Busan City Holds 432nd Anniversary Memorial Rite for Imjin War at Chungnyeolsa Shrine

At 10 a.m. on the 25th, Memorial Rite for the Outbreak of the Imjin War at Chungnyeolsa Main Hall and Uiyeolgak

Commemorating the Patriotic Spirit of 93 Martyrs Including Deputy Governor Song Sanghyeon Every May 25

To commemorate the 432nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Imjin War (1592), the city of Busan will hold the 'Chungnyeolsa Memorial Rite' at 10 a.m. on the 25th at the main hall and Uiyeolgak of Chungnyeolsa Shrine, honoring the patriotic spirit and noble intentions of the national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The term 'Jesa-hyang' refers to a state ritual or memorial service, while 'Bonghaeng' means to perform such a ritual or ceremony.

The event will be attended by Lee Joonseung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, along with members of the National Assembly, city and district council members, Confucian scholars, and descendants of the fallen heroes. Park Jungmook, Vice Chairman of the Busan City Council, will serve as the chief officiant (Chohon-gwan), leading the memorial rite.

The memorial rite will be held simultaneously at the main hall and Uiyeolgak of Chungnyeolsa Shrine. The ceremony will proceed in the following order: declaration of commencement, bowing by officiants, bowing by participants, incense offering and ritual wine offering by the chief officiant, floral tribute and memorial address by the Deputy Mayor on behalf of the President, and incense offering by participants. The entire ceremony is expected to last about 50 minutes.

The officiants participating in this year’s memorial rite are as follows: Chief Officiant (Park Jungmook, Vice Chairman of Busan City Council), Second Officiant (Jung Jaewoo, representative of the descendants of General Jeong Bal, commander of Busanjin Fortress, and Lee Myeongnam, President of the Busan Chapter of the Sungkyunkwan Women’s Confucian Association), Third Officiant (Kang Injoong, citizen officiant), Ritual Reader (Kim Junghwan, Chungnyeolsa Anrakseowon), and Master of Ceremonies (Yang Deokjin, Chungnyeolsa Anrakseowon), among a total of nine officiants.

In addition, the entire process of the memorial rite will be broadcast live on an LED screen, providing a visual experience for participants and encouraging broader participation.

Deputy Mayor Lee Joonseung stated, “Through this memorial rite honoring the patriotism and spirit of sacrifice of our forebears, we hope to remember the noble achievements of those who defended our nation and create a meaningful occasion to build a new future for Busan and our people.”

Chungnyeolsa Shrine, designated as a municipal tangible cultural heritage site, enshrines the memorial tablets of 93 national heroes, including Song Sanghyeon, the magistrate of Dongnae; Jeong Bal, the commander of Busanjin Fortress; and Yoon Heungshin, the commander of Dadaejin Fortress, as well as other civilians, government officials, and soldiers who fell fighting the Japanese invaders during the Imjin War. Every year on May 25, the city holds the Chungnyeolsa Memorial Rite to honor these fallen heroes.

On the 432nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Imjin War (1592), a memorial rite called the 'Chungnyeolsa Jehyang' will be held at 10 a.m. on the 25th at Chungnyeolsa Shrine to commemorate the patriotic spirit of the national martyrs and honor their noble intentions. (Photo from last year's rite)