The wall around Suwon City is part of the Hwaseong Fortress. 5.5 kilometres of wall is combined with the city very well and provides the great view
How much do you know about Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress?
Do you know that it’s a UNESCO Heritage Site? It’s a fortress that was built
during the Joseon Dynasty in Suwon City, Gyeonggi-do. It was created for
defensive purposes with the fortress walls running for 5.74 kilometers at a
height of 4 to 6 meters. It was built very differently from the many other defensive
facilities in Korea at that time, and was planned and constructed from the
beginning with a town incorporated into a fortress city.
How was the Hwaseong Fortress site selected?
The fortress walls, gates and various facilities are
all very well preserved. Even sections that were damaged during the Korean War
were restored. Hwaseong Fortress was selected as a UNESCO Heritage Site because
it was a new style distinct from fortifications created in eras before the
Joseon Dynasty. The defense mechanisms used addressed the problems faced by
existing fortresses and introduced new systems such as gunpowder weaponry.
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| UNESCO World Heritage Monument in Suwon ⓒKTO |
Hwaseong Fortress was built on a flat and wide site unlike
other fortresses that were built on ridges around basins. Other than military
prowess, the fortress city also possessed administrative and commercial
functions. Hwaseong Fortress showcased the commercial prosperity, rapid social
change and technological development of the Joseon Dynasty in the 18th
century.
History behind Hwaseong Fortress
A teaser of the movie 'The throne' Song Gang-ho (famous for Mr. Park from Parasite) and Yu Ah-in played as the king and Prince Sado.
The history behind the fortress actually relates to a
tale of the relationship between a son, Jeongjo, and his father, Sado. Sado was
a 18th century prince who had suffered abuse as a child at the hands
of his father. He married Hyegyeong at the age of 11 and his mental illness
worsened. He became physically violent and executed people on a whim.
In 1762, Prince Sado attempted to kill the son of a
court official. At that time, there were also rumors that he was trying to
murder his own father. As a result, the execution of Prince Sado was ordered. However,
the bodies of royal family members were sacrosanct, and the wife and children
were also innocent. As such, instead of execution, Sado was ordered by his
father to be confined in a wooden chest to await death.
Jeongjo was 10 when this happened. The King had
forbidden the name of Sado to be spoken at all and endeavored to erase the
prince’s name from history. However, Jeongjo’s loyalty and filial piety was so
strong that when he became king, he announced that he was “the son of the late
Crown Prince Sado.”
King Jeongjo moved his father’s tomb to Suwon and
started to build an entire fortress so as to be closer to the tomb. His plan
was to ultimately move the capital from Seoul to Suwon, using the fortress as
his power base. He didn’t manage to move the capital, but Suwon still remains one
of the most important cities in Korea.
Touring Hwaseong Fortress
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| Great starting point Paldalmun gate |
The easiest place to start would be Paldalmun, or the South
Gate. This area is situated on one of the main streets of Suwon and is easily
accessible. Not only that, there are traditional markets and lots of shops in the
area for you to peruse before heading out.
Keep walking straight and you’ll arrive at the entrance
to Hwaseong Haenggung, the palace. There are many exciting things to see at the
palace such as martial arts performances and a guard-changing ceremony as well
as the many palace buildings inside.
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| Martial arts performances in the palace |
Hwaseong Haenggung is actually a temporary palace that
was built primarily for King Jeongjo to use during his visits to his father’s
tomb. It was also used by members of the royal family should their residences
in Seoul be too dangerous.
There is also a large golden statue of Buddha, called
Daeseungwon, which can be seen from the palace. However, it requires a little
hike down and back up to reach Daeseungwon.
After you’re done with Hwaseong Haenggung, the fortress
wall would be the next stage of your journey. From Paldalmun, head towards the
left and follow the trail to the next area, Seonamammun. You should also hold
on to your entry ticket because there are checkpoints along the way. Going up
to Seonamammun might be tough, but once you’re at the top it’s downhill from
there. There are also lovely views of the city along the entire length of the
wall.
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| You can enjoy the view of Suwon City ⓒKTO |
You’ll get to see lovely pavilions where you can rest
along the way. Pavilions were built at certain locations because those sites
offered the most scenic views. Even with all the development and growth in that
area, many vantage points are still surrounded by trees. Moving along, you’ll
come to a large bell known as Hyowon’s Bell. The bell was installed to honor
King Jeongjo. People who visit this place pay KRW 1,000 to ring the bell and
make a wish.
You can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city from the
top of the fortress and you can also imagine just how Suwon might have looked
like during the Joseon Dyansty. You can see how the wall separates the newer
and older buildings of Suwon, and if you look closely, you can see the
difference in the buildings and structures. As you continue walking, you’ll pass
the West Gate as well as the North Gate.
The North Gate, Janganmun, is the largest such gate in
the entire country. Next is Hwahongmun, the gate for the Suwon Stream. It’s a
great place to take a break while enjoying the sound of flowing water, peaceful
serenity and beautiful scenery. You can continue through to the east side of
the wall and back to Paldalmun to complete the circuit.
Best
times to visit Hwaseong Fortress
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| Spring of Hwaseong Fortress ⓒKTO |
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| Autumn of Hwaseong Fortress ⓒKTO |
The best times to visit Hwaseong Fortress are either in
April (spring) when there are lots of flowers or November (autumn) for the autumn
foliage. Bear in mind that it can be very hot and strenuous to tour the entire
area at once since many fortress sites are outdoors with very little shade. Hwaseong
Fortress is also really attractive during winter as well, but be sure to bundle
up and to proceed cautiously on icy roads.
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