Autumn Festivals Continue at Suwon Hwaseong (Hwaseong) World Cultural Heritage Site... Opening on the 23rd

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Four autumn festivals will be held consecutively at the World Cultural Heritage site 'Suwon Hwaseong (Hwaseong Fortress)'.

Suwon City announced on the 20th that it will hold '2022 Healing Falling Suwon Hwaseong,' consisting of four autumn festivals, at the Suwon Hwaseong area for one month from the 23rd of this month to the 23rd of next month.

Healing Falling Suwon Hwaseong will open on the 23rd of this month with the 'Suwon Hwaseong Media Art Show.' Selected by the Cultural Heritage Administration's public contest, the Suwon Hwaseong Media Art Show will be held under the theme 'Mancheonmyeongwol (萬川明月) Jeongjo's Dream, Becoming Light Season 2 - Reform New Town Suwon Hwaseong' around Hwaseongmun and Namsumun until the 23rd of next month.

This year, works expressing King Jeongjo's profound filial piety and the construction of the reform new town Suwon Hwaseong for the happiness of the people with various 'lights' will be presented.

From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every evening, media art works using media facade, interactive art, kinetic art, laser tunnels, and special lighting can be seen along the Suwon Hwaseong Hwaseongmun, Namsumun, and Suwoncheon sections (about 1.1 km). Lighting art will be displayed on stairs, benches, and stepping stones within Suwoncheon.

Last year's work 'Jeongjo's GateㆍMartial ArtsㆍEtiquetteㆍLaw,' which was presented against the backdrop of Hwaseomun and Seobuk Gongsimdon, can be seen in a new form at Namsumun.

The '2022 World Heritage Festival Suwon Hwaseong,' held under the theme 'Suwon Hwaseong, The Uigwe is Alive - Enjoying Suwon Hwaseong,' will begin with the opening performance 'Master (巨匠) - Sacred Artisans' at Haenggung Square on the 1st of next month. It is a large-scale performance that can accommodate over 3,000 participants.

This year's World Heritage Festival Suwon Hwaseong will present diverse cultural content programs based on the stories of the artisans who built the fortress. The festival will conclude with the closing performance 'Fortification, the Festival of Harmony - Building the Fortress Within 3 Years' on the 22nd of next month.

The '59th Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival,' established as Korea's representative cultural tourism festival, will be held face-to-face for the first time in three years from the 7th to the 9th of next month at the Suwon Hwaseong area.

On the evening of the 7th, the martial arts brand performance 'Yajo (夜操), Jeongjo Dreams of a New World' will open at Yeonmudae Archery Range. It expresses the beginning of the new world King Jeongjo dreamed of and his will for reform, reflecting the 'new start of Suwon Special City under the 8th elected mayor.' A light show using about 300 drones will also be available.

At Haenggung Square, a 'Citizen Playground' composed of contest programs planned and operated directly by citizens will be run. It provides an opportunity for visitors, who may be culturally thirsty due to COVID-19, to fully enjoy cultural performances and offers a stage for local artists to perform.

The 'Joint Reenactment of King Jeongjo's Royal Procession,' held for the first time in four years since 2018, is Korea's largest royal parade reenacted in cooperation with Suwon City, Seoul City, Gyeonggi Province, and Hwaseong City. From October 8 to 9, the procession will travel about 59 km from Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, passing through Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung, to Hwaseong Yungneung.

About 1,700 people, including King Jeongjo, the 22nd king, officials, generals, and soldiers dressed in Joseon Dynasty costumes, will participate.

In addition to the historically accurate procession, various performances and shows prepared by Suwon citizen groups, partner organizations, and international sister cities can be seen. A citizen experience group will be recruited in advance to make it a parade enjoyed together with citizens.

The Joint Reenactment of King Jeongjo's Royal Procession will conclude with citizens and visitors enjoying Daedong (Great Unity) play together at Haenggung Square.

A city official said, "We expect that the diverse autumn festivals held at Suwon Hwaseong, built with King Jeongjo's filial piety and grand dreams, will comfort citizens tired from COVID-19," adding, "Especially, since the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival will be held face-to-face for the first time in three years, we hope many citizens will participate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.