HWASEONG FORTRESS
SUWON, GYEONGGI PROVINCE
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Hwaseong Fortress was built by King Jeongjo from 1794 to 1796 to honour and house the remains of his father,
Crown Prince Sado, who was executed by his father after being locked in a rice chest and starved to death. The fortress was designed by Jeong Yak-yong, one of the greatest thinkers of the Joseon Dynasty, who drew inspiration from the military architecture of China, Japan and Europe. To reduce the construction time he even invented the geojunggi, a piece of apparatus that used a pulley system to lift heavy stones. The fortress was also used as a new political base and for defensive purposes, and visitors will be able to see the variety of defence features that were built into the 5.74km wall, including floodgates, beacon towers, command posts, firearm bastions and bunkers. There are even holes between the bricks to allow arrows, long spears and guns to be used during an attack. There are several different tours of Hwaseong available for tourists, including one with a tourist trolley inspired by the palanquins used during the Joseon Dynasty. Time your visit right and you will able to catch the annual Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, which is held every October to commemorate King Jeongjo’s filial piety and dream for national prosperity and military power.
Open daily, 9am to 6pm. Average adult ticket is 1,000 won. swcf.or.kr/english