Constitution Day (July 17) has been designated as a public holiday again. It is the first time in 18 years since it was removed from the list of public holidays in 2008.
Constitution Day is a day to commemorate July 17, 1948, when the Constitution of the Republic of Korea was promulgated. In 1949, the government designated Constitution Day as a national holiday and a public holiday.
The government removed Constitution Day from the list of public holidays in 2008. After the five-day workweek was implemented, the business community called for reducing public holidays. Since then, Constitution Day has remained the only non-holiday among the five major national holidays, along with the March 1 Independence Movement Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangeul Day.
However, starting last year, the government has pursued the "Constitution Day holiday reassignment." The aim is to reflect on constitutional values and remind the public of the spirit of the Constitution following the Dec. 3 martial law.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik also said on the 29th, "The power that lifted the Dec. 3 martial law and protected democracy and the people is the Constitution," adding, "It is meaningful that the bill to make Constitution Day a public holiday through reassignment has passed."
Meanwhile, this year's total number of statutory public holidays has increased to 22 days, including substitute holidays.