Labor Day Becomes Official Holiday: What This Means for Workers in 2026

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On March 30, the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved an amendment to the Public Holidays Act to designate May 1—Labor Day—as a statutory public holiday.

At an afternoon plenary session, the committee adopted the partial amendment by bipartisan agreement.

Labor Day is currently designated under the Act on the Establishment of Workers’ Day. Although it was made a paid holiday in 1994, it was never classified as a statutory public holiday; therefore, the benefit has applied only to employees covered by the Labor Standards Act.

As a result, civil servants, teachers and workers in special employment arrangements—such as delivery drivers—have been excluded from the holiday.

If the bill clears the full plenary session, Labor Day would become a statutory public holiday and the day off would be guaranteed to everyone regardless of employment status.

If the plan proceeds on schedule, the change would take effect on May 1, 2026.

The plenary also approved a bill to honor people who contributed to Korea’s democratization. The measure would establish a new law to provide medical and long-term care support to democracy contributors, their survivors and family members.

The committee additionally passed amendments to special laws to create Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and a Global Life Economy City, and to establish Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and a Future Industry Global City.

However, action on the special law to create the Busan Global Hub City was postponed because the required 20-day deliberation period after referral to the committee had not been completed.

Separately, the committee approved a partial amendment to the Stalking Crimes Punishment Act in a roll-call vote. With 15 members present, the measure passed 10–5 and would introduce victim protection orders for stalking, aiming to close existing protection gaps.

With final bill reviews underway, lawmakers from both parties clashed over the partial release on March 29 of an audio recording that appears to capture Prosecutor Park Sang-yong attempting to influence someone during the investigation into Ssangbangwool’s alleged remittances to North Korea.

Kim Yong-min, the Democratic Party’s Justice Committee whip, demanded that Prosecutor Park be investigated for perjury, saying, “He lied here in the National Assembly and it’s now come to light. Yet a sitting prosecutor shamelessly posts on social media, picking fights with politicians and engaging in politics.”

Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party pushed back, criticizing the line of questioning and asking, “Even if we accept the principle of civil servants’ political neutrality, wouldn’t he deny it if he were being framed? Are you going to keep harassing him until you get the answer you want?”

Park Eun-jung of the Justice Reform Party targeted Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, saying, “You don’t seem fit for the job. Even though those remarks surfaced, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has not launched an inquiry. Why hasn’t the Ministry of Justice appointed an inspector?”

Minister Jeong responded, “I ask that a special prosecutor and a National Assembly investigation thoroughly examine the matter.”