What Do You Think About the 'Happy Monday' Law That Gives Mondays Off?

Hong Ik-pyo Proposes Bill for 3-Day Holidays Including Weekends on Hangul Day, Children's Day, and Memorial Day
US and Japan Implement 'Day-of-Week System' for Holidays
Concerns Raised Over Potential Dilution of Commemorative Significance

Hong Ik-pyo, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A so-called 'Happy Monday' bill, which moves some public holidays to Monday so that people can have consecutive days off from Saturday to Monday, has been proposed, sparking intense debate. Supporters argue that if the bill is enacted, it will increase workers' productivity and provide opportunities for recharging, while opponents claim it fails to consider vulnerable groups facing chronic employment insecurity, such as temporary, daily workers, and self-employed individuals.

According to the National Assembly's legislative information system on the 30th, Hong Ik-pyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, officially proposed the 'Act on National Holidays,' which regulates substitute holidays and weekday-designated holidays, on the 26th. This bill is also known as the 'Happy Monday' law.

The bill includes provisions to designate certain public holidays to specific weekdays. For example, Children's Day would be designated as 'the first Monday of May.' This would allow for three consecutive days off, from the weekend through Monday.

The days designated as 'weekday holidays' are Hangeul Day, Children's Day, and Memorial Day. While holidays like March 1st Movement Day, Liberation Day, and Christmas have significant date symbolism, Children's Day, Memorial Day, and Hangeul Day do not, making it possible to designate them as weekday holidays, according to Hong's office.

In South Korea, public holidays are designated and operated based on specific dates. As a result, the number of holidays varies each year depending on whether they fall on weekends, leading to decreased work efficiency and infringement on citizens' right to rest, a criticism that has been consistently raised.

Hong's office argues that switching to a weekday designation system and increasing consecutive holidays from Saturday to Monday would guarantee holidays and rest, significantly contributing to revitalizing the domestic market economically.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, debates continue around the bill. Some argue that longer holidays after the implementation of the Happy Monday law would allow more family time and better focus at work due to extended rest, leading to more efficient work. On the other hand, critics point out that vulnerable groups like daily workers would have to take days off under this law, resulting in reduced income.

A 28-year-old office worker, A, said, "This is like a blessing for workers. When public holidays overlap with weekends, there were many times we couldn't rest on weekdays, which was disappointing. Especially if we get three consecutive days off from the weekend through Monday, work efficiency will likely improve."

He added, "Not all public holidays are designated to Monday, only a few, so there is no reason to oppose it."

The United States and Japan have already introduced the 'Happy Monday' system. In the U.S., except for some holidays like Independence Day and Christmas, holidays such as Presidents' Day and Labor Day are observed on specific weekdays.

Japan, which used to have a 'date-based' system, introduced the 'Happy Monday' system in the early 1990s amid an economic recession. As a result, holidays like Coming of Age Day, Sports Day, Marine Day, and Respect for the Aged Day are observed on Mondays of the respective weeks rather than fixed dates.

There is also an opinion that the introduction of this system would increase consecutive holidays, boosting travel and consumption, thereby stimulating the domestic economy.

The economic effect of temporary holidays has been significant. According to a 2017 report by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism titled 'Study on Improvement Measures for the Holiday System,' adding one temporary holiday generates over 19 trillion won in economic effects and creates nearly 80,000 jobs.

On the other hand, there are opinions that the National Holidays Act does not consider vulnerable employment groups such as the self-employed and daily workers, who may suffer income loss even if they take just one day off.

A 59-year-old self-employed person, B, said, "For those in the food service industry, more holidays can increase income and have positive results. However, daily workers or small business owners who live day-to-day may face more difficulties as their working hours decrease. While restaurants may become more active, small businesses excluding large corporations and public officials might face hardships."

There is also criticism that designating public holidays to specific weekdays may diminish their significance as commemorative days. A 25-year-old university student, C, said, "Public holidays are not just 'red days' for rest; each has its own meaning. Especially Memorial Day is a day to honor those who sacrificed for the country. But if it is designated on a Monday, that meaning seems to fade."

Experts analyzed that the bill would help revitalize the domestic economy. Professor Kim Se-wan of Ewha Womans University's Department of Economics stated, "Due to COVID-19, domestic travel has increased. If this bill passes during such a time, it will positively impact the hotel and food service industries, helping to stimulate the domestic economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.