[Gyeonggi Province Year 600, the center of a unified Korea ①] Ceremony for 600th anniversary of province to be held on February 16

Gyeonggi Province will host a celebratory event at Suwon Haenggung Palace and promote various celebratory projects this year

◇ The event will be attended by Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, former governors, Gyeonggi Provincial Council members, and provincial residents.

It was the year 1414 (Taejong Year 14) when the name Gyeonggi Province first appeared in the history of Korea, and this year marks the 600th year of Gyeonggi Province’s birth.

On February 5, Gyeonggi Province declared that the year 2014 is “Gyeonggi Province Year 600, the center of a unified Korea” in celebration of its 600th anniversary, and announced that it will promote a variety of commemorative projects this year. 

“The year 1414 was when west Gyeonggi and east Gyeonggi were first historically integrated under the name of Gyeonggi Province,” said Hwang Jeong-eun, a spokesperson for the province. “We declared this year ‘Gyeonggi Province Year 600, the center of a unified Korea’ with the hope of achieving the unification of our divided nation, just as Gyeonggi Province itself achieved integration.”

Accordingly, the province will mark the beginning of celebratory events for the 600th year of Gyeonggi Province by hosting a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on February 16 at Haenggung Palace of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon City. The event will be attended by Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, former governors, Gyeonggi Provincial Council members, and provincial residents.

The ceremony includes a kick-off performance prepared by the Gyeonggi Provincial Traditional Music Orchestra that will be followed by a ceremony and a post-ceremony event. It also includes a memorial service in the main program, which is traditionally performed to honor shrines or gods on important occasions. The written prayer for the service will include content to the effect that Gyeonggi Province has reached its 600th year.

Apart from the ceremony, there will be an academic event honoring the 600th anniversary. Gyeonggi Province will host a symposium under the theme of “The Past, Present and Future of Gyeonggi Province Year 600, the center of a unified Korea” at the International Conference Hall of the Gyeonggi Arts Center at 2 p.m. on February 17. Seoul National University professor emeritus Han Young-woo as well as Kyonggi University professors Gang Jin-gap and Lee Hyeon-seong will attend the symposium and deliver presentations on the topic of the historical meaning of Gyeonggi Province’s 600 years, the development of local administration, and related cultural contents.

Furthermore, the province will distribute 10,000 pamphlets commemorating its 600th anniversary among residents who visit the event venue that day, and will also publish a 250-page celebratory brochure with detailed information on Gyeonggi Province’s history, culture, changes and development by the end of May.

The brochure will include: the birth of Gyeonggi Province and its 33 major historical figures; the status and role of Gyeonggi Province in Korea; the future vision of Gyeonggi Province in an era of globalization and localization; and a map that depicts the transformation of Gyeonggi Province’s regions over time.

◇ The emblem of Gyeonggi Province Year 600. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

There are also a variety of publicity plans to promote the 600th anniversary of Gyeonggi Province. The province will promote the 600th year of its birth through video clips on the G Bus TV guide system, LED electronic boards in major metropolitan areas such as Sadang and Suwon Station, KTX vehicles, and elevators in apartment buildings.

A guidebook will also be created for tourists visiting Gyeonggi Province. The province decided to publish and distribute a Gyeonggi Province guide map designed in 2013 with the Gyeonggi Province Year 600 logo and slogan as well as the current status and history of the province on the front and back.

“The year 600 marks tenth progression of the 60-year cycle that Korean people consider to be a new turning point of life,” said an official of Gyeonggi Province. “We organized this event to reflect on the 600-year history of Gyeonggi Province and to strengthen resolve for Gyeonggi Province to play a key role in preparation for a unified Korea.”

In Taejong Sillok (Annals of King Taejong) Volume 27, the first article of January 18 in Year 14 (1414 Gabo/Youngrak Year 12) contains the following text: “Government control has been modified. (omitted) The western and eastern provinces of Gyeonggi will be transformed and referred to as simply Gyeonggi.”

Considering the fact that the lunar calendar was used during the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeonggi Province explained that it designated this February 17 (January 18 of the lunar calendar) to be 600th anniversary of the province, and opted to hold the ceremony on February 16th so that many residents will be able to attend.

ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201402051351047055C048&s_code=C048