[Special Feature] 'Suwon's Entire City is a Time Machine'...Immersed in Historical Experiences and Colorful Charms of Memories!

[News S=Reporter Jung Joon-sung] 'When you visit Suwon, the entire city feels like boarding a time machine, offering abundant historical attractions and tourism themes.' Suwon Special Metropolitan City is the nation's largest basic local government and a planned city developed since King Jeongjo of Joseon. Given Suwon's large urban scale and long history, there are many attractions that must be visited in person, touched directly, and observed firsthand. Since the charm of Suwon cannot be fully appreciated in a single visit, we introduce Suwon's attractions for the 2026-2027 Suwon Visit Year. Immerse yourself in Suwon's five-colored charm.

◇ Enjoying Unique 'Experiences' and 'Memories' Aboard the 'City Train'

Special experiences available only in Suwon offer the essence of visiting Suwon.

The 'Hwaseong Trolley,' modeled after traditional palanquins, is a sightseeing train that circulates between Yeonmudae, Hwahongmun, Jangannmun, Hwaseomun, Maehyangyo, and Yeonmudae.

Visitors can conveniently view major attractions of Suwon Hwaseong and receive brief explanatory announcements.

Operations run from 9:40 a.m. at 20-minute intervals, with the last departure at 5 p.m. Reservations can be made one month in advance of desired dates.

At Yeonmudae, 'traditional archery experiences' are also available. Visitors shoot ten arrows at a bear target that only kings could use during the Joseon Dynasty.

Sessions are held at 30-minute intervals from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It is popular with foreign tourists as traditional archery can be experienced at reasonable prices.

'Flying Suwon,' where visitors ride a hot air balloon and view Suwon from above, is considered a fairy-tale-like experience.

Near the Changyongmun parking lot, visitors can board a moored helium balloon and ascend 70 to 150 meters to survey the city.

With operations until 9 p.m., it is ideal for viewing night scenery. Operating hours vary depending on weather and other conditions, so inquiries should be made before visiting.

Additionally, the 'XR Bus 1795 Expedition' features extended reality (XR) technology with transparent display windows recreating the Eulmyo Royal Progress. It can be boarded by reserving through the Touch Suwon app.

The 'Secrets of Suwon Hwaseong' tour content, where visitors solve intriguing missions at major tourist sites of Suwon Hwaseong, is convenient for individual use after downloading the app.

◇ 'Urban Parks by Lakes' Blending Pure Beauty with 'Healing'

The joy of visiting Suwon can easily be found in nature.

'Gwanggyo Lake Park,' which embraces two lakes, is a waterfront space where the city and nature harmonize, making it a beloved destination for citizens and tourists.

During summer, a large floor fountain (Mysterious Water Plain) attracts large crowds, and several water play facilities help cool visitors from midday heat.

It is a green, eco-friendly space in the city with grassy areas for family picnics (Happy Field) and circular walking paths.

Various events are held on weekends, allowing visitors to enjoy culture and leisure together.

Suwon has many parks built near reservoirs.

Notable examples include Gwanggyo Park with vast grassy fields, walking paths, and a music fountain; Manseok Park with beautiful Manseok Reservoir scenery; and Seho Park, recognized by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage as a heritage of world irrigation facilities.

'Gwanggyo Reservoir and Gwanggyo Park,' 'Manseok Reservoir and Manseok Park,' and 'Seho Reservoir and Seho Park' are each paired and positioned together. This allows visitors to Suwon to easily enjoy comfortable rest in nearby waterfront spaces regardless of location.

'Hyowon Park,' located in the city center without a reservoir, boasts unique charm with Yuelhwa Garden, a traditional Chinese garden, and Jeju Street symbolizing sister city Jeju.

Additionally, green healing can be enjoyed in forests including Gwanggyo Mountain, Chilbo Mountain, Yeogi Mountain, and Paldalsan, and at two locations of the 'Suwon Arboretum (Ilwol and Younghung).'

◇ Vividly 'Appreciating' the Region's Living History and Culture

For cost-effective tourism, visiting Suwon's public art museums and museums to appreciate history and exhibitions is recommended.

Suwon's public art museums help expand artistic experience and space.

The 'Suwon Municipal Art Museum,' located directly in front of Hwaseong Palace, regularly hosts contemporary art exhibitions that attract art enthusiasts.

Furthermore, anyone can use its spacious interior as a cultural rest area, drawing a constant stream of visitors.

The 'Suwon Municipal Art Space Gwanggyo,' located on the B1 level of the Suwon Convention Center, is utilized as an open space for the local art community and citizens.

The three museums operated by Suwon City are also destinations offering affordable admission and valuable historical knowledge.

To learn about Suwon's history and culture, visit the 'Suwon Museum.' To understand detailed content about Hwaseong Fortress construction, there is the 'Suwon Hwaseong Museum.'

To remember the history of Gwanggyo, visit the 'Suwon Gwanggyo Museum,' which houses artifacts excavated during the development of Gwanggyo New City.

Each museum features special exhibitions and outdoor exhibitions in addition to permanent displays, as well as children's experiences, making them ideal for outings.

◇ Very Special 'Learning' from Thematic Museums

Museums operating on rare and specialized themes fill Suwon visits with the joy of learning.

'Haewoojae' can be cited first as a special exhibition hall unique to Suwon.

Haewoojae is a toilet culture exhibition hall, with a name similar to 'Haeuuso,' the temple term for restrooms.

In the toilet culture park, sculptures related to toilets catch the eye, ranging from royal portable toilets (Maehwa Frame) to Jeju-style restrooms (Tongsi).

The children's experience section features exhibitions on feces—a health indicator of the body—that stimulate young children's curiosity.

Soccer fans should visit the 'Soccer Museum' at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Located at the west entrance on the first floor of Suwon World Cup Stadium, the host venue of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, it displays meaningful soccer materials.

Visitors can see items from historic moments in Korean soccer history, including An Jung-hwan's Golden Ball, Coach Hiddink's signed ball, and Korea's first soccer shoes.

Additionally, there are various materials from Suwon native Park Ji-sung's youth, national team, and professional career.

The 'National Map Museum' in Woncheon-dong operates with maps as its theme and is recommended as a field study location for children.

It displays artifacts and materials related to changes in Korea's territorial geographic information, surveying, and map production.

Outdoor exhibitions, history halls, and modern halls allow easy and comprehensive understanding of surveying and maps.

◇ 'Memories' Revived at Famous Drama Filming Locations

Suwon is also an excellent place to revisit memories by following famous drama and content filming locations.

In the Haengung-dong area (Haengri-danggil) of Paldalgu, traces of famous dramas easily come to mind as you walk naturally.

Many cafes retain their nostalgic old appearances and are arranged with charming atmospheres, making them concentrated popular drama filming locations.

In particular, most scenes of the village where the two main characters lived in the 2024 hit drama 'Sell Your Haunted House' are set in Haengung-dong.

You can easily recall scenes from Sunjae and Sol's house and the roads the protagonists walked together, including their commute.

It is entertaining to find filming locations such as Hwahongmun Gate, where a touching confession scene was filmed, and the place where she learned to ride a bicycle.

Additionally, the kimbap restaurant run by the father in the 2022 work 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' and the house of Choi Ung, the protagonist in 'That Year, We,' are also located on Haengri-danggil.

Additionally, Paldalsan Hoejudo Road evokes memories from 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' and 'Itaewon Class.' The Ilwol Arboretum exhibition greenhouse is where Youngsuk the raccoon was searched for in 'The Queen of Tears.'

Suwon City introduces various courses on its tourism website (https://www.suwon.go.kr/web/visitsuwon/index.do) where visitors can select schedules and locations.

Plan your desired course according to the season, length of stay, theme, and mood, and create memories in Suwon.

A Suwon City official stated, "Suwon is full of special attractions where visitors can broadly experience and appreciate tradition and history, art and culture, and the beauty of nature and architecture. We will make efforts to ensure that more visitors can have enjoyable experiences in Suwon, using the Suwon Visit Year as a catalyst."