Constitution Day (South Korea)

Constitution Day or Jeheonjeol (Korean: 제헌절; hanja: 制憲節) in South Korea is observed on 17 July, the day that the South Korean constitution was proclaimed in 1948. The date was deliberately chosen to match the founding date of 17 July of the Joseon dynasty.[1]

Constitution Day
Street along a road in Seoul during Constitution Day. Flags are hung up along street lights during this day.
Official nameConstitution Day
Observed bySouth Koreans
TypeObserved, not a Federal Holiday
SignificanceMarks the proclamation of the South Korean constitution
Date17 July
Next time17 July 2021 (2021-07-17)
Frequencyannual

Background

Although the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Imperial Japanese rule by the Allies at the end of World War II on 15 August 1945, it was caught in the middle of a Cold War power struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States. It took until 1948 for a democratic election for National Assembly members to be held in South Korea. The elected assembly members set upon creating a constitution, and decided upon a presidential and unicameral system. The constitution was formally adopted and promulgated by South Korean President Syngman Rhee on 17 July 1948.[2][3]

History

Constitution Day was proclaimed to be a South Korean national holiday on 1 October 1949, with the creation of the National Holiday Law.

Since 2008, Constitution Day in South Korea is no longer a "no work" public holiday,[4] following the restructure of laws regarding the public sector with a 40-hour work week. It is still a national holiday for commemoration.[2]

Activities

On Constitution Day in South Korea, a commemorative ceremony is held with the President, Chairman of the National Assembly, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the original constitutional assembly members in attendance, and citizens hang the national flag in commemoration. Special activities such as marathons are often held.[5]

See also

References
  1. (in Korean) Constitution Day (제헌절) Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
  2. (in Korean) Constitution Day (제헌절) at Doosan Encyclopedia
  3. (in Korean) Constitution Day (제헌절 Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Britannica Korea
  4. Myers, Brian Reynolds (28 December 2016). "Still the Unloved Republic". Sthele Press. Sthele Press. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  5. (in Korean) A million walking together, Nanum News, 3 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
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