Public holidays in South Korea each belong to one or more of three categories:
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Each category has a different legal basis. All National Days are also Flag Raising Days.
National Celebration Days
These days celebrate events considered joyous to Korea. In the beginning, Independence Declaration Day (March 1) was first stipulated in 1946. After the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea in 1948, four major National Celebration Days (Independence Declaration Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, National Foundation Day) were provided by "The Law Concerning the National Celebration Days" (국경일에관한법률) in 1949. In 2005, Hangul Day became the 5th National Celebration day.
National Flag Raising Days
All the National Celebration Days, Memorial Day (half staff), Armed Forces Day are provided by Article 8 of the "National Flag Law" (대한민국국기법 제8조). On these days, the raising of the taegukgi at every house and along every roadside is promoted.
Public Days Off
They are provided by the "Ordinance Concerning the Holidays of Government and Public Offices" (관공서의 공휴일에 관한 규정). This ordinance originally applied only to government and public offices, but most individual business offices also follow it.