| ▲ This photo of Jeongjeon Jehyang ritual is proivded by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). |
SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- The "Jongmyo Jerye," a royal ancestral ritual honoring the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, will be held at the Jongmyo Shrine’s main hall (Jeongjeon) on May 4 and open to the public for the first time in six years, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said Wednesday.
Co-hosted by the KHS, the Korea Heritage Agency, and the Jongmyo Jerye Preservation Committee, the ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of May, in keeping with tradition.
The Jongmyo Jerye, also known as the Royal Ancestral Ritual, is the most significant and elaborate rite of the Joseon royal family. First revived in 1969, it has since been held annually. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the rite was performed without an audience in 2020 and 2021. From 2022 to 2024, it was temporarily relocated to Yeongnyeongjeon Hall while Jeongjeon underwent restoration work.
| ▲ This poster of the "Jongmyo Jerye," a royal ancestral ritual honoring the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, is provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The KHS recently completed repairs on the Jeongjeon Hall and will hold a Hwananje (return ritual) on April 20 to ceremonially bring back the spirit tablets of Joseon kings and queens, as well as emperors and empresses of the Korean Empire, which were temporarily enshrined at Seonwonjeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace during the construction.
The May 4 event will begin at 10 a.m. with a ritual at Yeongnyeongjeon, followed by a royal procession from Gwanghwamun Gate in Gyeongbokgung Palace to Jongmyo Shrine. The main ritual at Jeongjeon will start at 2 p.m. and is open to the public through reservation (400 spots on a first-come, first-served basis) or on-site registration (300 spots). Seniors aged 65 and older, persons with disabilities, and national merit awardees can reserve by calling 1588-7890.
The ceremony will also be livestreamed via the CHA and Gungneung TV YouTube channels.
"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Jongmyo Jerye’s designation as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 30th anniversary of Jongmyo Shrine’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adding to the event’s significance," the CHA said.
In celebration, the CHA will designate April 24 to May 4 as “Jongmyo Week,” during which a variety of cultural experience programs will be offered. For details, visit the CHA or Korea Heritage Service websites, or call the program hotline at 1522-2295.
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