Osaka Expo to Be Immersed in Korea's National Heritage

Cultural Heritage Administration and National Heritage Promotion Agency
to Host "Korea Week" at the Expo

Korea's national heritage will be prominently featured at the 2025 Osaka·Kansai Expo. On May 13, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Heritage Promotion Agency announced that they would be hosting "Korea Week" at the Expo's Festival Station and the plaza in front of the Korea Pavilion through May 17. The "Korea on Stage" event, which includes traditional performances by intangible heritage masters and a media art exhibition, aims to share the historical significance and cultural value of Korea's national heritage with a global audience.

Media Art Interpreting the Value of National Heritage in a Contemporary Way

The traditional performance "Yein: Soul of Life" will feature three holders of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Pansori master Shin Younghee will express the joys and sorrows of the Korean people through song, acting, and drama. Chae Sangmook, a master of Seungmu, will showcase the beauty of traditional folk dance with elegant movements. Lee Jaehwa, a master of Geomungo Sanjo, will create a lively atmosphere with deep and clear tones.

In the plaza in front of the Korea Pavilion, "Nori: Harmony in Motion" will be performed. The National Heritage Promotion Agency's art troupe will present powerful and dynamic traditional performances such as Gijeopnori, Lion Dance, and Sogo Dance.

Media art interpreting the value of national heritage in a contemporary way can be experienced inside the Korea Pavilion. A massive LED screen, 27 meters wide and 10 meters high, will vividly display images such as Sipjangsaeng, Irwolobongdo, Hansanmosi, and Inwangjesaekdo.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will also launch the "National Heritage Visit Campaign" to encourage the interest generated by the Expo to lead to tourism. The campaign will introduce ten national heritage visit course trails and seventy-six key sites, focusing on World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage. In particular, the "National Heritage Visitor Passport Tour," which allows visitors to collect stamps at each course, will be highlighted. A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "This is a popular program that attracted 180,000 participants from 2023 to last year," and added, "We expect the number to surpass 400,000 this year."