Suwon City to Resume World Heritage Program "Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae" in September

Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province will resume the World Heritage Utilization Program 'Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae,' which received a positive response in the first half of this year, in September.

This program allows citizens to experience the cultural value of the World Heritage site Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. It is hosted by the National Heritage Administration, organized by Suwon City, and operated by the Suwon Cultural Foundation.

'Taepyeongseongdae' refers to an era of peace and prosperity under a benevolent ruler. The spirit of this program is closely linked to the philosophy behind the construction of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, which reflects the compassion and filial piety of King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. The recently restored Byeolju and Uhwa Hall, completed last year, will serve as the main venues for this program.

The first program, 'Hye Gyeonggung Palace Tea Experience,' offers participants a modern reinterpretation of the '1795 Hye Gyeonggung Hong's 60th Birthday Banquet Tea Table,' as recorded in the 'Wonhaengeumyojeongri Uigwe.' Participants can enjoy an individual royal tea set while listening to traditional Korean music performances.

This program takes place at Byeolju, where food for Hye Gyeonggung’s royal banquet was prepared. It will be held every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in September and October, with 18 participants per session for 90 minutes each. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the royal court culture of King Jeongjo’s era in a tranquil setting.

The second program, 'Palace Walk with Resident Actors,' is a night tour that features immersive performances by local actors combined with storytelling by a guide.

Suwon City will resume the September World Heritage Utilization Program 'Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae' in September. The photo shows the Hye Gyeonggung Palace Tea Experience held in the first half of this year. Photo by Suwon City

Participants can listen to stories while touring the historic sites of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. Fifteen people who make reservations will be able to wear a peach blossom necklace, known as the 'flower of filial piety,' and take part in the theatrical performance. Starting in September, the Palace Walk program will increase its Friday sessions from once to twice per day. It will be held every Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in September and October, with each session lasting 50 minutes.

The 'Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae' program involves the Haenggung Village Cooperative, a local community group in Haenggung-dong, from the planning stage through to operation. In July and August, members received advanced training and participated in research activities with support from the German Commission for UNESCO, further enhancing the quality of the program.

Reservations for the 'Hye Gyeonggung Palace Tea Experience' can be made for a fee through Interpark Ticket, while reservations for the 'Palace Walk with Resident Actors' are available for free on Naver.

Reservations for the September program will open on the 18th of this month at 10 a.m., while reservations for the October program will open on September 22 at 10 a.m., both on a first-come, first-served basis. Detailed information about the programs can be found on the Suwon Cultural Foundation website.

In May and June, during the first half of this year, around 1,000 people participated in the inaugural Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae program. More than half of the participants were visitors from outside Suwon.

A Suwon City official stated, "We have prepared this program to share the meaning and value of the Taepyeongseongdae envisioned by King Jeongjo with citizens," adding, "We aim to provide a new and special experience for participants, and offer local residents the opportunity to grow together with the World Heritage site, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress."

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