This photo, provided by the Army on Jan. 2, 2024, shows K9 self-propelled howitzers of the 2nd Artillery Brigade taking part in a live-fire exercise at a training ground in Hwacheon County, 89 kilometers northeast of Seoul.
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) –The government on Tuesday designated Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 as a temporary holiday this year to boost troop morale and domestic consumption.
A motion to designate the holiday was passed during a Cabinet meeting and signed off by President Yoon Suk Yeol later in the day.
The designation, which came at the request of the ruling People Power Party, adds an additional public holiday to the current two in October — National Foundation Day on Oct. 3 and Hangeul Day on Oct. 9.
It marks the first time that Armed Forces Day will be celebrated as a public holiday since 1991, when it was excluded from the list of the country’s public holidays.
“We designated Armed Forces Day as a temporary holiday to boost troop morale and promote the public’s security consciousness by spotlighting the importance of national defense and the value of existence of the armed forces amid the grave security situation,” the presidential office said.
“We expect the designation will also contribute to vitalizing the economy by stimulating consumption.”
During the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the holiday is aimed at heightening public interest in the importance of national security and remembering the role of the nation’s armed forces and the hard work of its troops.
“Strong security is the foundation of a country and a pillar supporting our economy,” he said, noting the serious security situation at home and abroad due to North Korea’s continued provocations and the conflict in the Middle East. “I hope our troops, who even at this moment are sweating on the front lines of national defense for the country and the people, will gain a morale boost and a heightened sense of duty amid the people’s support.”
The defense ministry welcomed the move, saying that heightened public interest will help bolster troops’ morale and combat power.
Also Tuesday, the Cabinet approved three bills recently passed by the National Assembly, including a bill aimed at assisting victims of “jeonse” home rental scams.
Jeonse is a unique Korean system whereby tenants give landlords a large returnable deposit instead of paying monthly rent.
Under the bill, jeonse fraud victims will be allowed to lease public housing for up to 20 years.
Yoon later signed off on all three bills, according to his office.
(Yonhap)
