Booyoung Chairman Lee Joong-geun: "The UN, Which Aided the Constitution, Deserves Recognition as a National Holiday"

United Nations Day, Removed from Public Holidays in 1976,
Now at the Center of National Holiday Designation Campaign

Korean Senior Citizens Association, Liberation Association, Constitutional Association, Veterans Association, and United Nations

Lee Joong-geun, Chairman of Booyoung Group, has once again proposed that October 24, United Nations Day (UN Day), be designated as a national holiday in celebration of Constitution Day. His aim is to commemorate, at the national level, the historical contributions made by the United Nations before and after the Korean War. Following Booyoung Group’s initiative, five organizations, including the Korean Senior Citizens Association and the Liberation Association, have joined the cause.

Chairman Lee Joong-geun of Booyoung Group stands in front of the United Nations War Veterans Symbol Monument at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Booyoung Group

On July 16, Chairman Lee stated, "Constitution Day commemorates the proclamation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, so it is necessary to remember and honor the role of the United Nations as well." He further remarked, "Designating UN Day as a national holiday will both strengthen relations with the countries that supported us in the past and serve as a diplomatic asset as well as a foundation for future diplomacy."

As president of the United Nations Association of Korea, Chairman Lee has been dedicated to raising awareness about the relationship between the United Nations and Korea. In September last year, he delivered a petition to the National Assembly with 420,000 signatures calling for the reinstatement of UN Day as a holiday.

The joint campaign has gained the participation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, the Liberation Association, the Association of the Republic of Korea's Constitution, the Korea Veterans Association, the United Nations Association of Korea, and Booyoung Group. These organizations stated, "After three years of U.S. military governance following independence, Korea held its first democratic elections in history with the help of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea on May 10, 1948. The Constituent National Assembly formed as a result of these elections declared on July 17 that 'The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic.' On Constitution Day, we must also remember the vital role that the United Nations played in making the general elections possible."

South Korea commemorated October 24, the founding day of the United Nations, as a public holiday starting in 1950. However, in 1976, the holiday status was revoked in protest after North Korea joined UN-affiliated organizations. Chairman Lee is now advocating not merely for the restoration of UN Day as a public holiday, but for its new designation as a national holiday. To have UN Day recognized as a national holiday, the "Law on National Holidays" would need to be amended. Currently, the five official national holidays are March 1st Movement Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangul Day.

Poster of the joint campaign by the Korean Senior Citizens Association, the Liberation Association, the Association of the Republic of Korea's Constitution, the Korea Veterans Association, the United Nations Association of Korea, and Booyoung Group titled 'Constitution Day, the UN was involved in the establishment of the Republic of Korea's constitutional law.' Booyoung Group

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