Preview of the ‘Hwanan-je’ event on the afternoon of the 20th
■ The Royal Shrine “Jongmyo Jeongjeon”, a Historic Site
The Jongmyo Jeongjeon, a shrine of the Joseon royal family, will be publicly reopened after five years of extensive repairs.
■ Restoring the Spirits to Their Original Place After 155 Years
A special event will be held to return the 49 spirit tablets of Joseon’s kings and queens, and the emperors and empresses of the Korean Empire, which were temporarily housed at the old Seonwonjeon in Changdeokgung Palace. This “Hwanan-je” event is being held for the first time in 155 years, since 1870 during King Gojong’s reign.
■ A Grand Procession Featuring a Team of 1,100 and 28 Special Palanquins
Approximately 1,100 participants, including 150 locals and 50 foreigners, will join a grand procession that will traverse 3.5 km from Anguk Station through Gwanghwamun. After the procession, a “safe return” ceremony will follow.
The Jongmyo Jeongjeon, constructed in 1395 by King Taejo Yi Seong-gye, has been a site for royal ancestral rites for over 600 years and showcases the essence of traditional Korean architecture. It was designated as a National Treasure in 1985 and Jongmyo was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
However, a 2014 safety inspection revealed structural cracks, falling roof tiles, and aging wood, prompting the National Heritage Administration to begin restoration in 2020. This marked the first major refurbishment in about 30 years since 1991. A representative from the National Heritage Administration’s Gungneung Heritage Division said they replaced all 70,000 roof tiles with handmade ones and swapped out cement mortar in front of the Jeongjeon with handmade bricks.
The Hwanan-je will commence at 2 PM on the 20th when the 49 spirit tablets leave Changdeokgung’s Geumhomun. The procession will include traditional performances like folk plays, tightrope walking, and dances at Gwanghwamun’s lawn area. The route will extend through Sejong-daero and Jongno, reaching Jongmyo over two hours.
This event is recreated based on records from the “Jongmyo Yeongnyeongjeon Jeungsudogam Uigwe” compiled during King Heonjong’s reign (1834–1849). Specially crafted palanquins for the spirit tablets will be featured, sourced from across the country. The palanquin production involved skilled artisans recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage contributors.
After arriving at Jongmyo, a ceremony to report the safe restoration of the Jongmyo Jeongjeon and a completion commemoration will take place starting at 6:30 PM. The ceremony is a ritual to inform related spirits of significant national, social, or familial changes. About 200 people, guided by the Jeonju Yi Clan’s main association, will conduct the ceremony in accordance with traditional protocols.
From the 26th, a week-long cultural event showcasing the “Myohyeonrye” ceremony will be held at Jongmyo. Myohyeonrye was a tradition where a queen or crown princess paid respects to the spirits of past kings and queens at Jongmyo after marriage. A creative musical, “Myohyeon, the Queen’s Record,” will depict the Myohyeonrye of Queen Inwon, King Sukjong’s third queen, in 1703. Night performances of Jongmyo Jeryeak—a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—will also take place starting the 24th. Additionally, the Jeonju Yi Clan association announced the annual Jongmyo Daeje will be held at the Jeongjeon on May 4th, in addition to Yeongnyeongjeon, marking a return to tradition following the Jeongjeon’s repair period.