Claims Continue to Change Seollal Temporary Holiday from 27th to 31st

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo Also Says "It Should Be the 31st"
Ministry of Economy and Finance Says "Change Is Difficult"

As the ruling party and the government designated the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the 27th of this month, as a temporary holiday, voices continue to call for changing it to the 31st, the day the holiday ends.

On the 12th, former Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo expressed on his social media (SNS), "I wholeheartedly agree with Jung Won-oh, the mayor of Seongdong District, who said that the temporary holiday should be on the 31st, not the 27th."

He added, "Of course, the investigation and handling of the main culprit who disturbed the country with martial law and rebellion, causing the collapse of people's livelihoods and the economy, must be completed," emphasizing the need for the urgent arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam Province. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 8th, the government and the People Power Party decided to designate the 27th, the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary holiday. On that day, Kim Sang-hoon, the policy chief of the People Power Party, said in a briefing after the 'High-level Party-Government Meeting for Emergency Economic Stabilization,' "We expect significant positive effects such as revitalizing the domestic economy and boosting tourism."

He added, "We believe it will also play a role in improving the quality of life by providing the public with more opportunities to rest," and "We expect various effects such as dispersing traffic volume due to the extended holiday period." Accordingly, people will be able to take a continuous six-day break, including the weekend of the 25th and 26th and the Lunar New Year holidays from the 28th to the 30th.

However, immediately after this announcement, Mayor Jung, affiliated with the Democratic Party, pointed out on Facebook, "If a temporary holiday is to be created anyway, it is necessary to carefully designate the date to better align with the original purpose of revitalizing the sluggish economy," and "For many married women, designating the 27th as a temporary holiday could instead increase the burden of household chores during the holiday."

He also said, "Since there is a greater possibility of resting after the holiday and the weekend, dining out with family or going on short outings, it better fits the government's intention to stimulate consumption and boost the domestic economy."

However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, "At this stage, it seems difficult to make changes."