Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival begins in South Korea

The 63rd Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival is being held from October 4 to 11 in Suwon, South Korea. Centered around the theme ‘Saebit Hongmin’—representing King Jeongjo’s spirit of benefiting the people—the festival utilizes the entire Suwon Hwaseong Fortress area as its stage.

Key highlights include three major performances: ‘Yajo,’ a large-scale night military training reenactment; ‘Seonyumong,’ a water and light performance at Yongyeon; and ‘Haenggung Yahwa,’ a new immersive night tour through the halls of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. Additionally, the festival features the reenactment of King Jeongjo’s 1795 royal procession, involving over 1,000 participants and 60 horses.

Festival director Jo Hyeong-je emphasized that the event aims to connect King Jeongjo’s historical values of filial piety and military strength with the modern lives of citizens. To accommodate international visitors, the Suwon Traditional Culture Center is operating as a ‘Global Village’ to provide traditional experiences and support.