Replica of turtle warship to set sail

A replica of a 16th-century warship set sail from Seoul to the southern coastal city of Tongyeong yesterday for an exhibition. The recreated Geobukseon will today pass a West Sea waterway that is usually off-limits to civilian vessels.

The turtle-shaped warship, one of the world`s oldest ironclad ships, was recreated in 1990 by Seoul City to commemorate the achievement of Korea`s greatest naval hero, Admiral Yi Sun-shin, during the 7-year Japanese invasion of Korea that began in 1592. It has been docked in the Ichon district of Hangang Riverside Park, Seoul.

The ship is scheduled to arrive Monday in Tongyeong, where Admiral Yi`s command headquarters was based.

<**1>Today the ship will pass through the military-controlled mouth of the Han River toward the West Sea.

It will be the second time since 1953 that a civilian vessel has been allowed to sail through the 15 kilometer-long waterway, a part of the Demilitarized Zone whose control falls under the United Nations Command stationed on the peninsula to supervise the cease-fire accord.

The park said, "We hope the sail of Geobukseon marks a monumental event to open the mouth of the Han River blockaded for a half of century and further to realize peace and prosperity of South and North Korea."

Lee Myung-bak, mayor of Seoul City, and 300 citizens participated in the 3-hour ceremony for the departure of the ship yesterday morning. Participants were allowed to board the Geobukseon and see antiquities inside the warship.

On its departure, 40 other vessels joined a parade along the river.

The turtle ship is planned to go through the Demilitarized Zone with a two-hour-long sail, and on Nov.14 will arrive at Tongyeong City where the vessel will be relocated for public display.

(davidpooh@heraldm.com)



By Jin Dae-woong