Free Shuttle Bus Service for “Exploring the Old Korean Legation”

 - Increasing Service Frequency and Engaging American Middle and High School Students Alongside Overseas Koreans… Expected to Further Promote the Value of K-Shared Heritage -

The Korea Heritage Service (Administrator: Choi Eung-Chon; hereinafter referred to as the “KHS”), in collaboration with the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (Chair: Kim Jung-hee; hereinafter referred to as the “OKCHF”) operates a free shuttle bus service by increasing the frequency and expanding the target audience to improve viewing convenience and enhance the utilization of the Old Korean Legation (located in Logan Circle, Washington, D.C., hereinafter referred to as the "Legation"). The shuttle bus service, called the Exploring the Old Korean Legation program (hereinafter referred to as the "Exploring Legation"), will serve overseas Koreans and American middle and high school students residing near Washington, D.C.
From February to November, the program will operate up to four times a month in the DMV - Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, reaching a broader audience including overseas Koreans and American middle and high school students attending Korean Class in US Schools.
As part of the KHS's proactive administrative efforts, the Exploring Legation program was launched last year to improve accessibility to the Legation. It has been carried out in cooperation with the overseas Korean community, led by the OKCHF USA.
This year, the program is expanding its scope, with the Korean Community Center in Washington D.C. (Chairman Tae Hwan Kim), the Korean-American Society of Virginia (President Duk Man Kim), the NAKS-Washington Association for Korean Schools (President Eunice K Chung), and the Korean Language Teachers’ Association of the Washington D.C. Area (President Samuel Pak) joining the initiative. Notably, the Korean Cultural Center in Washington D.C. (Director Jongtaek Park) will also offer experiential programs such as "Making Gimbap," creating a more comprehensive, interactive experience.
The Legation served as a diplomatic mission for the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire from February 1889 to November 1905, when Korea lost its diplomatic sovereignty under the forced Japan-Korea Treaty. The Legation played a significant role in Korea’s modernization efforts during this time. After Japan forcibly acquired the property and sold it to an American in 1910, Korea lost ownership of the building. However, in October 2012, the KHS (then the Cultural Heritage Administration) successfully reacquired the building. After five years of research, restoration, and remodeling, the Legation reopened as a history museum in May 2018. In September 2024, it was officially listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, solidifying its status as a prominent K-Shared Heritage site in the United States.
Following the positive feedback from the overseas Korean community last year, the expanded operation of the Exploring Legation program is expected to enhance historical and cultural understanding of the Legation, foster the shared appreciation of its value between Korea and the United States, and highlight the Legation as a shared cultural heritage that both nations should cherish and preserve.
The KHS and the OKCHF will continue collaborating with relevant organizations and institutions to share the value of the Legation and other K-Shared Heritage sites with overseas Koreans and local communities.

Division: International Cooperation Division, Heritage Policy Bureau
/ Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation USA
Contact persons: Baek Hyun Min (042-481-4866)
Mun Gyeonggyu (042-481-4867)
Kang Imsan (+1-202-844-3302)
Kim Keun Young (+1-202-844-3304)

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