Resolution at the State Council Meeting... Ministry of Personnel Requests Measures to 'Minimize Public Inconvenience'
Yoon Announces "Temporary Holidays to Promote Domestic Tourism"
The proposal to designate October 2, the holiday between the Chuseok holiday and National Foundation Day, as a temporary public holiday was approved at the Cabinet meeting. If this day is finalized as a temporary public holiday, there will be a total of six consecutive holidays including Chuseok and National Foundation Day.
The Ministry of Personnel Management announced on the 5th that the 'Proposal to Designate October 2 as a Temporary Public Holiday' was submitted and approved at the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The designation will be finalized after President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval and publication in the official gazette.
On the 4th, a day before Children's Day holiday, citizens visiting Children's Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul are enjoying their time. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
President Yoon presided over the 19th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting on the 31st of last month, stating, "We need to revitalize domestic tourism to stimulate domestic demand," and announced, "October 2 will be designated as a temporary public holiday." Previously, the People Power Party had proposed the first temporary public holiday since President Yoon's inauguration based on political considerations such as economic revitalization. The previous Moon Jae-in administration designated October 2, 2017, the first year of its term, as a temporary public holiday, creating a total of 10 consecutive holidays to stimulate domestic demand.
According to regulations on public holidays for government offices, in addition to existing holidays such as March 1st Movement Day, Liberation Day, and Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, 'other days designated by the government from time to time' can be set as temporary public holidays through Cabinet deliberation. The Ministry of Personnel Management plans to request related ministries to prepare preemptive measures for public service counters and daycare center operations to minimize public inconvenience caused by the designation of the temporary public holiday.
The government has decided to distribute 600,000 accommodation discount coupons during the holiday period and waive toll fees on expressways. Additionally, to ensure that the increase in foreign tourists leads to the revitalization of the domestic economy, they plan to increase flights and simplify entry procedures. Furthermore, ▲expansion of supply of essential goods and major agricultural, livestock, and fishery products ▲670 billion KRW investment in discount support ▲expanded relocation support for low-income and vulnerable groups ▲interest support on overdue loans for business owners and workers ▲provision of 43 trillion KRW in loans and guarantees for small business owners and SMEs, among other measures. A government official stated, "Based on stabilizing prices of essential goods, we plan to reduce the burden on people's livelihoods and promote domestic demand activation through various support measures to ensure that citizens do not face difficulties."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
