Connecting Past and Future of Korea and Japan

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul visited on May 8 (Thursday) a special exhibition on the Tongsinsa (delegation from the Joseon Dynasty to Japan), which is under way at the Seoul Museum of History under the theme "Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance."

The exhibition, which is being held in cooperation between Korean and Japanese museums to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, features 128 artifacts related to the Tongsinsa. As such, it serves as an opportunity to look back on the footsteps of the Tongsinsa and reflect on the meaning of friendship and exchanges between Korea and Japan.

After taking a look around the exhibition, Minister Cho said, "The Tongsinsa is a symbol of trust, peace and friendship between Korea and Japan. I believe the history of the Tongsinsa, which played a role in not only diplomatic but also civilian exchanges, still offers great implications for both the present and the future of Korea and Japan.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as other government agencies and provincial governments of the two countries have been holding various joint commemorative events. As of May 8 (Thursday), around 100 commemorative projects, including 55 private-sector events, have been carried out with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.