"All Holidays Fall on Weekends, Bittersweet..." Concerns Over 'Holiday Polarization' Amid Discussions to Expand Substitute Holidays

"Is This Real?" This Year's Holidays Overlapping with Weekends Cause Sighs
National Assembly Proposes Bill to Expand 'Substitute Holidays'
"Many People Can't Take Holidays Off" Concerns of 'Polarization' Arise
Experts Say "Labor Standards Act Should Apply to Workplaces with Fewer Than 5 Employees"

Reference photo. This year, all remaining public holidays, except for Chuseok, coincide with weekends. Recently, a bill to expand 'substitute holidays' was proposed in the National Assembly. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Since Buddha's Birthday on the 19th, it has been confirmed that all remaining public holidays this year, except for Chuseok, fall on weekends, prompting sighs among office workers.

Recently, discussions have been underway, including the proposal of a bill in the National Assembly to expand the 'substitute holiday' system. However, concerns have also been raised that workers who cannot take time off even on public holidays may feel deprived due to the 'holiday polarization.'

Experts have suggested that amendments to the Labor Standards Act should be made to ensure everyone can take time off fairly.

Choi, a worker in his 20s, expressed that he feels rapidly fatigued from going to work after Buddha's Birthday. This is because he learned that all remaining public holidays this year, except for Chuseok, coincide with weekends. Choi said, "Being able to rest on public holidays was a consolation, but this year, even that is gone," adding, "The only option is to save and use my remaining annual leave sparingly."

Among the public holidays in the second half of this year, June 6th Memorial Day and August 15th Liberation Day both fall on Sundays. Additionally, October 3rd National Foundation Day is on Sunday, October 9th Hangeul Day is on Saturday, and December 25th Christmas is also on Saturday. Excluding the Chuseok holiday in September, there are no public holidays on weekdays.

This year also has fewer holidays compared to other years. Based on a five-day workweek, the total number of holidays this year is 113 days, which is 2 days fewer than last year and 4 days fewer than in 2019.

As a result, many office workers expressed regret. Netizens responded with comments such as "I still can't believe it," "The designation of substitute holidays is urgent," and "I will pray for holidays to be created," showing anticipation for the designation of substitute holidays.

A list summarizing the public holidays for the second half of this year.
Photo by Online Community Capture

Meanwhile, a bill to expand the substitute holiday system was recently proposed in the National Assembly, attracting attention.

On the 10th, Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced the 'Act on Public Holidays' to expand the substitute holiday system to all public holidays. Currently, substitute holidays apply only to Children's Day, Lunar New Year, and Chuseok, but the bill proposes expanding this to all public holidays.

The bill also includes provisions to guarantee substitute holidays for private-sector workers who work on Saturdays and Sundays and rest on weekdays when their holidays overlap with public holidays.

At the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st, Representative Kang said, "There are countless complaints from office workers that 'there's nothing but breath left' due to the lack of holidays," emphasizing again the expansion of the substitute holiday system by stating, "Above all, there should be no case where people cannot rest just because a public holiday overlaps with a weekend. Long working hours actually reduce work productivity."

On the 19th, Buddha's Birthday, citizens visiting Cheonggyecheon in Seoul are enjoying the holiday in the shade. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Citizens generally support the bill proposal, but some have expressed skepticism. While large corporations and public enterprises may benefit from the substitute holiday system, some small and medium-sized enterprises may not guarantee paid leave even if substitute holidays are created.

Since the revision of the Labor Standards Act in 2018, the application of public holidays in government offices to the private sector has been gradually expanded. However, for workplaces with fewer than five employees, the Labor Standards Act is only partially applied, and public holidays themselves are not guaranteed. Therefore, workplaces with fewer than five employees do not effectively receive paid leave even if substitute holidays are created.

Consequently, concerns about 'holiday polarization' have been raised. One netizen said, "Holidays that apply only to large corporations and public officials are a flawed system," adding, "Even if laws are enacted, substitute holidays are a story from another world for workers who cannot take time off. I hope the government pays attention to where legal protection is truly needed."

Experts have suggested that the Labor Standards Act should be amended to apply public holidays in government offices to workplaces with fewer than five employees as well.

Kim Hyo-shin, a labor attorney at Sonamu Labor Law Office, said, "Expanding substitute holidays is a good measure, but workplaces with fewer than five employees still do not have public holidays applied, nor do they have annual leave," emphasizing, "Even if the substitute holiday expansion bill is implemented, if the Labor Standards Act does not change, small-scale workplaces remain blind spots in labor law. To guarantee holidays fairly, amendments to the Labor Standards Act are absolutely necessary."