Lee Joong-keun Proposes UN Day as National Holiday, Pledges UN Headquarters-Scale Building in Seoul

Lee Joong-keun, head of the Booyoung Group and president of the UN Association of the Republic of Korea, has suggested designating October 24 as a national holiday to honor the founding of the United Nations. The South Korean businessman also pledged to fund the construction of a building as large as the UN headquarters in New York if his proposal is approved.

The plan seeks to recognize the international community's support during the Korean War while boosting South Korea's role in global diplomacy and cooperation. At a ceremony marking the 81st UN Day on October 23, Lee stressed that elevating UN Day to a national holiday would allow South Koreans to express gratitude to those who helped the nation recover from war and foster its economic growth.

The initiative aims to attract UN agencies to Seoul, potentially establishing the city as a hub for international peace and prosperity. While specific details of the proposed building, location, construction timeline, and potential tenant organizations remain undisclosed, the initiative builds upon Lee's previous efforts to commemorate UN member states' contributions during the Korean War.

In 2015, he funded memorial installations honoring these nations at the Peace Plaza of the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul. The UN Day observance, which occurs annually on October 24, commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. In 1971, the UN General Assembly recommended that member states observe the day as a public holiday, but South Korea discontinued the designation in 1976.

This year's ceremony, attended by approximately 350 people, included Lee, the Foreign Minister, and representatives from various sectors. The government's first joint UN Day commemoration in 51 years has reignited public interest in the holiday's historical significance. In September, 11 lawmakers introduced a bill to add UN Day to South Korea's list of national holidays, currently consisting of five.

The proposed legislation is under review by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.