[Photo] Jongmyo Daeje Held Amid Redevelopment Controversy; Attendance Expanded to Promote Shrine's Value

The Hankyoreh reports on the recent Jongmyo Daeje, a significant royal ancestral rite held at the Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul. This year's ceremony, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, took place under the shadow of a controversial redevelopment project planned for the area surrounding the shrine.

In response to the redevelopment controversy, the National Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage Administration made a concerted effort to highlight the immense cultural value of Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A key initiative was the significant expansion of public access. While approximately 700 people attended last year through reservations, this year saw an allocation of 1,350 seats within the main hall (Jeongjeon) and an additional 500 seats outside equipped with large screens for viewing, aiming to draw greater public attention and support.

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The Jongmyo Daeje is a comprehensive ritual that combines royal rites, music, and dance, and it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2001 in recognition of its cultural value.

The Jongmyo Daeje is described as a comprehensive ritual that integrates royal ceremonies, music, and dance, representing the highest form of state ritual during the Joseon Dynasty. Its restoration in 1969 and subsequent inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2001 underscore its profound historical and cultural importance. The ceremony is held in the Jongmyo Shrine, a state-run ancestral temple where the ancestral tablets of Joseon Dynasty kings and queens, as well as emperors and empresses, are enshrined.

The article implicitly frames the redevelopment plans as a potential threat to the sanctity and historical integrity of Jongmyo. By emphasizing the expanded public access and the ritual's UNESCO status, the Hankyoreh positions itself as a defender of cultural heritage, urging the public and authorities to recognize and protect the shrine's irreplaceable value against encroaching modernization.

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This year, to raise awareness of the value of Jongmyo amid recent redevelopment controversies, the number of attendees was expanded compared to previous years.