'From Changdeokgung to Yungneung and Geoneung' King Jeongjo's Royal Procession Successfully Transforms into 'K-Culture Road'

The 'King Jeongjo's Royal Procession,' preparing for a leap as a 'K-Culture Road,' kicked off the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Cultural Festival on the 4th with a grand parade alongside citizens.

The procession began at Nosong Park, the starting point of the Suwon section, with a scene of Prime Minister Chaejegong welcoming King Jeongjo, and departed from Suwon General Sports Complex at 3:30 p.m., heading toward Jangan Gate.

Suwon Special Metropolitan City Mayor Lee Jaejun participated in the procession alongside citizens from Jangan Gate to Haenggung Plaza. The King Jeongjo's Royal Procession concluded with a King Jeongjo's Palace Entry Performance held at Haenggung Plaza. Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae also attended the palace entry performance event.

This year, 1,200 citizens participated in the parade. A procession of 60 horses and approximately 1,000 people followed the citizen parade, recreating King Jeongjo's 1795 royal progress. Both sides of the road from Suwon General Sports Complex to Haenggung Plaza were packed with spectators.

A grand finale performance was held at Haenggung Plaza. Fusion Korean traditional music band Art-Cudo, National Intangible Cultural Heritage Pyeongtaek Gokma Dance Troupe, and dance crew Team Honey J performed. The procession participants and spectators concluded the event with a traditional communal play.

Meeting with citizens at Haenggung Plaza, Suwon Mayor Lee Jaejun stated, "Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and King Jeongjo are historical and cultural assets representing Suwon and Korea as a whole." He added, "We plan to elevate the historical narrative that connected Seoul's Changdeokgung Palace, Suwon, and Yungneung and Geoneung Tombs 230 years ago into a world-class tourism content."

"In line with the 2026-2027 'Year of Suwon Visit,' we will transform King Jeongjo's Royal Procession into a 'K-Culture Road,'" he explained. "By collaborating with 7 cities between Seoul and Suwon, we will weave together each city's representative festivals and tourism content into one, and develop it into a signature Korean festival that attracts people from around the world," he outlined the plan.