[K-MOVE] Reproduction of 'Joseon Tongsinsa' Ship

"Tongsinsa" was a diplomatic goodwill mission dispatched by the court of Korea's ancient Joseon Dynasty to Japan.

The ship of "Joseon Tongsinsa", which is known to have plied between Joseon and Japan for some 12 times, has been reproduced after 200 years and made a maiden voyage.

Capable of carrying more than 100 passengers, the 34-meter-long, nine-meter-wide vessel was the biggest one at that time.

It is known that a total of 900 high-quality pine trees have been used to build the life-size replica of the "Joseon Tongsinsa" ship for the first time.


[Hong Sun-Jae, art and science researcher]
"It's very hard to acquire the pine trees."

The vessel which looks very close to the real one has been restored after three years of thorough historical research.

The builders of the ship newly discovered that it was richly ornamented with multicolored paintwork, called "Dancheong", and silk fabric. Dancheong refers to Korea's traditional decorative coloring on wooden buildings and artifacts for the purpose of style.

[Chung Jae-Suk, head of Cultural Heritage Administration]
"The reproduction of the 'Joseon Tongsinsa' ship is not a simple restoration. We will utilize the ship to be a goodwill mission to set up a new cultural and friendly relationship between Korea and Japan."


The replica will also serve as a museum displaying historical information on the ancient "Joseon Tongsinsa" ship and the Joseon Dynasty's other vessels and will be operated during various maritime festivals.