[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has selected the 'Totem Pole' as the first Marine Artifact of the Month for the new year.
The Totem Pole is a monument commemorating the sister port relationship between Incheon Port and Vancouver Port, established in July 1994. It is installed at the Incheon Port lock gate and has remained there ever since.
Resembling Korea's Jangseung (wooden totem poles), the Totem Pole is a wooden sculpture created by Native Americans from the West Coast of North America, symbolizing peace, well-being, and communication between humans and nature. It was donated from Vancouver Port to Incheon Port to commemorate the sister port relationship.
This Totem Pole was held and managed by the Incheon Port Authority since 2005, but in December last year, it was donated back to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in hopes of contributing to the construction project of the National Incheon Maritime Museum.
After undergoing preservation treatment, the Totem Pole is scheduled to be installed in the outdoor exhibition hall of the National Incheon Maritime Museum, which is set to open in 2024, to welcome visitors.
Incheon City and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries are promoting artifact donations to Incheon citizens and the entire nation to secure marine artifacts for exhibition at the museum.
The exhibition plans to showcase the lives of those who have lived by the sea, including fish market merchants, auctioneers, fishermen, sailors, and port workers. To this end, various marine materials such as fishing and navigation tools are being collected through donations.
An official from Incheon City stated, "Through the monthly 'Marine Artifact of the Month' introduction, we aim to inform citizens of the value of precious marine cultural heritage," and added, "We ask for the public's great interest and participation in the artifact donation campaign for the construction of the National Incheon Maritime Museum."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
