In South Korea, Constitution Day is held annually on July 17. The constitution here was proclaimed in 1948. The Republic of South Korea itself was officially founded on August 18, 1948, three years after the liberation from the oppression of Japan, which had lost in World War II.
In 1948, elections to the National Assembly were held in South Korea for the first time. The elected members of the assembly decided to create a constitution that would consolidate centralized power with a president at its head. The constitution was adopted and promulgated by President Li Xingman. At the same time, North and South Korea were divided and different political regimes were entrenched in them. South Korea is considered a democracy.
Since the adoption of the Constitution of South Korea, it has been amended more than once - in 1952, 1954, 1960. In 1962, when Park Chung Hee came to power, a new Constitution of the Third Republic was adopted instead, created by analogy with the American one. The Constitution of the Fourth Republic, adopted in 1972, further strengthened the presidential power, but it was again weakened in 1982. Since 1987, the Constitution of the Sixth Republic has been in effect in the country.
The holiday was officially approved on October 1, 1949, when the law on public holidays in the country was introduced. The day of July 17 was specially chosen because on this day, the last ruling dynasty of Korea Joseon (1392-1897) was founded several centuries ago.
Although Constitution Day in South Korea is a national holiday, however, since 2008, it has not been a day off for workers and employees, since a 40-hour work week was established in the country. The government decided then that it was necessary to reduce the number of non-working holidays per year.
Official celebrations take place in Seoul and major cities on July 17. The commemoration ceremony is attended by the President, the President of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and members of the Constitutional Assembly. And the citizens are holding the national flag.
Also, for many years, by tradition, marathon races have been held in different parts of the country. Sometimes there are parades and some sporting events. There are no particularly large-scale events on Constitution Day.
