This past October marked the 47th anniversary of the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival. I participated in the festivities in conjunction with the folks over at Ariang TV’s Today’s Blog. The producer and cameraman filmed as I went about sightseeing and enjoying the events.
Hwaseong Fortress has it’s origins back in the Joseon Dynasty. Constructed by King Jeongjo in 1796 to serve as his accommodation when he visited the Suwon region. The fortress in effect became the second capital of the dynasty.
The original structure was destroyed during the Japanese occupation. In 1979 the fortress was reconstructed. In 1997 the Hwaseong became a UNESCO world heritage site. This was largely thanks to the meticulous historical records, designs, and sketches kept throughout the years.
During the day we filmed throughout the fortress. I spoke about the history of the Fortress and what visitors can expect to find there today. I never realized how long filming something can take. We went way over our time limit but managed to get everything before the sun went down.
During the festival events included the opening ceremony, performances by the Gyeonggi Provincial Arts Group, Nanpa girls and boys choir, Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, the Civic chorale, and the Citizen’s Troupe as well as a fireworks display.
Directions:
Go to Suwon Station – Jongno Intersection (Hwaseong Haenggung) Then hop on to Bus No.: 2, 7, 7-2, 8, 13
