Prayer Ceremony for Safe Voyage of the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship to Be Held on the 27th
Highlighting Busan's Maritime Identity and Future Vision Together
The Beomeosa Seongbo Museum (Director and Chief Monk: Jeong-O, head of Geumjeong Chongnim Beomeosa) will participate in the '2025 Joseon Tongsinsa Festival' hosted by the Busan Cultural Foundation.
The Busan Cultural Foundation will hold the '2025 Joseon Tongsinsa Festival' for three days from April 25 to 27, taking place at Bukhang, the original downtown area (Gwangbok-ro), the Joseon Tongsinsa History Museum, and Yongho Byeolbit Park.
This year's festival, held under the theme 'Continuing Tomorrow Together,' marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, and will feature a variety of programs that bridge tradition and modernity.
Sanhae Jeong-O, Chief Monk of Geumjeong Chongnim Beomeosa (Director of the Seongbo Museum), will conduct a prayer ceremony for the safe voyage of the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship at the Beomeosa Daeungjeon Hall at 10:30 a.m. on April 27.
Prior to the prayer ceremony, a tea meeting with officials will be held at the Beomeosa chief monk's office at 10:00 a.m., attended by Oh Jaehwan, CEO of the Busan Cultural Foundation, Lee Eunseok, Director of the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage, and Oishi Takao, Vice Mayor of Shizuoka.
The Joseon Tongsinsa Ship will reenact the sea route between Busan and Osaka in commemoration of 'Korea Day' at the Osaka Expo. The safe voyage prayer ceremony will be held at Beomeosa Daeungjeon Hall, followed by the departure ceremony at Yongho Byeolbit Park in Nam-gu. Next, a ritual to pray for safety to the sea god will be reenacted, revisiting the spirit of the Joseon Tongsinsa's voyage and wishing for maritime safety in a modern context.
In particular, hosting the event at Bukhang carries symbolic significance as it connects the historical departure point of the Joseon Tongsinsa with the modern international passenger terminal. The aim is to go beyond mere historical reenactment and to highlight both the identity and future vision of Busan as a 21st-century maritime exchange city.
In addition, various programs are planned, including an academic symposium by the Joseon Tongsinsa Society, which marks its 20th anniversary, the 'Yumado Performance' in collaboration with the National Gugak Center in Busan, and a drone art show in partnership with the Dong-gu District Office. The drone art show, in particular, will illuminate the night sky of Busan with the theme of the Joseon Tongsinsa, offering a new and moving experience that combines tradition with cutting-edge technology.
Oh Jaehwan, CEO of the Busan Cultural Foundation, said, "The Joseon Tongsinsa Festival is an event for all citizens of Busan to enjoy together. Through the maritime identity of the Joseon Tongsinsa, we aim to connect the historical significance of diplomacy with the vision of Busan as a global maritime city today."
Sanhae Jeong-O, Director of the Beomeosa Seongbo Museum (Chief Monk), said, "For several years, before the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship's voyage, staff from the Busan Cultural Foundation and the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage visited Beomeosa to pray. Their sincere visits left a deep impression on me, and I have always supported this meaningful journey. I am pleased that, on the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, Beomeosa can contribute to revisiting the spirit of the Joseon Tongsinsa and joining Busan, a global maritime city, on this path. I thank all those involved for their efforts and pray for the safe voyage of the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship."
The Beomeosa Seongbo Museum (Director and Chief Monk: Sanhae Jeong-O) signed a memorandum of understanding on March 17 with the Busan Cultural Foundation (CEO: Oh Jaehwan) and the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage (Director: Lee Eunseok) to promote cultural exchange between Korea and Japan through the Joseon Tongsinsa.
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