A replica of a ship used by Korea’s Joseon Dynasty for diplomatic missions to Japan during the Edo Period is set to make a historic journey to Shimonoseki, 260 years after the original voyage.
The replica, which is 34 meters long, 9.3 meters wide, and 3 meters high, will arrive in Shimonoseki for the Bakan Matsuri festival on August 24-25. This visit marks the 20th anniversary of the festival’s re-enactment of the “Joseon Tongsinsa” processions.
Created by South Korea’s National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage, the vessel was completed in 2018 after extensive research and cost approximately 2.15 billion won ($1.5 million). The Joseon Dynasty first sent diplomatic missions to Japan in 1607, with the last journey to Shimonoseki occurring in 1764.
Before docking in Shimonoseki, the ship will also visit Tsushima and Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture. The Bakan Matsuri will feature traditional Korean performances and ship tours, with a symposium scheduled for August 23.
