A full-scale replica of Korea’s historic diplomatic vessel, the Joseon Tongsinsa, is taking to the seas this month to celebrate the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage said Tuesday that the vessel will embark on a 24-day voyage, stopping at key historic coastal sites including Goheung, Yeosu, and Tongyeong before arriving in Busan on July 31. The Joseon Tongsinsa ships were international peace envoys that crossed the Korea and Tsushima straits 12 times between 1607 and 1811 at the request of Japan to restore diplomatic ties following the Imjin War (1592–1598) — a devastating seven-year conflict triggered by Japanese invasions of the Korean Peninsula. Reconstructed in 2018, the vessel previously completed symbolic open-sea retracings of its voyages from Busan to Tsushima in 2023, to Shimonoseki in 2024 and Osaka in 2025. This summer’s domestic trip will shift its focus toward local maritime heritage and the country's rich naval history. Operating as a floating museum, the ship will host cultural eve