This July, South Korea will enjoy an unexpected three-day holiday.
Constitution Day, celebrated on July 17, falls on a Friday this year. With Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, following, workers can take a break without using any vacation days.
Constitution Day commemorates the promulgation of the South Korean Constitution on July 17, 1948. It was established as a national holiday in 1949 but was removed from the list of public holidays in 2008 during adjustments related to the five-day workweek.
Since then, while it remained a national holiday, it was not a day off. Other national holidays such as Independence Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangul Day were recognized as public holidays, but Constitution Day was not. However, due to a revision of the public holiday law this year, Constitution Day has been reinstated as a public holiday for the first time in 18 years, making it a day off along with all five major national holidays.
For businesses with five or more employees, Constitution Day is a legally mandated paid holiday. However, some sectors, such as shift work and service industries, may require employees to work on that day. In such cases, employers can substitute another workday for the holiday through written agreement with employee representatives. If employees work without a substitute holiday, they must receive additional pay for holiday work. Smaller businesses with fewer than five employees may have different practices, so it is advisable for workers to check with their employers regarding work and compensation.
The holiday schedule for the second half of the year is also noteworthy. Following the Constitution Day holiday in July, Liberation Day will be observed on Saturday, August 15, with a substitute holiday on Monday, August 17. The Chuseok holiday will run from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26, allowing for a four-day break if Sunday, September 27, is included. In October, National Foundation Day will be on Saturday, October 3, with a substitute holiday on Monday, October 5. Hangul Day will fall on Friday, October 9, creating another three-day weekend.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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