Starting next year, Oct. 9 will be restored as a national holiday to commemorate Hangeul Day.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said Monday that a Cabinet meeting approved a plan to include Hangeul Day in the list of national holidays.
The day designated to commemorate the creation of Hangeul, or the Korean alphabet, was observed as a national holiday since 1949 until 1991 when it was struck off.
"The designation of Hangeul Day as a national holiday will help to promote the excellence of our proud heritage Hangeul as well as enhance its cultural value, and elevate its status both in the nation as well as globally," a ministry official said.
From April 13 to 15 this year, the government conducted a survey of 1,000 citizens which showed that 83.6 percent supported the measure to make Hangeul Day a national holiday again.
Starting next year, there will be a total of 15 national holidays. The ones in the first half of the year are New Year's Day, the Lunar New Year holidays, Independence Movement Day on March 1, Buddha's Birthday on April 8 according to the lunar calendar, Children's Day on May 5 and Memorial Day on June 6.
The holidays in the latter half are National Liberation Day on Aug. 15, National Foundation Day on Oct. 3, the Chuseok holidays and Christmas.