Historic Korean diplomatic boat arrives in Osaka, rekindling cultural ties
Culture Minister Yu In-chon delivers a message during a ceremony celebrating the arrival of a reconstructed boat reenacting the "Joseon Tongsinsa" procession in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
OSAKA, Japan — A reconstructed wooden boat reenacting the voyages of diplomatic missions during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty arrived in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday, helping to celebrate the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.
The boat departed from Busan on April 28, sailing 1,311 kilometers across the Korea Strait to Osaka via Japan's Tsushima Island and the cities of Shimonoseki, Kure, Fukuyama and Tatsuno.
Called "Joseon Tongsinsa," the Joseon-era diplomatic mission included diplomats, scholars, musicians, writers, artists and others who served as cultural ambassadors. The last voyage to Osaka was in 1764.
“No better symbol represents the strong ties between Korea and Japan than the Joseon Tongsinsa,” said Culture Minister Yu In-chon during a ceremony welcoming the boat’s arrival in Osaka.
“Today, younger generations in Korea and Japan enjoy each other’s music, dramas, films and animations, transcending geographical boundaries, which will lay the foundation for future relations.”
Osaka city government officials and residents also attended the ceremony to welcome the boat and highlight the long-standing, if sometimes turbulent, relationship between Korea and Japan.
“I can’t believe my eyes,” said Yuko Sugiyama, an Osaka resident and member of the Society of the Aqua City Osaka. “I’m happy to see the boat and reflect on our historical exchanges.”
Osaka residents celebrate the arrival of a recreation of a historic Korean diplomatic boat in their city during a ceremony at a port in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
The historic reenactment 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 that had been damaged by Japan’s 35-year occupation of Korea, from 1910 to 1945.
The boat’s arrival coincided with Korea Day at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai and a recreated Joseon Tongsinsa procession — including Korean and Japanese participants, many of them children — which began at the Korea Pavilion.
The Korea Pavilion, which opened as part of the expo on April 13, showcases video displays, light shows and hydrogen energy technology from Korea in an abstract way.
Korea Day events celebrated the nation’s cultural achievements and appealing tourism opportunities at a separate location in Osaka.
Under the theme "Korea Collection," festivities began with a live performance by K-pop singer K.Will, followed by a K-beauty demonstration showcasing summer makeup trends by celebrity makeup artists Happyrim and Hanjji. A hanbok (traditional Korean attire) fashion show presented 25 traditional and contemporary designs curated by artistic director Seo Young-hee.
Visitors watch the "Joseon Tongsinsa" procession at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro, known for his role in the Coupang Play drama "What Comes After Love" (2024), was appointed an honorary ambassador for Korean tourism during the event. Fluent in Korean, Sakaguchi will appear in tourism campaigns targeting the Japanese market throughout the next year.
The Korea Tourism Organization also launched the Korea Tourism Festa, promoting the country as a travel destination with 54 travel booths.
Tuesday's event concluded with "M Concert," featuring six groups. The lineup included TWS, ViViZ, Kep1er, ME:1, Hi-Fi Un!corn and Jung Yong-hwa from CNBLUE. The idol groups performed popular Korean drama soundtracks and K-pop songs as well as their own music.
Meanwhile, four promotional videos were screened on the exterior and inside the lobby of the Korea Pavilion under the title “Imagine Your Korea.”
The videos showcased iconic sites such as Gyeongbok Palace, Jeonju Hanok Village, Dadohaehaesang National Park and Busan’s Gwangan Bridge. Additional videos screened in the lobby explored themes such as “Nature of Korea,” “Korea at Night” and “Unique Korean Experiences."