Sejong Memorial Ceremony Held Simply to Honor Him... Due to COVID-19 Impact

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Royal Tombs and Relics Headquarters announced on the 12th that the Memorial Ceremony (崇慕祭典) commemorating the 623rd birthday of King Sejong the Great will be held at 11 a.m. on the 15th at Yeongneung (英陵), the royal tomb of King Sejong in Yeoju.

The Memorial Ceremony honors the remarkable achievements of King Sejong the Great. Every year on his birthday (May 15th, solar calendar), the ceremony includes the offering of incense and libations by the chief officiant (Director of the King Sejong Heritage Management Office), the reading of the ritual prayer by the ritual officer, and the offering of flowers and incense by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism on behalf of the President, following the order of the Memorial Rite (崇慕祭享).

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, experiential side events will be omitted. The Memorial Ceremony will also be held simply, inviting only about fifty people including royal family members, representatives of related organizations, and Hangul-related groups. The Cultural Heritage Administration and Yeoju City (Yeoju Sejong Cultural Foundation) will provide an online live broadcast so that the general public can watch the event. History lecturer Choi Tae-sung will participate to explain the Memorial Rite ceremony.

Meanwhile, the Royal Tombs and Relics Headquarters of the Cultural Heritage Administration will resume tours of Yeongneung and Neungneung (寧陵) in three stages starting from the day after the Memorial Ceremony, the 16th. The royal tomb space of King Sejong, which has been previously open through the King's Forest Trail, will now include ritual spaces such as the incense altar, fish and water offering tables, and the Jeongjagak pavilion. Admission fees are 500 KRW for adults, and free for those under 25 and over 65 years old.

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