading normally.

For investors following companies connected through the same global supply chain, this creates an important timing difference.

A major move in U.S. semiconductor stocks, for example, can occur while Korea is closed. Korean semiconductor stocks may then react when KRX reopens.

Why Market Holidays Matter

A market holiday doesn't stop global information from arriving.

Earnings reports can be released.

U.S. stocks can move.

Commodity prices can change.

Currencies can fluctuate.

Political or economic news can break.

If Korea is closed while those events happen, Korean stocks cannot continuously incorporate that information into their prices.

When the market reopens, the adjustment can happen quickly — sometimes through a gap between the previous closing price and the next opening price.

Holidays can also affect:

Order timing — An order submitted while the market is closed may wait until the next available session.

Settlement — Non-trading days can affect the calculation of settlement dates.

Cross-market strategies — One side of a trade may be open while the Korean equity leg is closed.

Liquidity around holidays — Trading behavior can change before and after longer market closures.

So for international investors, a holiday calendar is not just a list of days off. It is part of understanding when Korean market exposure can actually be traded.

Takeaway: KOSPI and KOSDAQ normally trade Monday through Friday, but close for Korean public holidays, Labor Day, and the exchange's year-end closing day. Major 2026 closures include Lunar New Year, Labor Day, Chuseok, Hangul Day, Christmas, and year-end. Because overseas markets may remain open while Korea is closed, always check the KRX calendar before trading around major holidays.

Next Steps

• Korean Stock Market Hours: KOSPI & KOSDAQ Trading Times

• KOSPI vs KOSDAQ: What's the Difference?

• What Is the KOSPI 200? Korea's Benchmark Index Explained

For informational purposes only. Not an offer, solicitation, or investment advice. Exchange holidays, substitute holidays, trading schedules, and settlement arrangements may change. Always check the latest Korea Exchange calendar before trading. Services are not available to U.S. persons or residents of restricted jurisdictions (including Hong Kong).