Reenactment Begins at Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul on April 22
To Pass Through Busan and Osaka, Concluding in Tokyo in September
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, the Joseon Tongsinsa procession, which symbolized "Seongsingyorin" (friendship based on sincerity and trust) between the two countries, will be reenacted.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 22 that, in cooperation with the Busan Cultural Foundation, it will reenact the Joseon Tongsinsa procession. The event will begin at Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul, pass through Busan, Osaka, and Yokohama in Japan, and conclude in Tokyo at the end of September.
The first reenactment event will take place at 3 p.m. on April 24 at Gyeonghuigung Palace. The program will begin with a dance troupe performance, followed by the appointment ceremony of the envoys, a royal marching band (Chwita) performance, and a traditional percussion band (Pungmulpae) performance, presenting a simplified version of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession. Musical actor Nam Kyungjoo will play the role of the king, and the mother of the late Lee Soo-hyun, a hero from Shin-Okubo Station, will participate as the chief envoy, adding significance to the event.
From April 25 to 27, the reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession will continue in Busan, accompanied by street performances and a drone show. The Joseon Tongsinsa ship will then follow the actual route from Busan to Osaka (Busan?Tsushima?Shimonoseki?Kure?Fukuyama?Setouchi?Tatsuno?Osaka), with onboard museum exhibitions and performances along the way. On May 13, during Korea Day at the Osaka Expo, a ceremony and performances will be held at a nearby dock to celebrate the arrival of the Joseon Tongsinsa ship. The official Expo parade will also feature a reenactment of the procession. In July, the National Gugak Center in Busan will stage the creative dance drama "Yumado," depicting the journey of the envoys, in Yokohama. The Joseon Tongsinsa procession will conclude in Tokyo at the end of September, where over 210 participants, including local children, will take part in a large-scale reenactment, and events such as the Korea-Japan Cultural Conference and various cultural and artistic programs will be held.
Traditional Craft Exhibition Held at the Korea Cultural Center in Osaka [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
In addition to the reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession, a variety of events will be held throughout the year to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. The Seoul Museum of History will host a special exhibition on Joseon-era envoys, titled "Friendship of the Heart, Resonance Like Waves," from April 25 to June 29. With special cooperation from the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the Osaka Museum of History, and the National Institute of Korean History, 128 artifacts?including procession paintings and collections of written dialogues held by both countries?will be on display. A range of side events, including an international academic conference, film screenings, and children's educational programs, will also be offered.
Previously, in March, the Korean Cultural Center in Japan hosted an exhibition and forum where visitors could experience traditional Korean culture, including Hanbok, Korean cuisine, and Hanji. On April 19 in Tokyo, a joint performance was held featuring Jongmyo Jeryeak, a Korean intangible cultural heritage, and Kumiodori, a Japanese intangible cultural heritage.
Other upcoming events include a gala concert by Korean and Japanese classical artists (June 17, Tokyo); a dance drama produced by the National Intangible Heritage Center that showcases the crafts of Seonjajang (fan making) and Najeonjang (mother-of-pearl inlay), both intangible cultural heritages (June 28, Osaka); and a collaborative performance by the Heart-Heart Orchestra, comprised of musicians with developmental disabilities, and a local marimba player (August 26, Osaka).
The national museums of both countries (the National Museum of Korea and the Tokyo National Museum) plan to hold exchange exhibitions featuring their representative collections to showcase each other's cultures. The National Museum of Korea will host the first exhibition from June to August, followed by the Tokyo National Museum from February to April next year.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Yokohama Museum of Art are also planning to hold a Korea-Japan contemporary art exhibition this December. The "K-Tourism Roadshow," promoting Korea as a travel destination, will be held in Aomori (March 20), Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo (April 8?10), and Sapporo (May 17?18). In the second half of the year, a friendly baseball match between Korean and Japanese high school teams will also take place in Korea.
Yoon Yangsoo, Director-General for International Cultural Promotion at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "The Joseon Tongsinsa was a symbol of diplomatic trust and cultural exchange between the two countries. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, I hope we can reflect on its historical significance and open new paths of cooperation for the future."
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