Interest is growing in whether Monday, September 28, after this year’s Chuseok holiday period, will also be a day off.
There are also hopes that Monday will become a substitute holiday because the final day of the Chuseok holiday period falls on a Saturday.
However, for 28 to become a day off, a separate government decision is required rather than automatic application.
3-Line Summary
1. September 28 is not an automatic substitute holiday
2. The Chuseok holiday period runs from September 24 to 27
3. Holiday status can change only through government designation
Monday Is Not Automatically a Holiday Even When It Overlaps with a Saturday
This year’s Chuseok holiday period runs from Thursday, September 24, through Saturday, September 26. Including the following Sunday, 27, the break lasts four days. However, the fact that the final day of the Chuseok holiday period falls on a Saturday alone does not make Monday, the 28th, a substitute holiday.
Under current regulations, substitute holidays for traditional holiday periods such as Seollal and Chuseok arise when they overlap with Sunday or another public holiday. This year’s Chuseok holiday period, from 24 to 26, does not meet this condition. The calendar arrangement in which the 26th falls on a Saturday and the following day, the 27th, falls on a Sunday does not lead to a Monday holiday.
The rules also differ from cases in which the next non-holiday becomes a substitute holiday when national holidays or Children’s Day overlap with a Saturday or Sunday. This is why the same standard cannot be applied to Chuseok.
A Temporary Public Holiday Must Be Designated for 28 to Be a Day Off
The way to make 28 a holiday is for the government to separately designate it as a temporary public holiday. According to reports, this procedure requires, among other things, a resolution by the State Council. In the past, the government has designated days connected to holiday periods as temporary public holidays.
However, as of reports on September 14, an official from the Ministry of Personnel Management said that there was still nothing being discussed or reviewed regarding the designation of 28. Therefore, the fact that there have been cases of last-minute designations in the past does not mean that this year’s designation has been decided.
Without a separate government designation, 28 will be a regular work and school day. When making holiday plans or school and workplace schedules, distinguish between whether the government has actually announced a temporary public holiday designation and the use of the term “substitute holiday.”
Extending a Holiday Does Not Mean the Same Thing for Everyone
If a temporary public holiday is designated, it is anticipated that short-term demand could increase in the restaurant, tourism, and retail industries. Conversely, manufacturing and other industries may face fewer operating days, adjustments to production schedules, and the burden of holiday-work allowances.
The practical impact also differs according to workplace size. The Economist pointed out that under the Labor Standards Act, paid-holiday application for temporary public holidays is mandatory for workplaces with 5 or more employees, but there is no legal obligation for workplaces with fewer than 5 employees. A sudden holiday designation can also lead to changes in school and daycare schedules and childcare difficulties for dual-income families.
Thus, the discussion over making 28 a temporary public holiday concerns not only taking one additional day off but also illustrates the difference between calendar holidays that are determined automatically and holidays that must be separately designated by the government.
References
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