Royal rite to be staged in Paris
A Jongmyo Jeryeak performance is held in central Seoul’s Jongmyo, a royal Confucian shrine. / Korea Time file
By Baek Byung-yeul
To mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France this year, royal ancestral rites, called “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” will be showcased in Paris in September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
The decision was made Sunday during a meeting from Feb. 11 to 13 of officials from both countries in charge of organizing events for the landmark anniversary in Seoul. The meeting was led by Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho and former Louvre Museum Director Henry Loyrette. They agreed to stage Jongmyo Jeryeak as an opening ceremony performance at the Chaillot National Theater in Paris.
Designated as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001, Jongmyo Jeryeak brings together song, dance and musical performance. The performance is held in central Seoul’s Jongmyo, a royal Confucian shrine dedicated to deceased Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) monarchs.
The “2015-2016 France-Korea Year” will begin in France with an exhibition of Korean cultural content. The following year, French cultural contents will be featured in Korea.
According to a foreign ministry statement, Cho said he is looking forward to a successful hosting of the “2015-2016 France-Korea Year,” adding, “This will help boost ties between the two countries.”
Loryette said he hopes, “With a variety of cultural events in Korea and France, the two years of events will develop mutual understanding between the two countries.”
The third meeting to discuss French cultural events in Korea will take place in Paris in June.