Gwanggyo Column by Kim Woo-young I Want to Go Again This Year: 'Taepyeongseongdae' Night Program at Hwaseong Haenggung Palace

I received a lunch invitation from Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon Special Metropolitan City last autumn.

Thirty-five years after the founding of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace Restoration Promotion Committee, a few survivors among the key figures—Lee Hong-gu, Jeon Heung-seop, Song Chul-ho, Kim Sang-yong, Lim Byung-ho, Kim Woo-young—gathered again with Seon-jeong Seo, the wife of former Mayor Shim Jae-deok (who was the director of Suwon Cultural Center at the time and was the central figure in the restoration of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace).

I was grateful to Mayor Lee Jae-jun for not forgetting us and inviting us when the time came.

After lunch, we headed to Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

We went there to experience 'Taepyeongseongdae,' the signature night-time specialized program of Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

Taepyeongseongdae is a World Heritage Application Program by the National Heritage Service of Korea, consisting of two programs: 'Royal Palace Walk with Resident Actors' and 'Hyegyeong-gung Royal Court Dessert Experience.'

Residents directly plan and operate the programs. The actors who perform are residents, and the traditional desserts are also prepared by residents. The Haenggung Village Cooperative, a regional community organization in Haenggung-dong, participated from the planning stage through operation.

'Royal Palace Walk with Resident Actors' is an experiential tour guided by a storyteller. Among the accompanying actors, there are many familiar faces—residents of Haenggung-dong. Residents participate as actors and take visitors around various parts of the palace, conducting stories and opening small events. Sometimes participants themselves become actors, creating a delightful atmosphere. There is no room for boredom or dullness.

Due to circumstances, we experienced it during the day, but had it been at night, we would have experienced the special evening of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

'Hyegyeong-gung Royal Court Dessert Experience' is a culinary program where guests enjoy individual royal court dessert courses with traditional music in the Byeoljoo (a separate pavilion). It is recreated based on 'Wonhaengeulmyojeongni Uigwe,' which records the elaborate feast table from the sixtieth birthday celebration of Hyegyeong-gung, the mother of King Jeongjo, held in 1795.

Sitting on the Byeoljoo's wooden platform and receiving the royal dessert course, I felt truly honored.

This year's dessert experience program has become more abundant than last year.

Three-person tables were newly established for family visitors, and seasonal menus for spring and fall are offered for returning visitors. Additionally, a traditional accessory experience for those wearing hanbok (Korean traditional dress) and instant photo-taking events (one photo per person) are also included.

Last year, 'Royal Palace Walk with Resident Actors' received enthusiastic responses from tourists. It was reportedly so popular that all seats were sold out just five minutes after booking began.

The program was operated over 83 sessions across 32 days in May, June, September, and October, with approximately 2,500 participants ('Hyegyeong-gung Royal Court Dessert Experience: approximately 500, Royal Palace Walk with Resident Actors: approximately 2,000).

Last year's dessert experience and royal palace walk were selected as outstanding cases nationwide by the National Heritage Service of Korea, proving the value of their utilization.

Furthermore, the programs were selected for the '2026 National Heritage Service World Heritage Application Project,' welcoming visitors again this year.

According to Suwon City officials, as this year marks 'Suwon Visit Year,' more polished programs have been prepared. The 'Haenggung Village Cooperative,' composed of residents of Haenggung-dong, participated in planning and operation, reflecting the coexistence of world heritage and the local community in the programs.

The city also announced plans to actively attract overnight tourists by linking the World Heritage Application Program with extended night hours at Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

I hope that 'Taepyeongseongdae,' a sustainable World Heritage application model working with local communities, will continue and that I can participate every year.

However, will these slow hands of mine be able to successfully register before the slots sell out in five minutes?