Koreans to Enjoy Make-up Holidays for Buddha's Birthday, Christmas

Make-up holidays will now also be introduced for Buddha's Birthday and Christmas if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

Buddha's Birthday falls on Saturday (May 27) this year and the make-up holiday on the following Monday. 

The Ministry of Personnel Management made the announcement on Wednesday. 

That will bring the total number of official days off including weekends to 117 this year. 

Minister of Personnel Management Kim Seung-ho said, "We expect that this revision will help ensure the right to sufficient rest for workers and galvanize the economy, including boosting consumption and propping up regional economies." 

Koreans work 1,915 hours a year compared with the OECD average of 1,716 hours.