Kwak Sangun: "It Should Reflect Our Future Commitment, Not Just Past Achievements"
Lawmakers from Both Parties Propose Related Bills
Constitution Day Is the Only Non-Public Holiday Among the Five Major National Commemorative Days
There has been a call within the political sphere to reinstate Constitution Day, which commemorates the founding of the Constitution, as a national holiday. With related legislative efforts underway and voices emphasizing the need to consider the status of the Constitution, attention is focused on whether this issue will gain momentum in future National Assembly discussions.
Participants gathered in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, are cheering immediately after the impeachment motion against President Yoon Sukyeol was passed in the second impeachment vote last year. Photo by Heo Younghan
On the 16th, Kwon Sangun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced two bills: a partial amendment to the “National Holidays Act” and a partial amendment to the “Public Holidays Act.” These bills propose changing the name of Constitution Day to “Constitution Day” (Heonbeopui Nal) and designating it once again as a public holiday.
Representative Kwak argued, “If ‘Constitution Day’ remains a commemoration of the past achievement of enacting the Constitution, ‘Heonbeopui Nal’ can serve as a name that reflects the present value of the Constitution and our commitment to safeguarding it in the future.” He added, “We must establish a day to reaffirm our resolve to protect the Constitution, reflecting on the lessons of martial law incidents.”
Previously, Kang Daesik, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, also introduced a partial amendment to the “Public Holidays Act” to designate Constitution Day as a public holiday. In his bill proposal, Kang explained, “Constitution Day was excluded from the list of public holidays in 2008, and it is currently the only one among the five national commemorative days in Korea that is not a public holiday. Therefore, to enhance public awareness of the importance of the Constitution and the value of democracy, Constitution Day should be reinstated as a public holiday.”
In fact, among the five major national commemorative days?March 1st Independence Movement Day (3·1 Jeol), Constitution Day (July 17), Liberation Day (August 15), National Foundation Day (October 3), and Hangeul Day (October 9)?Constitution Day is the only one not designated as a public holiday.
The National Assembly is also actively supporting the reinstatement of Constitution Day as a public holiday. The National Assembly Research Service recently released a report titled “The Need and Key Issues for Reinstating Constitution Day as a Public Holiday,” stating, “Since Constitution Day is the only ‘non-public holiday national commemorative day,’ it is necessary to restore its status as a national holiday. It is also important to raise public interest in the Constitution and to enhance constitutional identity among citizens by conveying its values through cultural events and campaigns.”
Regarding this issue, the report emphasized, “The day the fundamental law of the rule-of-law state that underpins democracy was enacted holds great symbolic significance in terms of the need to protect the Constitution, and its status as a national holiday should be restored. Now is the time for active discussion to sufficiently gather and publicize public opinion on reinstating Constitution Day as a public holiday, so that a social consensus can be reached based on national agreement.”
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