Constitution Day will once again be designated as a public holiday after 18 years. Starting this year, all five major national holidays of South Korea — March 1st Movement Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, and Constitution Day — will be observed as public holidays.

Revised Bill Passes Cabinet Meeting

The Ministry of Personnel Administration announced earlier this year that a revised bill to the "Act on Public Holidays," which designates Constitution Day as a public holiday, was passed at a Cabinet meeting. The government plans to apply the public holiday status starting from Constitution Day on July 17 this year, following subsequent procedures. The government began a full review of restoring the public holiday status on the occasion of the 77th Constitution Day, and with the passage of this revised bill through the Cabinet meeting, the institutional foundation has been established.

Designated in 1949... Lost Public Holiday Status in 2008

Constitution Day commemorates July 17, 1948, the date the Constitution of South Korea was promulgated. It was designated as a national holiday and public holiday in 1949, but lost its public holiday status in 2008 during the process of establishing the five-day workweek, when the number of public holidays was adjusted. However, its status as a national holiday was maintained. Over the years, the issue of fairness with other national holidays had been consistently raised, as Constitution Day was a national holiday that was not a day off.

Enhanced Significance of Reflecting on Constitutional Values

Since last year, the government has been pursuing the redesignation of Constitution Day as a public holiday in order to strengthen the significance of reflecting on the values of the Constitution and the spirit of popular sovereignty. The Ministry of Personnel Administration plans to swiftly carry out follow-up measures, including revising the "Regulations on Public Holidays for Public Offices."

This Year's Constitution Day Falls on a Friday... Three-Day Weekend Expected

With the restoration of Constitution Day as a public holiday confirmed, workers and students will have a holiday on July 17. In particular, since Constitution Day falls on a Friday this year, it is expected to form a three-day weekend combined with Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th.

The government expects that this measure will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the Constitution and the values of democracy, beyond simply expanding the number of holidays. With Constitution Day once again becoming a public holiday, all five major national holidays of South Korea have now established themselves as statutory holidays to be commemorated together with the people.

[This article was written with the assistance of AI. Detailed criteria may vary depending on relevant laws and guidelines, so official sources must be consulted.]