"Play or No Money"... Debate Over Temporary Holiday on the 27th

"Saved One Annual Leave" vs "No Money to Spend"
Polarized Reactions to Temporary Holiday Designation on the 27th

The ruling party and the government have designated the 27th, the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary holiday, sparking mixed reactions among netizens. Photo by Pixabay

The government’s decision to designate January 27 as a temporary holiday has sparked mixed reactions among citizens.

While the majority of office workers and the retail industry welcome the unexpected "surprise holiday," some citizens remain skeptical about whether it will help stimulate the domestic economy.

On the 8th, the government announced, "To boost domestic demand and promote tourism during the Lunar New Year holiday period, January 27 has been designated as a temporary holiday." As a result, this year’s Lunar New Year holiday is expected to become a golden holiday lasting six days, from Saturday the 25th to Thursday the 30th.

The ruling party and the government have designated the 27th, the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary public holiday, sparking mixed reactions among netizens. Pixabay

Most netizens who heard the news expressed a welcoming attitude. On an anonymous community for office workers, comments included: "Saved a day of annual leave," "Booked a flight right away," "Can rest for four days without using leave," "Temporary holiday designation is the best," "I’ll take annual leave on Friday the 31st," "Can go far away," and "January just flies by."

On the other hand, voices opposing the designation of January 27 as a temporary holiday also poured in. They said things like, "Even if the holiday is longer, I have no money to spend," "The country is a mess, and all they think about is playing," "Is this just to boost approval ratings?" "If you rest for nine days, of course you’ll go abroad. Domestic demand effect? That’s a joke," and "Even without the holiday, restaurants were empty because the economy is tough," showing a cold response.

In self-employed communities, comments included: "Long holidays actually hurt local businesses," "I doubt it will help stimulate the domestic economy," "The thought of losing a week of business is bleak," and "If holidays come one after another, self-employed people suffer even more."

Meanwhile, the government explained the basis for designating the temporary holiday by stating, "In the past, Hyundai Research Institute analyzed the economic ripple effects of designating temporary holidays in a report, estimating an induced total production of 4.2 trillion won and an induced added value of 1.63 trillion won across the economy." It added, "The government and ruling party expect positive effects such as boosting domestic demand and promoting tourism, and believe that expanding opportunities for rest will also play a role in improving quality of life for the people."