Reconstructed 'Joseon Tongsinsa' boat sets sail to celebrate Korea-Japan relations

A boat to reenact the voyages of diplomatic envoys during the Joseon Dynasty leaves port in Busan, Monday. Yonhap

A reconstructed wooden boat to reenact the voyages of diplomatic envoys during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) set sail from Busan on Monday for Osaka, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations.

Called "Joseon Tongsinsa," the diplomatic missions involved envoys sent from the Joseon Dynasty to Japan to promote bilateral ties. Each mission typically included between 100 and 500 members, consisting of government officials, scholars, artists, musicians, writers and others.

The reconstructed boat will head to Osaka, where it is expected to arrive on May 13. Historically, the mission would disembark there before continuing their inland journey to Tokyo.

“A Tongsinsa boat is setting sail to Osaka for the first time in the 261 years since the last voyage ended. I’m excited, but also nervous because of the historic significance of what we are doing,” Hong Soon-jae, a researcher at the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage who helped start the project, told The Korea Times by phone from aboard the boat.

A ceremony will be held for the boat's arrival in Japan. In September, a reenactment of the Tongsinsa procession will take place in Tokyo, involving 210 local children.

The reenactment project commemorates the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.

On June 22, 1965, the two countries signed the Treaty on Basic Relations, restoring ties after Japan’s 35-year occupation of Korea, which ended with Korea’s liberation in 1945.

Hong, who also designed the boat, recalled the hardships encountered during construction.

“We had the design but couldn’t find the right wood. So we traveled all over Korea to find it,” he said, noting that they collected 900 trees to build the vessel.

More Tongsinsa-centered events are scheduled to take place throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary.

An ongoing exhibition at the Seoul Museum of History features 128 paintings, documents and objects related to Joseon Tongsinsa and runs through June 29.

On June 17, classical artists from both countries will perform a joint concert in Tokyo, followed by a dance performance by Korea’s National Intangible Heritage Center in Osaka on June 28. This performance will also showcase the artwork of traditional fan makers and mother-of-pearl lacquerware artists.

The National Museum of Korea will open an exhibition in June featuring artifacts from the Tokyo National Museum, with a reciprocal exhibition planned at the Tokyo National Museum next February.

The Busan National Gugak Center will premiere a dance performance, "Yumado," depicting the journey, in July.

On Aug. 26, a classical music concert will highlight musicians with disabilities alongside a marimba artist in Osaka.

In September, a conference on Korea-Japan culture is scheduled, along with other cultural events.

In December, Korea's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and Japan's Yokohama Museum of Art will present a joint exhibition of modern artists from Korea and Japan. The venue is yet to be announced.

The celebrations will also extend to sports. Amateur cyclists will be invited to tour both countries, and an exchange program involving 600 talented young athletes will be organized.