Kim Chung-young's Suwon Microscope (133) Professor Kim Dong-wook: "Suwon Hwaseong is My Beginning and My End"

Behind the registration of Suwon Hwaseong as a UNESCO World Heritage Site lay the participation and efforts of many people, with Sim Jae-deok, the first elected Suwon Mayor, leading the charge.

Prior to that, it was Professor Kim Dong-wook of the Department of Architecture at Kyonggi University who theoretically presented to Mayor Sim the value of Suwon Hwaseong as a world cultural heritage site.

Professor Kim graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Korea University in 1974 and joined Hyundai Engineering and Construction, but later left to study Korean architecture. After entering the graduate school at Korea University, he became interested in Suwon Hwaseong, which had not yet begun restoration work, and while frequently visiting Suwon Hwaseong, he obtained and began reading a facsimile of the "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe" (Record of the Construction of Hwaseong).

After obtaining his master's degree, he became a research student at Waseda University through a graduate student exchange program between Korea University and Waseda University in Japan. In 1978, he entered the doctoral program at Waseda University. Around this time, Professor Kang Man-gil from the Department of History at Korea University came as an exchange professor at Waseda University. Under Professor Kang's guidance in reading the "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe," he became even more deeply immersed in Suwon Hwaseong.

In 1980, he presented four papers on the theme of "Suwon Hwaseong Research" at the spring and fall academic conferences of the Architectural Institute of Japan.

After returning to Korea in 1982, he joined Kyonggi University as a professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering. His connection with Suwon Hwaseong deepened further.

Beginning with a paper titled "Introductory Research on the Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe" in 1982, he published papers in 1983 titled "On the Use of Bricks in Suwon Fortress Wall" and "Basic Research for the Restoration of Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung (Royal Pavilion)."

In 1989, "Suwon Hwaseong," which he authored, was published in the "Colorful Books" (Bitkkali-issneun Chaek) series, contributing greatly to raising awareness of Suwon Hwaseong.

In 1989, a plan to rebuild the "Gyeonggi Provincial Suwon Medical Center," which was located at the Hwaseong Haenggung site, was announced. The plan was to demolish the deteriorated hospital and build a modernized hospital in its place. Sim Jae-deok, who was then director of the Suwon Cultural Center and was promoting the restoration of Hwaseong Haenggung, requested that local historian Lee Seung-eon conduct research to uncover materials related to Hwaseong Haenggung.

In late May 1989, Lee Seung-eon informed Cultural Center Director Sim Jae-deok that a "Hwaseong Haenggung Map" existed in the Kyujanggak Archives at Seoul National University, which led to the formation of the "Hwaseong Haenggung Restoration Promotion Committee."

At that time, 81 representatives from various sectors of Suwon's cultural and leadership circles were selected for the Haenggung restoration promotion committee, and Professor Kim Dong-wook was the only academic expert to participate.

Through his involvement with the Hwaseong Haenggung Restoration Promotion Committee, Professor Kim became increasingly engaged in research on Suwon Hwaseong and various related activities.

In 1994, he presented research on material transport mechanisms used in the construction of Suwon Hwaseong and the significance of Suwon Hwaseong's construction and urban development at the general meeting of the "200th Anniversary Commemoration Society of Hwaseong Construction."

Additionally, coinciding with the 200th anniversary commemoration project of Hwaseong's construction, he published the booklet "18th-Century Architectural Thought and Practice—Suwon Fortress," contributing to the commemorative project.

From 1995 onwards, he participated as a consultant for the Hwaseong Haenggung restoration project in his capacity as a cultural heritage specialist for the Cultural Heritage Administration, advising on historical verification and construction progress. Through his efforts, the first phase of the Hwaseong Haenggung restoration project was successfully completed in 2003.

Professor Kim also made a significant contribution to the process of Hwaseong's registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In March 1996, the Cultural Heritage Administration decided to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status for Korea's representative fortresses and palaces. For the palace, Changdeokgung was nominated, and for fortresses, opinions were raised to apply for Namhansanseong in Gwangju and Samnyeonsanseong in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province.

However, Professor Kim, who had long studied Suwon Hwaseong, argued that Suwon Hwaseong should be applied for UNESCO World Heritage status. By explaining the cultural value and excellence of Suwon Hwaseong, and particularly the value of the "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe," the pinnacle of documentary culture, Professor Kim played a decisive role in the decision to designate Suwon Hwaseong as a UNESCO World Heritage candidate in 1997.

Professor Kim also played a significant role in advising during the process of preparing Suwon Hwaseong's UNESCO World Heritage registration application. In March 1997, there was an on-site inspection by the World Heritage Committee, with Professor Nimal De Silva from Sri Lanka, affiliated with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), conducting the inspection. When he visited Suwon to inspect Suwon Hwaseong, it was Professor Kim Dong-wook who explained the excellence and value of Suwon Hwaseong.

When Inspector Professor De Silva raised issues with the restored portions of Suwon Hwaseong, he explained that the "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe" existed and that the restoration was based on design drawings.

However, when members of the World Heritage Committee questioned that Suwon Hwaseong was not in its original form, Mayor Sim Jae-deok personally traveled to Paris, France with the "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe" to explain its significance. Backed by Mayor Sim's dedication, Suwon Hwaseong was highly valued and ultimately registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Professor Kim Dong-wook was captivated by Suwon Hwaseong and spent his entire life with it. While serving as an academic member of the Korean Society of Architectural History and as a cultural heritage specialist, Professor Kim conducted research and provided consultation on architectural cultural heritage throughout the nation. Regarding Suwon Hwaseong, he authored approximately 40 research papers and published works including "Suwon Hwaseong (Colorful Books)," "Research on Korean Architectural Construction History," "18th-Century Architectural Thought and Practice—Suwon Fortress," "Suwon Hwaseong: Joseon's New City Built with the Spirit of Practical Learning," and co-authored works such as "18th-Century New Cities and 20th-Century New Cities," "Research on the Ritual Ceremonies and Architectural Characteristics of Hwaryeongjeong," "Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe Terminology Collection," and "Hwaryeongjeong: A Rational Ritual Space in Suwon."

He is currently writing a work titled "The Influence of 18th-Century Suwon Hwaseong Construction Technology on the Late Joseon Building Environment."

Professor Kim Dong-wook reflected, "My connection with Suwon Hwaseong is a companion in the path of a happy scholar and an inexhaustible spring," and "Suwon Hwaseong is the beginning and the end of Kim Dong-wook."