[Enjoy KOREA] Suwon Hwaseong Fortress & Hwaseong Haenggung

[Enjoy KOREA] 

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress & Hwaseong Haenggung

There is a special statue in front of Paldalmun market, Suwon. It is a statue of King Jeongjo, which pours out a drink. Who is the King Jeongjo? He was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty and constructed the Suwon Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Heritage. It isn’t surprising at all that his statue is in front of the market because he made a symbol of Suwon.

Why did King Jeongjo order to construct the Suwon Hwanseong Fortress? There were multiple reasons for it. The most important reason was King Jeongjo's filial piety to his father. It started from the decision of King Jeongjo to move the tomb of his father, Sadoseja who had died a miserable death.  But, there were other reasons: his political strategy to eradicate faction struggles and establish the king-led politics; use of it as a fortress of national defense to the south.

Hwaseong Haenggung is a palace located outside of Seoul where king used to stay when he visited his father’s tomb near it. While the king didn’t stay there, it was used as a kind of office. When night falls and the lights are lit, you can see lots of people enjoy the atmosphere and take pictures of it.

Especially, this is the place of filming of a popular Korean drama, Great Janggeum and a Korean movie, The Royal Jester. It is so popular because it offers a good composition of pictures. If you wanna experience the scene of film, Visit here and enjoy Paldalmun market :-)

[Talk Talk Market] Paldalmun Market, Suwon

[Talk Talk Market] 

Paldalmun Market, Suwon

If you visit Suwon, you can experience lots of things made by King Jungjo in the Joseon Dynasty. Especially, the Paldalmun is very beautiful, which seems to be carved a glorious history on each stone. 

King Jungjo made a market in Paldalmun, a south gate of Hwaseong Fortress, to realize a dream of prosperity and military power by developing commerce at that time. So, we can guess that Paldalmun market is so valuable place. 

He called vendors together and they assemble at the market. The vendors were mercantilists who thought Joseon Dynasty can get national prosperity and military power through commerce and industry.

As you know, Paldalmun market is the oldest market in Suwon. You don’t need to worry that the market is decrepit or the products go out of fashion because of long history.

There are around 250 shops in the market, and a lot of tourists visit here since the market was selected as a culture tourism oriented traditional market in 2011. The surprising thing is that there are many clothing stores in the market like Dongdaemun, Seoul. You can buy clothes, shoes and accessories at a low price.

Paldalmun market, where the King Jungjo’s political, economic and social achievements are alive,  will give you a special memory :-)