Mayor Karen Bass and members of the Korean American community unveiled the Turtle Ship at a new location in the Convention Center. (photo courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass’ office)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass led an unveiling ceremony with the Korean community on April 8 to celebrate the newly restored Turtle Ship, originally gifted in 1982 to Los Angeles by its sister city Busan, South Korea.

Previously located at City Hall, the artifact underwent extensive conservation and restoration for the first time in nearly 20 years before being relocated to the Los Angeles Convention Center, where it will be on display during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Turtle ships are Korean warships used in the 15th-19th centuries. Thousands of people will view the replica Turtle Ship in its new location, the mayor said.

“The Turtle Ship is a powerful symbol of our enduring friendship with Busan and the Korean American community. I’m honored to celebrate this moment with our Korean American community, whose contributions enrich our city every day,” Bass said. “We look forward to visitors from all around the world seeing this artifact while attending events at the Convention Center, especially as a venue for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The unveiling event brought together elected officials and community leaders, including Councilmembers John Lee, 12th District, and Heather Hutt, 10th District. The celebration featured a traditional Korean drum performance by the Hwarang Youth Foundation, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the Korean American community and underscoring the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“As the only Korean American City Councilmember in Los Angeles, I am honored to attend the Korean Heritage in L.A. event and recognize the invaluable contributions of Korean Americans to our city,” Lee said. “This year’s unveiling of the newly restored Turtle Ship, a generous gift from our sister city of Busan, is a powerful symbol of our enduring friendship and cultural exchange.”

“This move ensures that the gift from Busan will be more accessible and enjoyed by a much wider audience. This cultural artifact has been carefully restored and can be displayed in a manner that respects the sentiments of the Korean American community,” said Robert Ahn, president of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles. “We appreciate the mayor’s office for its responsiveness and efforts in making this change.”

The Convention Center will host fencing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling competitions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For information, visit laconventioncenter.com and la28.org.