[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]
[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]

North Gyeongsang Province held the 48th Tongil Seowonje, a ceremony praying for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, at Tongiljeon in Gyeongju on Thursday.

The event drew about 1,000 attendees, including North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, provincial assembly Speaker Kim Hee-su, provincial education superintendent Im Jong-sik, Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young, Gyeongju city council Speaker Im Hwal, heads of major institutions and organizations, veterans' group members, students, and residents.

The Tongil Seowonje is an annual historical and peace ceremony honoring the legacy of Silla's unification of the Three Kingdoms and commemorating unknown soldiers, while expressing hope for peaceful reunification. North Gyeongsang Province has held the event at Tongiljeon in Gyeongju every year.

This year's ceremony was organized to build on the achievements of last year's APEC summit held in Gyeongju and to reaffirm the province's commitment to leading North Gyeongsang Province and South Korea into a new era of growth.

The pre-ceremony program opened with performances by the North Gyeongsang Provincial Arts Troupe Symphony Orchestra and the Gyeongju Municipal Arts Troupe's Silla Gochwidae ensemble.

An AI video titled "A Thousand Years of Longing, from North Gyeongsang to the Future" was also screened, conveying the message that the province's transformation will contribute to peace and prosperity across South Korea.

The ceremony then proceeded with a flower offering and incense ritual by guests of honor, a reading of the reunification prayer, a recitation of poet Kang Won-seok's dedicatory poem "The Flower of Reunification Shall Bloom," a dove balloon release, and a communal singing of "Our Wish."

"Silla's unification was a great historical endeavor in which different forces came together in purpose to open a new era," Governor Lee said. "Carrying forward that spirit of grand unity, North Gyeongsang Province will take a leading role in driving South Korea's new leap forward and prosperity."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com