Did You Know?
July 17 was reportedly chosen for South Korea's constitution because it was traditionally believed to be the founding date of the Joseon dynasty in 1392, symbolically linking the modern republic to centuries of Korean statehood.
Constitution Day
🇰🇷 South Korea
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
Constitution Day, known in Korea as Jeheonjeol, commemorates the promulgation of South Korea's constitution on July 17, 1948, the founding legal charter of the Republic of Korea. Observed annually on the same date, it honors the document that established the country's democratic system of government following the end of Japanese colonial rule.
What It Is
Each July 17, South Korea marks Constitution Day with an official ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul, where government leaders and lawmakers commemorate the founding charter. Since 2008, the day has not been a non-working public holiday, so schools and most workplaces remain open as usual. It nonetheless remains one of Korea's five official national days, alongside occasions such as National Foundation Day and Liberation Day, marked mainly through official recognition rather than widespread public events.
Why It Matters
The constitution promulgated on July 17, 1948, established the legal and political foundations of the Republic of Korea, just three years after liberation from decades of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Drafted by the country's newly elected National Assembly, it created a presidential system of government, enshrined citizens' rights, and formally launched South Korea as an independent, democratic state during a turbulent period that soon led to the peninsula's permanent division. The document has since been amended multiple times, but its original adoption remains a foundational moment in modern Korean history, symbolizing the transition from colonial subjugation and postwar occupation to self-governance.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
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