Remembering the 70th Anniversary of the 6.25 War through Domestic and International Culture and Arts

'The Tragedy of the Division of Joseon' in the Collection of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Various cultural events such as exhibitions, performances, films, and documentaries will be held domestically and internationally to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War this year through culture and arts and to pray for peace.

The National Theater of Korea announced on the 15th that it will hold the National Gugak Orchestra's '2020 Gyeore's Noryeoden' at 8 p.m. on the 17th at the Lotte Concert Hall. This performance will present music that reflects the life and history of the Korean people under the theme of 'War and Peace' in commemoration of the 6.25 War and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Theater. Depending on the COVID-19 situation in the metropolitan area, the performance will be held without an audience and will be screened online later.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will hold a special exhibition titled 'Strange War' at its Seoul branch, re-examining the 6.25 War through the language of art. The exhibition will display works and materials that reinterpret the 6.25 War from various perspectives such as women, war prisoners, and civilian massacres, and introduce contemporary domestic and international art that hopes for the restoration of humanity and mutual solidarity amid global disasters. Considering the COVID-19 situation, an online exhibition viewing program using virtual reality (VR) will be operated from the 25th, and the opening schedule will be decided depending on the spread of COVID-19. In connection with this exhibition, the film 'Strange War: For the Unrestored' will be screened, and a peace education training session on inter-Korean division will also be held.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History will hold a special exhibition titled 'Removing the Rusted Barbed Wire' in the third-floor exhibition hall until December 31. It will look at the tragic realities of the 6.25 War and its subsequent historical impact from the perspective of ordinary people, including separated families who lost their families, war orphans, female heads of households, and families of abductees.

The National Museum of Korea will present a thematic exhibition titled 'The 6.25 War and the National Museum: Protecting and Continuing' in its permanent exhibition hall from the 25th to September 13. Visitors can find precious cultural assets such as National Treasure No. 60, the Celadon Lion Incense Burner, which the National Museum protected during the war, linked with the permanent exhibition. A guidebook will be distributed, and various collections, photos, and video materials including the Ministry of Education minister's orders during the war will be exhibited.

The Korean Film Archive will hold an online screening event titled '6.25 War 70th Anniversary Commemorative Screening' to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It will be available on the Korean Film Archive website from the 30th to July 13. The Korea Policy Broadcasting Corporation is also producing a documentary titled 'The Republic of Korea Remembered by UN Participating Countries,' covering five UN participating countries by continent, and plans to broadcast it in November.

The Overseas Culture and Publicity Agency plans to deliver messages of peace and harmony to various countries by holding more than 20 face-to-face and non-face-to-face events such as exhibitions, memorial ceremonies, concerts, and online lectures related to the 6.25 War from June to October at 18 overseas Korean cultural centers, including nine participating countries such as Turkey, India, and Belgium. The Korean Cultural Center in Sydney will live-stream an online lecture related to the 6.25 War on its Facebook page on the 30th, and the Korean Cultural Center in Turkey will hold a 'Korean War Photo Exhibition' in October.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, "Due to the closure of national museums and art museums located in the metropolitan area because of COVID-19, online exhibitions and screenings will be prioritized, and the opening schedule will be decided later," adding, "We hope this cultural event will be an opportunity to remember the 6.25 War together and reflect on the importance of peace."

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