Starting from Gyeonghuigung Palace on the 24th… Passing through Busan, Osaka, and Yokohama to reach Tokyo in September
[Seoul=Newsis] Jeongsa Hong Gye-hui on a palanquin, part of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Choi Hee-jung – In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced on the 22nd that it will reenact the “Joseon Tongsinsa” procession, starting from Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul and proceeding to Busan, Osaka, Yokohama, and Tokyo. This journey to Osaka, Japan, marks the first in approximately 261 years since the envoy of 1764. Various performances, exhibitions, and the reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession will take place.
The first reenactment event is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the 24th at Gyeonghuigung Palace. Starting with a dance troupe performance, the event will include appointments of three envoys, military band performances, and a traditional music group to briefly reenact the Joseon Tongsinsa procession. Musical actor Nam Kyung-joo will play the king, and the mother of the late Lee Soo-hyun (a personification at Shin-Okubo Station) will participate as an envoy.
From April 25 to 27, the procession will be reenacted through street performances and a drone show in Busan. Subsequently, the Joseon Tongsinsa ship will follow the actual route from Busan to Osaka, featuring onboard museum exhibitions and performances.
On May 13, which is Korea Day at the Osaka Expo, an entrance ceremony and performances will take place at a nearby pier, along with an official procession of the Joseon Tongsinsa.
In July, the National Gugak Center in Busan will perform the creative dance drama “Yumado” in Yokohama, depicting the journey of the Tongsinsa. The final part of the Joseon Tongsinsa voyage will be held in Tokyo.
[Seoul=Newsis] A traditional craft exhibition hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
At the end of September in Tokyo, a large-scale reenactment involving over 210 participants, including local children, will be held alongside the “Korea-Japan Cultural Conference” and other cultural and artistic events.
Related exhibitions on the Joseon Tongsinsa can also be explored. Starting with an opening ceremony on the 24th of this month, the Seoul Museum of History will host the Joseon Era Tongsinsa Special Exhibition “Companionship of the Mind, Resonance Like Waves” from April 25 to June 29.
With special collaboration from the Edo-Tokyo Museum and Osaka Museum of History in Japan, and the National History Compilation Committee, 128 artifacts, including Tongsinsa processions and calligraphy-painting books owned by both countries, will be displayed. These showcase various records of the procession, as well as works by literary and artistic figures who accompanied them. Additional events include a Korea-Japan international academic conference, film screenings, and children’s educational programs.
Furthermore, in collaboration with domestic public institutions such as the National Gugak Center, National Museum of Korea, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the National Intangible Heritage Center, cultural exchange events commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization will be held throughout the year.
[Seoul=Newsis] Hanbok walking performance hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Japan. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
Cultural exchanges between civilians and youth will also be promoted. Bicycle enthusiasts from both countries will ride together along bike paths in Korea and Japan, and about 600 outstanding youths from 15 sports will be invited to engage in exchanges. In the second half of the year, a Korea-Japan high school baseball exchange match will take place in Korea.
Yoon Yang-soo, Director of the International Cultural Promotion and Policy Division 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. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization, we hope to reflect on its historical significance and open new avenues for future collaboration.”