The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 22nd that it will re-enact the Joseon Tongsinsa procession to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan. The Joseon Tongsinsa procession will begin in April at Gyeonghui Palace in Seoul and continue through Busan, Japan's Osaka, Yokohama, and conclude in Tokyo in September.
The first re-enactment event will take place at Gyeonghui Palace on the 24th. It will feature a performance by a dance troupe, followed by the appointment ceremony for judges and performances by a military band and a folk music ensemble, re-enacting the Joseon Tongsinsa procession in a simplified format.
From the 25th to the 27th, the Joseon Tongsinsa procession will be re-enacted in Busan alongside street performances and a drone show. The Joseon Tongsinsa ship, which departed from Busan, will follow the actual route traveled to Osaka, showcasing exhibitions and performances on board.
On May 13, Korean Day at the Osaka Expo, a ceremony to commemorate the ship's arrival and a performance will be held at a nearby dock, along with a re-enactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession during the official parade of the expo.
In July, the Busan National Gugak Center will perform the original dance drama 'Yumado,' depicting the journey of the Tongsinsa in Yokohama.
The final part of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession will be adorned in Tokyo. At the end of September, over 210 participants, including local children, will re-enact the large-scale procession in Tokyo, alongside the 'Korea-Japan Cultural Conference' and cultural arts events.
Yoon Yang-soo, the head of the International Cultural Promotion Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted, 'The Joseon Tongsinsa symbolized diplomatic trust and cultural exchange between the two countries,' and expressed hope that 'this 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan will remind us of its historical significance and open new paths for future cooperation.'