Constitution Day (제헌절)

In our house, July 17 is Disneyland Day; it’s the date that Disneyland opened in 1955. Since we don’t live close enough to go to Disneyland every July 17, we celebrate at home with Mickey-themed food and Disneyland DVDs.

But in Korea, July 17 is Constitution Day, 제헌절 (Jehunjul). It’s not a huge holiday with big celebrations. Instead it’s a day to commemorate the document that has made the Republic of Korea what it is today.

The constitution was formally adopted on July 17, 1948. The date was chosen to coincide with the founding date of the Joseon Dynasty. Constitution Day was made a national holiday one year later in the fall of 1949.

In Korea, the holiday is a national day of commemoration. Citizens hang the flag in honor of the day, and a ceremony is held with the president and other government officials.

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea, much the like the U.S. Constitution, lays out the set for government. Chapter 2 of the document details the rights of individual citizens.

If you’d like to read through the ROK Constitution, maybe memorize the preamble, you can find it here: www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ks00000_.html

This blog also has some interesting information about the Constitution Day holiday: www.transparent.com/korean/constitution-day/