2027 Memorial Day

Memorial Day in Korea, Hyeonchungil, falls on June 6 and honors the soldiers and civilians who died in service of the country, especially during the Korean War; it was established in 1956, and the date is traditionally linked to Mangjong, the grain-planting day on the old seasonal calendar. At 10 a.m. a siren sounds nationwide and the country observes a minute of silence, while the national flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings and homes. The main ceremony takes place at Seoul National Cemetery, usually attended by the President, and families visit the graves of relatives at national cemeteries across the country. It is a public holiday but a day of remembrance rather than celebration, so there are no festivities, and unlike the national celebration days it does not receive a substitute day off when it falls on a weekend. Cemeteries are crowded in the morning, so visitors often arrive early. This countdown ticks to midnight Korea Standard Time on June 6.