Joseon Tongsinsa: Peacebuilding ship sets sail for Osaka

A while back we covered an elaborate reenactment of a centuries-old diplomatic mission that begins in Korea and ends in Japan.

That mission is now re-enacting its trip to the neighboring country having set sail from Busan last week.

Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin has more.

The final stop on Korean soil for the Joseon Tongsinsa, Korea's diplomatic missions to Japan during the 17th to 19th centuries, was the port city of Busan.

After arriving from Seoul, hundreds of envoys boarded ships bound for Japan.

Every year, this historic moment is revived through the Joseon Tongsinsa Festival.

Dressed in traditional Korean attire, hundreds of participants march through Busan, retracing the footsteps of the original envoys.

"It's my first time participating, but it really made me reflect more deeply on Korea's relationship with Japan, such as the colonial era."

"When I filled the form for this event, I did look it up, and it was like, it was a good historical piece that I got to know."

And completing the recreation, the Tongsinsa ship has also been meticulously brought back to life.

"This vessel, modeled after the original Tongsinsa ships, will set sail for Japan.

By mid-May, the vessel is set to arrive in Osaka."

This marks the first time in 261 years that the route to Osaka is being taken.

The man behind this reconstruction is Hong Sun-jae, who has spent a decade bringing the historic vessel back to life.

Since 2015, he's collected historical documents, studied ancient ship models, and traveled across the country to find the right timber.

The ship launched in 2018, made its first voyage to Japan in 2023, and this year, it's heading farther than ever before.

"This year marks 60 years since South Korea and Japan normalized diplomatic ties.

Our ship will hold an arrival ceremony in Osaka on May 13th, Korea Day at the Osaka World Expo.

Through this journey, we hope to promote peace and remind people that our two countries share a long history of connection, not just conflict."

Having departed from Busan on April 28th, the ship will visit multiple ports in Japan, hosting exhibitions and performances, just as the Joseon Tongsinsa envoys did centuries ago to share Korean culture.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Busan.