44th Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival on the 11th… Suwon Takes the Plunge into the Festival

The '44th Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival' will be held for four days from the 11th at Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung and other locations. Organized by the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival Executive Committee, the event marks the 10th anniversary of Suwon's Hwaseong UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and is designed to enhance the cultural value of Hwaseong while promoting it as a traditional culture and tourism festival created together by 1.1 million residents.

●Diverse performances and abundant attractions

Starting with a celebration bell-ringing ceremony on Paldal Mountain on the 11th, the eve festival will be held, followed by an opening ceremony with a food culture festival in front of Hwaseong Haenggung. The opening celebration performance, attended by the Gyeonggi Province Governor and Suwon Mayor, will feature b-boy performances and celebratory performances centered on rock music, ballads, and trot.

On the 12th, the musical 'King Jeongjo' will be performed at Hwaseo Gate Plaza. From 2 p.m. for two hours, a 3.1km parade will proceed from the General Sports Complex through Jangan Gate, Jongro intersection, Paldal Gate, Jungdong intersection, to the covered stream. Approximately 5,000 people are expected to participate in the royal procession reenactment and citizen parade. Additionally, outdoor stages at Hwaseong Haenggung, Yeonmu Pavilion, and Jangan Park will feature performances of the 24 Martial Arts, musicals 'King Jeongjo' and 'Dreams in Hwaseong,' the royal wedding ceremony of Princess Hyebin Hong, the royal civil service examination with King Jeongjo's attendance, and nighttime military training exercises, recreating the historical scenes of Hwaseong. Royal costume and hanbok fashion shows are also planned.

A representative of the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival Executive Committee stated, "The main goal of this event is to create a festival atmosphere that citizens create themselves," and added, "We hope that the planned screening of musicals such as 'King Jeongjo' and 'Dreams in Hwaseong' will serve as an opportunity to promote Hwaseong not just in Suwon but throughout the nation."

●Citizen participation events become the festival grounds

This Hwaseong Cultural Festival features enhanced citizen participation programs, designed as a festival open to anyone.

Starting with the 'Hwaseong Flag Exhibition' connecting Hwaseo Gate to Jangan Gate on the 11th, the 12th will feature themed royal court cuisine table settings and daily royal meals displayed inside Hwaseong Haenggung. Additionally, a marching competition for elementary, middle, and high school students will be held at Yeonmu Pavilion. Youth programs including Hwaseong drawing, Hwaseong essay writing, and calligraphy competitions will also be held, allowing participants to showcase their skills.