On a bright and sunny day, May 14, 2024, a very special event was underway at the Sujeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Marking the 627th birthday of King Sejong, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted, and the Sejong Institute for National Management organized, an event titled “A Day with Sejong.” Young researchers from the Cyber Diplomacy Youth Corps (VANK) eagerly attended the event on May 14 and 15 at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and here is their firsthand account.
At the Yeongchumun Gate entrance of Gyeongbokgung, participants had their IDs checked and received a hopae (traditional ID tag). “Could a hopae really be this beautiful?” they remarked, adding that the stunning presentation already set an exciting tone for the day.
Upon entry, actors greeted participants as if welcoming them into the royal court. Walking into Sujeongjeon Hall felt like a true time slip back to the era of King Sejong. Actors in period attire courteously bowed and smiled, enhancing the immersive experience—and they were more than happy to pose for photos.
Before the main events began, attendees explored areas around Yeongchumun, Sujeongjeon, and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, experiencing various achievements of King Sejong firsthand. They even had the chance to sit on a life-size replica of the royal throne. “It was larger than expected, and sitting on it, we could almost feel the majesty of King Sejong,” they shared.
Around Gyeonghoeru, the excitement of the Sejong Gosa was in full swing. The young VANK researchers tested their skills, passing through all three levels of the challenge despite a few tense moments, and received a commemorative stamp upon completion.
Participants who successfully completed the rituals were awarded a special prize—a fragrant pouch (hyangnang). But this was no ordinary pouch. It was crafted using prescriptions from Hyangyak Jipseongbang, a medicinal text written by King Sejong himself. With one hand holding their hopae and the other their aromatic pouch, participants were ready to fully enjoy the day’s events.
The main program took place in Sujeongjeon Hall, the historical site of the royal Jiphyeonjeon Hall. Attendees enjoyed a birthday ceremony for King Sejong, based on the Gilye rites recorded in the Annals of King Sejong, a performance designed to celebrate the king’s accomplishments in a uniquely distinguished way.
The first performance featured the National Gugak Center’s court music and dance ensembles. They presented majestic pieces such as Haeryeong, Yeominrak, and Bongraeui, performing elegantly in traditional hanbok under the bright sun.
What made this performance particularly remarkable was the revival of lost court music from King Sejong’s era, including Chihwapyeong and Chwipung-hyeong, restored using artificial intelligence. The 15th-century Jeongganbo sheet music for these pieces was digitally analyzed and reconstructed with deep neural networks, producing melodies for the daegeum, haegeum, ajaeng, gayageum, and geomungo—a true fusion of historical tradition and modern technology.
Next, attendees watched a calligraphy performance featuring King Sejong’s famous words. Calligrapher Kang Byung-in presented Saengsaengjirak (enjoying life through one’s work), offering a moment to reflect on the meaning King Sejong sought to convey.
The program continued with “Sejong, Published Together,” a performance by Joseon-era storyteller Lee Yeora, based on King Sejong’s publications including Samgang Haengsildo, Hyangyak Jipseongbang, and Yongbieocheonga. The grand finale of the birthday ceremony was a musical celebrating King Sejong’s life and achievements, bringing A Day with Sejong to a fitting close.
Participants reflected on their experience, noting how meaningful it was to celebrate King Sejong’s birthday in this immersive, culturally rich way. They hoped that events like this would continue to gain public attention, particularly on May 15, the king’s actual birthday.
The highlight for many was hearing the court music restored with AI, a moving reminder of how modern technology can reconnect us with the artistic brilliance of the past.