Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 designated as temporary holiday

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo strikes the gavel to begin a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in central Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The government designated Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 this year as a temporary holiday, to show support for troops.  
 
The Cabinet on Tuesday passed a motion to designate this year’s Armed Forces Day, marking the 76th founding anniversary of the country's armed forces, as a holiday.  
 

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“By designating Armed Forces Day as a temporary public holiday this year, we plan to raise public interest on the importance of national security and use it as an opportunity to recall the role of our Armed Forces and the hard work of our soldiers,” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said.  
 
He said it was “a very serious time for domestic and international security situations,” noting North Korea's “series of provocations” and the Middle East conflict.
 
“Strong security is the foundation of the country and supports our economy,” Han said, adding the designation will also help to raise soldiers’ morale and sense of duty through public support.  
 
Armed Forces Day was established to commemorate the South Korean army’s crossing of the 38th parallel during the 1950-53 Korean War on Oct. 1, 1950. It was excluded as a public holiday in 1991.
 
The conservative People Power Party (PPP) requested the government to designate Armed Forces Day as a temporary public holiday in a meeting with the government on Aug. 25.
 

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]