Suwon Hwaseong's Namsumun Water Gate Restored, Presumed Demolished During Japanese Colonial Period

The Namsumun Water Gate (南水門) of Suwon Hwaseong (華城, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Historic Site No. 3), presumed to have been demolished during the Japanese colonial period, is being restored.

The Suwon Hwaseong Project Office announced on the 16th that "excavation survey and removal of obstructions have been completed with an investment of 12 billion won for the restoration of the area around the Namsumun Water Gate located at the entrance of Jidong Market in Namsudo, Paldal-gu, Suwon, and plans are underway to remove the covered section of Suwon Stream."

The Namsumun Water Gate is a water gate built in 1796 (the 20th year of King Jeongjo's reign) across Suwon Stream, serving dual purposes as a bridge and military defense facility.

The Namsumun Water Gate, measuring 29.4m in length and 2.8m in height, was constructed with nine arch spans connected at the lower level, and the upper portion was built in a slab structure using brick tiles (30cm width and length, 10cm height).

"According to an editorial in the Chosun Ilbo dated July 20, 1927, 'Since 1926, the Japanese have been tearing down the Namsumun to provide building materials and stone for sewerage structure,'" said Kim Jun-hyuk (40), a curator at the Hwaseong Project Office. He added, "It appears the Japanese intentionally demolished it for urban expansion."

The Namsumun Water Gate is said to have been washed away during a major flood in June 1922, and it is believed that the Japanese did not restore the flood-damaged Namsumun but instead completely demolished it, according to Kim.

"While considerable research has been conducted on Hwaseong during the Jeongjo era, there has been almost no research on the late Joseon and Japanese colonial periods, so we are focusing on surveys and restoration projects for this period," Kim said.