Kim Moonsu: "Alternative Holidays Must Be Announced at Least One Month in Advance"

Main Proposal for the Revision of the Public Holidays Act
Aims to Ensure Predictability by Mandating Advance Notice of Substitute Holidays

Moonsoo Kim, Member of the National Assembly.

A revision to the "Public Holidays Act" has been proposed, specifying that substitute holidays must be designated at least one month in advance to enhance the predictability of holiday planning for citizens and businesses.

Kim Moonsu, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye-gap in Jeonnam, explained the background of the proposal, stating, "Although there is a legal basis for designating substitute holidays, the timing of such announcements is unclear, causing frequent confusion for citizens and businesses."

The current law allows for the designation of substitute holidays when a public holiday overlaps with another public holiday or a weekend. However, there has been criticism that the lack of specific criteria for the announcement timing makes planning difficult.

The proposed revision stipulates that substitute holidays must be officially announced at least one month prior to the public holiday, with the main goal of ensuring predictability in the management of public holidays.

This would allow citizens to prepare in advance for personal plans such as travel, rest, or household matters, and enable businesses to adjust their production and service schedules, thereby improving overall societal efficiency.

Kim stressed, "This year, January 27, the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, was designated as a substitute holiday, but the announcement following government-party consultations was made on the 8th, just about 20 days before the holiday. This led to significant confusion among citizens and businesses."

Kim added, "Public holidays are an important element of daily life, and ensuring their predictability is a government responsibility. Through this bill, we aim to increase the reliability of holiday management and create a more predictable social environment."

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