Hwanggung Plaza Renovation Completed Before Hwaseong Culture Festival

The Hwanggung Plaza, which will combine the ideas, aesthetics, and functionality of the Jeongjo era, will be unveiled to citizens before the Hwaseong Culture Festival opening in October.

Suwon City plans to complete the plaza project in front of Hwaseong Haenggung in Shinpung-dong, Paldal-gu, which began construction last month, by October when the Hwaseong Culture Festival takes place.

The Hwanggung Plaza, being developed on a scale of approximately 22,000 square meters with project expenses of approximately 5.3 billion won, will be created as a high-quality, highly functional plaza that combines traditional beauty with functionality.

The plaza will feature restored historical sites including the legendary water source from the Jeongjo era and Shinpung Bridge, and an 'eodo' (the path King Jeongjo traveled when visiting Hwaseong Haenggung) will be created running across the center of the plaza.

Additionally, ceramic murals depicting 'Seojangdaeseongjodo' (showing military training of the Jangyongyeong unit from Danwon Kim Hong-do's painting of the Hwaseong Royal Procession) and 'Bongsudangjinchanindo' (depicting Hegyeong Gung Hong's sixtieth birthday celebration) will be inscribed on the left and right floors of the plaza.

In particular, 'Hwaseong Nakseongyeondo' and 'Shinpungru Samwido' (a painting showing King Jeongjo distributing rice), which well express King Jeongjo's philosophy on the people, are scheduled to be inscribed between the two ceramic murals. The Hwaseong Nakseongyeon depicts the scene from September 10, 1796, one month after the completion of the construction of Hwaseong Fortress, when King Jeongjo held a commemorative celebration of the fortress construction where both the upper and lower classes (nobles and commoners) rejoiced and celebrated together.

Additionally, at the entrance of the plaza, a 'madan' (a type of performance venue) will be prepared for various performances and events such as traditional martial arts and Jangyongyeong officer ceremonies, and the already-established Hwaseong Information Center and Hwaseong Experience Center called 'Sarangchae' will enter pilot operations.

An official from the Hwaseong Project Office stated, "We are accelerating construction to complete the plaza development in time for the October Hwaseong Culture Festival," and added, "The plaza will be reborn as a space that harmonizes well with Hwaseong Haenggung, where King Jeongjo stayed during his royal processions."