Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Palace
Suwon is a beautiful historic city in the south of Seoul, about an hour's drive away. The city is known for its World Heritage-listed defenses built by King Jeongjo (1752–1801) during the Joseon dynasty. In 1794, he relocated the capital from Hanyang (now Seoul) to Suwon. However, the monarch died soon after the castle wall was completed, and Seoul reclaims its status as the capital.
Because of his modern visions, King Jeongjo is considered one of the most successful Kings of the Joseon dynasty. Unfortunately for his family, this was not the case. As his father, Crown Prince Sado, had a tragic fate, King Jeongjo succeeded his grandpa (the King Yeongjo) (he was put to death by his father due to a certain mental illness).
That is why the Hwaseong Fortress was constructed: as a memorial to King Jeongjo's filial piety toward his father. The fortress, too, was a representation of the king's might. However, it was primarily a national defense for the city. Along with this wall, you'll see that it has bastions, artillery towers, signal towers, secret doors, and many other features that are at the cutting edge of military technology at the time. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Location: 320-2 Yonghwa-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Timing: 9 am - 6 pm
