Kim Chung-young's Suwon Microscope (127) Suwon Developed through Meeting of 'Auspicious Lands' and 'Talented People'

Suwon was geographically positioned in a good location. In addition to that, it developed while meeting outstanding talent.

First, Gwanggyo Mountain, the main peak of the Hannam Jeongmaek that originated from the Baekdudaegan, created Hwasan Mountain on the earth vein. The old town of Suwon, Hwasan, was called the finest auspicious land in Joseon, surrounded by 800 mountain peaks.

The mountain range of Suwon originating from Gwanggyo Mountain enclosed it from east to west, forming a basin, through which Suwon formed a single water system where water from other regions does not flow in. In other words, by handling only the water of its own land, it was not affected by its surroundings, becoming a city safe from water.

Second, Suwon was geographically positioned at the gateway to the capital Seoul. In 1794 (Jeongjo's 18th year), Hong Yang-ho, the Pye Jo Panseo and Yemun Gwan Daeje Hak, stated in the Jangan Gate inscription: "Hwaseong is a great capital and land to be protected. The land faces the sea and borders the Han River, sitting on the boundary of 100 ri from Seoul, drawing Yeongnam and pressing down Honam, with great roads connecting in all directions." This revealed that Suwon was geographically a strategic location.

In feng shui geomancy, graves of deceased people are classified as eum-taek (earth for graves), and homes of living people as yang-taek (earth for houses).

The person who recognized Suwon as an auspicious land was Ki Ja-heon, Left Prime Minister during the Seonjo period. Ki Ja-heon said that the tomb of Seonjo should be placed at Hwasan in Suwon. During the Hyojong period, Yun Sun-do also said that Hwasan in Suwon Province was the best location for Hyojong's tomb. Banggye Yu Hyung-won said that for Suwon to develop, if the municipal seat were moved to the slopes of Palbdal Mountain in Bukbyeong (Northern Plain), it could develop into a great metropolis with 10,000 households.

The person who recognized Suwon's outstanding geographic advantages was King Jeongjo, the great monarch. The person representing Jeongjo's wishes was Park Myeong-won, the Geumseong Wei. On July 11, 1789 (Jeongjo's 13th year) at a court meeting, Park Myeong-won submitted a memorial stating that the reason there was no prince was because Yeongugwon, the tomb of Crown Prince Sado, was in an inauspicious location, and so the tomb should be relocated to an auspicious land.

Jeongjo accepted their arguments and took all of Suwon's geographic advantages. He placed his father Crown Prince Sado's tomb at the eum-taek auspicious land and constructed a new municipal seat and fortress at the yang-taek auspicious land. To carry this out, he employed the finest talents of the time.

He entrusted Jung Yak-yong with the design of Hwaseong, establishing the basic plan for the construction of Hwaseong. He entrusted Chae Je-gong with the position of Prime Minister of Hwaseong Construction and the first Hwaseong Yusu, making him responsible for creating Hyungneung Mausoleum, the new municipal seat, and the construction of Hwaseong. Cho Sim-tae was appointed Suwon Bussa, taking full responsibility for the practical work of Hyungneung Mausoleum, the new municipal seat, and Hwaseong construction. Through their employment, Jeongjo achieved the construction of Hyungneung Mausoleum and Hwaseong, which would remain in history.

Jeongjo instructed: "The historical work (Yeoksa) we have accomplished is not a private matter, so leave detailed records to serve as guidance for future generations." At that time, many records were left, including those of the creation of Hyungneung Mausoleum, the construction of Hwaseong, the performance of Hye-gyeong-gung Hong's 60th birthday celebration, and numerous records such as 'Hongjaejeonjseo' and 'Seungjeongwon Ilgi'.

Those who participated in the construction of Hyungneung Mausoleum, the new municipal seat, and Hwaseong also left many records. These include Jung Yak-yong's 'Yeoyudang Jeonjseo', Chae Je-gong's 'Beonam Jip', and Cho Sim-tae's 'Suwon Buha Jichok Records'. In addition, many who served as Suwon Yusu left collections of writings and relics.

Hwaseong, built with good geographic conditions and the efforts of outstanding talents, became ruins after the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War. Park Myeong-won, a member of Congress, found this regrettable. He included the Suwon Hwaseong restoration project in the national defense heritage restoration project that the Park Chung-hee administration promoted as a major initiative.

He judged that Gyeonggi Provincial Government would become the driving force for Suwon's development and achieved Suwon's selection in 1963. In 1969, he brought in Samsung Electronics, and subsequently attracted Sungkyunkwan University to Suwon. This became the foundation for Suwon's development.

Afterwards, Shim Jae-deok, director of Suwon Cultural Center, took interest in Hwaseong and actively engaged in its promotion. When Gyeonggi Provincial Hospital (Suwon Medical Center), located at the site of Hwaseong Haenggung, decided to build a modern building at the same location, he established the Hwaseong Haenggung Restoration Promotion Committee.

He persuaded Governor Im Sa-bin to relocate Gyeonggi Provincial Hospital next to the tobacco manufacturing facility. As the first elected mayor, he focused on restoring Hwaseong Haenggung. He then devoted himself to registering Suwon Hwaseong as a World Cultural Heritage.

He devoted his full efforts to bringing the 2002 World Cup matches to Suwon. In doing so, he said he could not show foreign tourists shameful restrooms and threw himself into the restroom culture movement. This was a great achievement in changing Korea's restroom culture at once. These activities became an opportunity to advance the global restroom culture improvement movement beyond the Republic of Korea.

Suwon is a place with outstanding geographic advantages. In Suwon, outstanding leaders of the Joseon period such as King Jeongjo, Prime Minister Beoanm Chae Je-gong, Hwaseong Yusu Cho Sim-tae, Congressman Park Myeong-won, and Mayor Shim Jae-deok demonstrated outstanding wisdom at important turning points.

Suwon has grown into a major city nationwide, surpassing the population of Ulsan, a metropolitan city.

However, today's Suwon has a smaller administrative area compared to adjacent cities. It is now time for role-sharing with neighboring growing cities such as Yongin, Hwaseong, Osan, and Pyeongtaek. Strategies in administration, education, cultural tourism, and research and development are needed. It is time to take the outstanding wisdom of our ancestors as a mirror for reference.