The government is moving to designate the day before National Liberation Day next week as a temporary holiday in a bid to spur patriotism, a government official said Sunday.
  
This year's 70th anniversary of Korea's Aug. 15 independence from Japan falls on a Saturday with the government planning to designate the Friday before the anniversary as a temporary holiday.
  
The plan will be put up for discussion during the Cabinet meeting to be presided by President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday, the official said. Park has not made a decision, but she's likely to go for it, the official added.
  
After the home affairs ministry reviews the pros and cons of the plan, the final decision will be made in a Cabinet meeting on Aug. 11, the official noted.
  
The plan is designed to bolster public feelings of national pride as well as to help recover the economy, recently affected by the potentially deadly outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
  
If approved, all government and public institutions will be closed on the holiday while private businesses are allowed to decide for themselves whether to follow suit. (Yonhap)