Suwon to Independently Reenact King Jeongjo's Royal Procession

As Gyeonggi Province has withdrawn its business plan for the 'King Jeongjo's Procession Reenactment Event,' which it had been pursuing as an integrated festival with Suwon and Seoul, Suwon City plans to continue the King Jeongjo's Royal Procession reenactment as before.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo recently instructed the withdrawal of the business plan for the King Jeongjo's Procession Reenactment, which falls under the purview of the Culture and Tourism Bureau, during the 2008 budget report meetings held by each department and bureau.

An official from the Province's Culture Policy Division stated, "The 3 billion won budget that was to be reflected in the King Jeongjo's Procession Reenactment event scheduled for April next year has also been cancelled." The official explained, "We determined that it is realistically difficult to proceed with the event, considering the enormous total budget of 15 billion won required and the participation of approximately 7,000 people over a seven-day, eight-night schedule."

Separately, Suwon City plans to continue reenacting King Jeongjo's Royal Procession as before during the October 'Hwaseong Cultural Festival,' regardless of the Province's withdrawal of the 'King Jeongjo's Procession Reenactment Event' business plan.

A Suwon City official stated, "Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, and Suwon have continued discussions on the matter, but it is true that we have not been able to narrow the differences of opinion. Although the Province has withdrawn the business plan citing budget shortages, Suwon City plans to independently reenact the royal procession." The official added, "Since Hwaseong Fortress was constructed in the lunar ninth month, holding King Jeongjo's Royal Procession in October is a natural occurrence. We will endeavor to develop it into a more internationally recognized event."

During the October Hwaseong Cultural Festival, Suwon City will invest a total budget of 300 million won in the King Jeongjo's Royal Procession reenactment (3.1 km), which will be conducted as a large-scale event with approximately 200 participants and 100 horses.

Meanwhile, the Province has been pursuing joint hosting with Seoul and Suwon to elevate the King Jeongjo's Procession Reenactment event, which has been held separately at the Hi Seoul Festival (Seoul) and Hwahong Cultural Festival (Suwon), from a local festival to a world-class cultural festival.