'Ijageunnomi,' 'Nochadol,' 'Gimgaenomi'... Please Remember Their Names

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Min-jeong] Who were the true protagonists of Suwon Hwaseong, constructed approximately 230 years ago?

History records King Jeongjo, who ordered the construction; Left Prime Minister Chae Je-gong, who served as Chief Minister overseeing the Hwaseong construction project; Jo Sim-tae, Suwon's provincial magistrate and Gamdongtangsang (supervisor of construction) during the Hwaseong project; and Jeong Yak-yong, who authored the 'Seongseorl,' the fundamental design document for Hwaseong.

And in the 'Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe' (the official records of Hwaseong's construction), the names of carpenters, stonemasons, plasterers, tile workers, blacksmiths, dog-hide workers, painters, and saw operators who actually participated in the construction work remain recorded.

These are people who bore unfamiliar names today: Kim Yuk-son, Kim No-raeng-i, Hwang Shi-wol-soe, Kim Sun-nomi, Yun Bok-soe, Kim Dae-nomi, Kim Gae-bul, Kim Soe-go-chi, Ji Ak-bal, Ijageunnomi, Park Jag-eun-yeo-chul, and many others.

A total of 1,821 artisans participated in the Hwaseong construction project. The Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe records not only these artisans but also 376 administrative officials of the Hwaseong Construction Office and 2,197 names in total.

However, few people remember the names and efforts of the artisans who actually built the fortress. Their names exist only in the records of the Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe.

In response, the Hwaseong Research Association (Chairman Choi Ho-un, Chairman of the Korean National Heritage Keepers Federation) has been holding the 'Suwon Hwaseong Builders' Name Plaques Enshrinement Cultural Festival' with the Buddhist temple Paldal Temple of the Korean Buddhism Seonhak Won Foundation (Head Monk Gak-so) since last year to remember and honor the legacy of these artisans.

The second such event, '2025 Suwon Hwaseong Builders' Name Plaques Enshrinement Cultural Festival,' will be held at Paldal Temple from 2 p.m. on the 18th.

Hosted and organized by the Hwaseong Research Association, co-organized by Paldal Temple, and supported by Gyeonggi Province, Suwon City, Suwon Cultural Center, Suwon Ilbo and others, the enshrinement cultural festival will introduce the background of the name plaques' creation and enshrinement, followed by a Buddhist memorial service (chondojae) featuring traditional fan dances, spiritual hymns, flower offerings, and libations—all in prayer for the artisans' eternal peace and rebirth in paradise.

At this cultural festival, 100 name plaques of builders created by calligraphy artist Kim Chung-young (former Chairman of Hwaseong Research Association, winner of the 2025 Republic of Korea Contemporary Art Exhibition Grand Prize) will be enshrined.

Prior to the main ceremony, at noon starting at 12 p.m., the 'Seongsin Temple Koyuje' (a traditional rite of respect to the fortress's guardian spirit) will be held at Seongsin Temple on Paldalsan.

Following the koyuje, a procession featuring flags bearing the names of all the construction artisans and the 100 name plaques will proceed to Hwaseo Gate.

At Hwaseo Gate, the troupe is received by those representing King Jeongjo and his mother, Hyegyeong Palace, and together they proceed to the front courtyard of Uwhagwan pavilion at Hwaseong Haenggung (the royal palace). The Nakseong Banquet begins at 1:20 p.m.

The Nakseong Banquet begins when the Chief of Protocol relays King Jeongjo's royal command to Chae Je-gong, wishing that 'all the artisans and people gathered at the Nakseong Banquet might enjoy refined pleasures and never forget their virtue.' The celebration features folk performances including drum play against a painted background of phoenixes and herons, decorative tray dances, and dragon performances. Between performances, the names of the 100 artisans are called out to offer them comfort and honor.

After the Nakseong Banquet ends, the procession continues with the musical troupe through the Hwaseong Haenggung and Craft Street to Paldal Temple, where the festival's highlight—the Name Plaques Enshrinement Cultural Festival—begins at 2 p.m.

Choi Ho-un, Chairman of the Hwaseong Research Association, stated, "Over the years, though Hwaseong suffered severe damage, it has been restored, and through the efforts of former Suwon Mayor Shim Jae-duk, we have had the joy of Hwaseong's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hwaseong Haenggung has also been restored, and many domestic and international tourists now visit. However, few have called out the names of the artisans who were the true protagonists of the construction. Though the Hwaseong Research Association and Paldal Temple have taken the initiative, it would be wonderful if Suwon City and the local community actively support this meaningful event so it can grow into an even grander festival in the future."

Abbot Gak-so of Paldal Temple also remarked, "We plan to enshrine many more name plaques in the future, but we lack an appropriate place for them. I hope that Suwon City will provide a shrine where we can properly enshrine these artisans' name plaques."

Meanwhile, the Hwaseong Research Association is recruiting citizens to participate in the name plaques enshrinement cultural festival and the Nakseong Banquet. For inquiries about participating in the event, contact Hwaseong Research Association Office: 010-7228-7223