Gohung County Welcomes the Arrival of the 'Joseon Tongsinsa Ship' to Commemorate the 48th World Heritage Committee Meeting

"Wishing for the Gohung Tidal Flats to be Inscribed as a World Heritage Site"

Rich Program Featuring Sailing Experiences and On-Board Performances

Gohung County, Jeonnam Gwangju Special Unified City, announced that it will hold a maritime cultural event linked to the "Joseon Tongsinsa Ships" around Nokdong Port from July 11 to 13 to commemorate the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting held in Busan.

This event, co-hosted with the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, has been organized to promote both the historical significance and excellence of the Gohung Sea to domestic and international audiences.

Goheung County will hold a maritime cultural event linked to the "Joseon Tongsinsa Ship" in the area around Nokdong Port from July 11 to 13, to commemorate the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting held in Busan. Provided by Goheung County

In particular, the event will spotlight the "Gohung Tidal Flats," which are on the UNESCO tentative list and one of this year’s inscription review items, as well as the waters of the "Jeolido Naval Battle," a historic site of Admiral Yi Sun-shin’s great victory but previously little known. Additionally, it is especially meaningful that Nokdong Port in Gohung is the first port of call for the replica Joseon Tongsinsa Ship, which departs from Mokpo.

The opening ceremony, celebrating the ship’s arrival, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the dock in front of the Nokdong Port Suhyup in Doyang-eup. The event will commence with a performance by a traditional military band, followed by introductions of VIPs, welcoming remarks and congratulatory speeches, a commemorative photo session, and, after the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to experience sailing on the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship.

The "sailing experience," held twice daily (10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) during the event, is available to those who reserve in advance. Participants will be able to tour the interior of a traditional Korean ship and listen to engaging maritime historical explanations from a cultural commentator during the voyage.

In addition, on-board performances by Gohung County’s dedicated performing arts troupe, including boatmen’s songs and samulnori (traditional percussion quartet), will offer a rich cultural spectacle. Visitors who have not made a prior reservation can still freely tour the ship’s interior while it is docked, without any need for a separate booking.

Colorful nighttime events will further energize the festival atmosphere. At 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, a special drone show and fireworks display will take place at Nokdong Port. The Nokdong Port drone show, which is one of Gohung County’s signature nighttime tourist attractions, will illuminate the night sky with a theme celebrating the hosting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting.

Additionally, a photo zone featuring "Brave Cookies on the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship" using the Cookie Run characters from Devsisters Co., Ltd. will be set up at the event site, offering a unique experience for families and visitors.

An official from the county’s Culture and Sports Department stated, "It is highly meaningful that Nokdong Port in Gohung was selected as the first port of call for the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship to commemorate the hosting of the World Heritage Committee meeting. We hope this event serves as a significant stepping stone toward the inscription of the Gohung Tidal Flats as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we will continue to do our utmost to promote the outstanding maritime culture of the Gohung Sea to the world."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.