Suwon Hwaseong Paldalmun 'Fortress Wall Connection Project' Begins

The 'Fortress Wall Connection Project' to link the broken fortress walls around Paldalmun of Suwon Hwaseong has begun in earnest with the start of building demolition.

According to Suwon City on the 29th, asbestos removal and interior demolition of buildings subject to the project around Paldalmun have been underway since the third week of August.

The city plans to install protective barriers at the construction site in September after completing interior demolition, then proceed with the demolition of the building structures themselves. The demolition work is scheduled to be completed by December.

During the demolition process, measuring instruments will be installed on adjacent buildings to monitor for any damage such as cracks. This is a precautionary measure to prevent safety accidents and damage to surrounding buildings, given the dense concentration of buildings around Paldalmun.

Paldalmun is the south gate of Suwon Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Heritage site. When it was originally constructed, the left and right fortress walls were connected, but since modern times, roads and commercial buildings have been built, breaking the fortress wall. As a result, the Suwon Hwaseong fortress wall trail does not continue consecutively at the Paldalmun section.

Suwon City is pursuing the Fortress Wall Connection Project with the goal of restoring the historical landscape of Suwon Hwaseong and expanding the tourism infrastructure by organizing the surrounding cultural heritage protection areas.

The specific usage plan for the site after building demolition has not yet been determined. The city is reviewing measures to safely and cleanly manage the site until excavation surveys are conducted. Following excavation surveys, the city will comprehensively consider traffic and urban disconnection issues to determine the method of fortress wall connection and the scope of restoration. The overall project is expected to continue until 2040.

When the Paldalmun Fortress Wall Connection Project is completed, the historical landscape of the broken Suwon Hwaseong and the continuity of the fortress wall trail are expected to be restored, and it is also anticipated to help invigorate tourism by linking Paldalmun with nearby traditional markets.

A Suwon City official stated, "Basically, the principle is restoring the fortress wall to its original form, but the plan can change depending on what remains are confirmed through excavation surveys," and added, "Until the survey is conducted, we are reviewing ways to manage the demolished site as a safe and aesthetically clean space."