By Kim Se-jeong
As Cheong Wa Dae leans toward making May 6 a temporary statutory holiday, the plan is drawing mixed opinions.
Those who can take the day off welcome it, while those who can’t say they will feel more deprived.
The government is mulling designating May 6 a holiday this year so people can take a four-day break from Children’s Day on Thursday, May 5, through Sunday.
The idea came from the business community, where many believe the sluggish domestic economy needs boosted domestic spending to revitalize itself. The government will make a final decision in a Cabinet meeting today, but President Park Geun-hye has already said she would approve it.
People who welcome the idea have similar reasons ― getting a day off and being able to spend more time with family and friends.
“I planned to take a leave on May 6 to have a long weekend anyway,” said Park Jeong-soo, an office worker. “Now I don’t have to spend my leave to enjoy the holiday.”
Despite welcoming the day off, some complained that when the government makes such a decision, it should do it earlier.
“I just wish that the decision was made earlier so that I could have planned it better,” one Facebook user wrote.
On the special holiday, if approved, all public services will be closed, including banks and post offices. Schools will be also closed.
But in the private sector, it will be up to each business to decide whether to take the day off. Most large companies are expected to do so, but many smaller ones are likely to stay open, as they did on last year’s special holiday on Aug. 14 before Liberation Day.
Among those who don’t welcome it are working mothers.
“Oh dear, I need to find a person to take care of my child again,” another Facebook user wrote, saying her child’s kindergarten will close while she has to work.
Money is also an issue for small companies. Giving everyone a day off is costly, especially with such short notice, but not giving a day off is equally burdensome for them because they have to pay 1.5 times more for those working on a statutory holiday.
According to a local research institute, last year’s special holiday induced 1.3 trillion won of spending over the three-day weekend. But some say that the spending this time will not be like that.
“Who will spend money when the economy is so bad like now? I will just stay home and watch TV. That’s it,” an Internet user wrote.
Another said the measure only highlights Korea’s polarizing society.
“Who will be comfortable with the day off? Those with enough money to fly overseas?” another user said. “For the rest without money, the holiday means nothing but a reminder that you have nothing.”
Another wrote, “The best way to make people spend more is to raise the minimum wage, not giving everyone an extra day to spend money.”
Some argued the plan is a political tactic to win back support for President Park whose approval rating hit a low after the general election on April 13. When she announced the temporary holiday plan last August, her approval rating rose by 4.6 percentage points.