Smiling Despite the Rain: Citizens Gather to See "King Jeongjo" and Join 7km Procession

2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Reenactment on the 28th
Over 1,000 Citizens Gather in Rainy Gwanghwamun
Awe and Smartphones as King Jeongjo Appears
Despite Cancellations Due to Rain, Smiles and Selfies Abound

"Cho-eom (Initial Strictness)!" "Wow~"

On the morning of Saturday, September 28, despite heavy rain that soaked the hems of their pants, citizens dressed in traditional hats and robes gathered in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace under colorful umbrellas. The sound of the "Eomgo" drum, which signals the start of the "2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment," echoed from an official, and the crowd responded with awe. Soon after, as the majestic Daechwita music played and King Jeongjo and his mother, Lady Hyegyeong Hong, appeared, citizens wiped raindrops from their smartphones and focused on capturing the moment.

The departure ceremony marking the start of the "2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment" is taking place at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Provided by Seoul City

On this day, around 5,000 citizens from Seoul, Gyeonggi, Suwon, and Hwaseong gathered to retrace the path of filial piety that King Jeongjo walked 230 years ago. The King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment is a large-scale historical and cultural festival that revives the "Wonhaeng"-the royal journey King Jeongjo took with his mother, Lady Hyegyeong Hong, to Yungneung in 1795 to honor his father, Crown Prince Sado.

In Seoul alone, more than 1,100 citizens participated. Those joining the event were referred to as "Gwangwangminin," meaning commoners who gathered to witness the king's procession during the Joseon Dynasty. General participants wore pink hats and tops inspired by Haechi, the symbolic character of Seoul, while participants dressed as Confucian scholars wore blue robes and traditional hats to recreate the appearance of Joseon-era citizens. Despite the rain pooling on the tents and pouring down, citizens enjoyed the festival by taking commemorative photos in their unique outfits. When some participants added white fake mustaches to their traditional costumes, laughter broke out among the group.

Kim Yeonjae (29) and Lee Hoseong (34), a couple dressed in Confucian scholar attire, traveled from Songpa-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu, respectively, braving the rain to join the festival. Kim said, "I enjoy walking so much that I have participated in marathons and walking events before, so I decided to sign up for this as well. Although it's a shame that it is raining, I plan to walk all the way to Nodeul Island, and I think it will be a memorable experience."

Participants of the '2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment' are watching the departure ceremony held at Gyeongbokgung Palace. 2025.09.28 Photo by Kim Youngwon

As this is a festival where people can directly experience history, many families attended for both educational purposes and as an outing with their children. Lee Mira (40), who came with her 8-year-old child and husband, said, "This is not an event that happens often, so I wanted to create memories with my child. Although I'm not sure how far we will get, my plan is to walk to Nodeul Island together." Even after leaving the event area, Lee pointed to the statues at Gwanghwamun Square, whispering to her child, "That's King Sejong," and "That's Admiral Yi Sunshin."

After the departure ceremony, citizens shouted "March forth!" in unison with the sound of the drum beating three times. The procession began at Gwanghwamun Square and continued for 7 kilometers to Nodeul Island. Participants wore sandals to keep their feet dry or placed waterproof covers over comfortable sneakers to protect against the rain. Announcements repeatedly advised that those feeling unwell could use public transportation to reach Nodeul Island.

The procession covered a total distance of 31.3 kilometers, including sections outside of Seoul such as Anyang to Suwon and Dongtan to Hwanggyedong. Notably, the "Sanreung Ritual Royal Procession," which continues from Jeongjo Hyogongwon to Yungneung, was held exclusively in the Hwaseong section.

Due to the rain, the traditional procession featuring King Jeongjo, officials, and horses was canceled in the Seoul section. Scheduled performances, such as yeot vendors and the military band at Deoksugung, Seoul Station, Sookdaeipgu, Samgakji, and Yongsan Station, were also canceled to prevent boredom during the procession. After walking for about two hours and reaching the final destination at Nodeul Island, citizens enjoyed souvenirs, snacks, and drinks before heading home.

Citizens attending the '2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment' are parading from Gwanghwamun to Nodeul Island. Provided by Seoul City

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