Six-day break this Chuseok as Oct. 2 named holiday

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday designated Oct. 2 as a temporary holiday to extend the upcoming Chuseok holiday to a six-day break in a move to revitalize the local economy.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, second from right, announces that Oct. 2 has been designated as a temporary holiday at an economy and livelihood meeting at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday designated Oct. 2 as a temporary holiday to extend the upcoming Chuseok holiday to a six-day break in a move to revitalize the local economy.

"Oct. 2 will be designated as a temporary public holiday," Yoon said in a meeting on the economy and people's livelihood at the presidential office, calling to boost domestic tourism and lower prices ahead of Chuseok.

Currently, Oct. 2 falls between the Chuseok harvest festival holiday and the National Foundation Day holiday.

This year's three-day Chuseok holiday lasts from Thursday, Sept. 28, to Saturday, Sept. 30. Oct. 2 is a Monday, followed by National Foundation Day on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

By designating Oct. 2 as a temporary holiday, people will be able to enjoy an uninterrupted six-day break from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3.

Yoon said in the meeting that some 600,000 lodging discount coupons will be distributed, and highway tolls will be exempted during the holiday period.

He also called to provide support for the agricultural, fishery and livestock industries.

Yoon said the government will do its utmost to lower the prices of Chuseok-related goods by at least 5 percent on-year "to ensure that the people can have a bountiful holiday."

To this end, the supply of such products will be increased by the largest volume to date, and some 67 billion won ($50.6 million) worth of discounts on agricultural, fishery and livestock goods will be provided to help stabilize their prices.

Yoon said that the government will push to increase flights and simplify arrival procedures to encourage foreign tourists to visit the country and help vitalize the domestic economy.

The government will also work to make mobile payments more accessible along with other means to attract tourists to Korea.

Yoon addressed measures to counter the decline in domestic seafood consumption due to public concern over Japan's discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"We will promote the consumption of our seafood by allocating an additional 80 billion won in reserve funds this year," he said.

He said the government will provide discounts of up to 60 percent on key seafood products and distribute so-called "Onnuri gift certificates."

The Onnuri gift certificates were first released in 2009 as a means of supporting traditional markets in Korea.

He said such measures will encourage the purchase of Korean seafood "cheaply and conveniently anywhere, online or in traditional markets."

Yoon called out "fake news" and "false incitement" spreading "groundless rumors" about the potential harmful effects of the Fukushima water release, pledging to "swiftly and boldly provide support to the local seafood industry."

"We will respond actively to groundless myths and instigation and draw up an additional 80 billion won in reserve funds before the end of the year to promote the consumption of local seafood," he said.

"The top policy priority is that of people's livelihood," Yoon said, ordering ministers to "personally visit and inspect every corner of people's livelihoods and make more efforts to ensure that necessary support is immediately provided."

The government also raised the price ceiling for the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act ahead of the Chuseok holiday to encourage spending.

A revision of the act's enforcement ordinance passed in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday and was enacted Wednesday, raising the price ceiling for agricultural and livestock products to 150,000 won from the current 100,000 won and during major holiday seasons, such as Chuseok, from 200,000 won to 300,000 won.

The antigraft law, also known as the Kim Young-ran law, came into effect in 2016 and prohibits public officials, journalists and educators from accepting meals and gifts above a certain price threshold.

The holiday season period applies to 24 days before the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays and five days afterward.

Earlier this week, the People Power Party (PPP) asked the government to make Oct. 2 a temporary holiday to help stimulate the domestic economy.

Starting Thursday, the classification of Covid-19 was lowered by two notches from a Class 2 infectious disease to Class 4, the same as a common flu virus, making this the first Chuseok holiday following a complete return to normalcy.

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