Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Site details

The 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Jeongjo, relocated the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado, to Hwasan, which was considered the most auspicious site (currently Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province). To provide a new settlement for the people living around Hwasan and to eliminate factionalism while realizing the ideals of royal governance, he constructed a new city below Paldalsan in 1796 (the 20th year of King Jeongjo's reign), and that place is now known as Suwon Hwaseong. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, constructed based on King Jeongjo's reformist spirit, was designed by the scholar Jeong Yak-yong and supervised by the official Chae Je-gong. This fortress city combined residential, defensive, and commercial functions. It is uniquely original and unparalleled, as it mobilized both Eastern and Western scientific and architectural technologies. The fortress walls, naturally built along the surrounding terrain, include facilities such as Gongsimdon, Poru, Nodae, Bongdon, and Ammun, which were installed to effectively facilitate both defense and offense. Despite being a brick fortress, it exudes an elegant and refined impression, thanks to beautiful structures such as Suwon Paldalmun, with its semicircular Ongseong built at the front, Hwaryongmun, which prevents the flooding of the Suwoncheon Stream while serving a defensive function, and Suwon Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion, which functioned as both a military command post and a resting place. Among these, the Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion (Dongbuk Gakru), overlooking a pond, is considered the most outstanding structure in Suwon Hwaseong. Inside the fortress, the Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace is located. A "Haenggung" is a temporary palace where the king would stay when traveling outside the main palace. Among all the Haenggung palaces across the country, Hwaseong Haenggung stands out in terms of scale, formality, and functionality. Although it was intended as a place for King Jeongjo to stay when visiting the tomb of Crown Prince Sado, it was used as a government office in ordinary times. In 1795 (the 19th year of King Jeongjo's reign), the main hall of Hwaseong Haenggung, Bongsudang, was the site where the 60th birthday celebration for King Jeongjo's mother, Lady Hyegyeong, was held. Suwon Hwaseong holds significant value not only as a fortress but also as a walled city and planned new town created in the late 18th century. Located at a central transportation hub, Hwaseong reflects King Jeongjo's vision and the spirit of Silhak (Practical Learning) to establish a prosperous and economically strong city. Suwon Paldalmun: Paldalmun is the southern gate of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. To protect and strengthen the gate, a semicircular Ongseong (outer defensive wall) was built outside the gate. This Ongseong was restored to its original form during a restoration project in 1975, based on historical research. Although the walls were originally connected to the gate on both sides, they were demolished to make way for a road, leaving only the gate itself standing today. Suwon Banghwasuryujeong: Built in 1794 (the 18th year of King Jeongjo's reign), Banghwasuryujeong, located at the northeast corner of Hwaseong Fortress, is a wartime structure that also functions as a pavilion. It was constructed using a balanced combination of stone, wood, and bricks. The pavilion was renovated in 1848 (the 14th year of King Heonjong's reign) and underwent several partial repairs after the Japanese colonial period. Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung: Built in 1789 (the 13th year of King Jeongjo's reign) when Suwon-eup was relocated from the Annyong-myeon area of Hwaseong City to the foot of Paldalsan Mountain, this structure was initially used as a government office. It also served as a temporary palace for the king during his visits to Suwon. Starting in 1909, Hwaseong Haenggung was repurposed as a hospital for Suwon residents, leading to the demolition of its buildings, with only Naknamheon remaining.