A Dentist Open on Korean Public Holidays: Chuseok, Seollal and More
Published by The Seoul Dental Clinic · Meet the dentists
The Seoul Dental Clinic is open on public holidays and closed on Sundays. For the multi-day Seollal and Chuseok breaks, check ahead with the clinic about the specific days. If your dates fall near a major holiday, booking early is recommended.
The short version
Korea has several public holidays, and the two biggest family holidays, Seollal and Chuseok, often involve a multi-day break. Their dates change from year to year because they follow the lunar calendar.
On ordinary public holidays the clinic is open, which can help if a day off is the easiest time for you to come. Its regular hours are Mon–Wed 09:30–20:30 · Thu 09:30–19:00 · Fri 09:30–18:30 · Sat 09:30–13:00 · No lunch break · Closed Sundays · Open on public holidays. For the Seollal and Chuseok periods, ask the clinic about the specific days before you plan.
Holidays are also when many residents travel, so roads, trains and airports can be busy. If your treatment is time-sensitive, think beyond the appointment day: review visits, lab work and follow-up messages can all fall around a holiday period or a Sunday. Building in a few spare days makes your plan far more robust.
Holidays you may meet
Seollal and Chuseok dates change each year, so check a Korean calendar for your travel year.
| Holiday | What to know |
|---|---|
| Seollal (Lunar New Year) | A multi-day break; ask the clinic about those specific days |
| Chuseok (Harvest festival) | A multi-day break; ask the clinic about those specific days |
| Other public holidays | The clinic is open; booking ahead is recommended |
| Saturdays | Open 09:30–13:00 |
| Sundays | Closed |
How to plan around a holiday
Check your dates
Look at a Korean calendar for the year you will travel and see whether your trip overlaps Seollal, Chuseok or another holiday.
Contact the clinic early
Call +82-31-757-1525, email theseouldc@naver.com or message the KakaoTalk channel. English-language support is available.
Book before the break
Appointments tend to be harder to find around busy periods, so reserve early.
Plan procedures with healing in mind
If your treatment needs a review visit a few days later, make sure it does not land on a Sunday or a Seollal or Chuseok day the clinic has not confirmed.
Keep a backup plan
Know where to go if something unexpected happens on a Sunday or during a holiday closure.
If you have a problem when the clinic is closed
Dental emergencies do not follow the calendar. If the clinic is closed, for example on a Sunday, and you have severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency department. Hospitals with emergency departments operate through holidays.
On public holidays the clinic is open, so call first and describe the problem. Around Seollal and Chuseok, ask whether it has any arrangement for urgent problems, and do not assume one exists. Emergency visit prices are not published; they are quoted after examination.
Travel and logistics
Public transport and roads can be busy at the start and end of the big holidays, as many people travel to see family. The clinic is at 2–3F, 1225 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, by Taepyeong Station Exit 5 on the Suin-Bundang Line, and the building has a parking garage with parking benefits for patients receiving treatment. Leave extra time and avoid scheduling flights too close to an appointment.
Many restaurants and shops also close for the main holiday days, so stock up on soft food and basics beforehand if you are having treatment.
A short message to the clinic a few weeks ahead is usually all that is needed. Include your planned dates, the treatment you are considering and whether you can adjust if the schedule is tight. Consultation before treatment is free, and an early conversation lets the team tell you what is realistic.
Frequently asked questions
Is the clinic open on public holidays?
Yes. The clinic is open on public holidays and closed on Sundays.
Is the clinic open during Chuseok or Seollal?
These are multi-day breaks, so check ahead with the clinic about the specific days you have in mind.
Can I get an appointment during a holiday week?
Often, but slots near holidays can fill quickly, so book ahead.
What if I have a toothache on a public holiday?
Call the clinic first, as it is open on public holidays. For severe symptoms, go to an emergency department.
Do holiday dates change each year?
Seollal and Chuseok follow the lunar calendar, so the Gregorian dates change annually.
English-speaking dentists in Seongnam
The clinic was founded by two brothers trained at Seoul National University who direct it together. Three further dentists hold Ministry of Health and Welfare specialist certifications. Full credentials →
Dr. Hyun Sung Park
Clinic Director
- Co-founder and joint clinic director
- DDS, Seoul National University School of Dentistry
- Master’s degree, SNU Graduate School of Dentistry
- Former staff, Dept. of General Dentistry, SNU Dental Hospital
- Microendodontics Programme, SNU
- Course completion, UCLA, USA
- Member, UPenn Endodontics Study Club, USA
- Certified Invisalign Provider
- Osstem Implant AIC Programme
- Member, International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
Dr. Hyeonjoon Park
Clinic Director
- Co-founder and joint clinic director
- DDS, Seoul National University School of Dentistry
- Master’s degree, SNU Graduate School of Dentistry
- Former staff, Dept. of General Dentistry, SNU Dental Hospital
- Affiliate Associate Fellow, American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID)
- Certified Invisalign Provider; leads orthodontic treatment
- Course completion, UCLA, USA
- Member, UPenn Endodontics Study Club, USA
- Member, International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
- Member, Seoul Prime Orthodontic Study Club
Dr. Yu Jin Kim
Dentist
- Board-certified specialist, Advanced General Dentistry (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
- Johns Hopkins University, USA
- Master’s degree, SNU Graduate School of Dentistry
- Former staff, Osaka University Dental Hospital, Japan
Dr. Min Ji Choi
Dentist
- Board-certified specialist, Conservative Dentistry
- Board-certified specialist, Advanced General Dentistry
- Internship and residency, Jeonbuk National University Dental Hospital
- Master’s degree in Conservative Dentistry, Jeonbuk National University
Dr. Jin Young Choi
Dentist
- Board-certified specialist, Advanced General Dentistry
- Clinical training, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Master’s degree, Kyungpook National University Graduate School of Dentistry
- BA in English Language and Literature, Korea University
Traveling around a holiday?
Message the clinic with your dates and ask what is possible before you book flights.