Hwaseong Fortress, A Majestic Blend of History and Military Ingenuity

Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

A grassland in front of the city gate

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Introduction

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon is a historic city from the Joseon Dynasty, built in honor of King Jeongjo's father. The second son of Crown Prince Sado, who was unable to ascend to the throne due to political strife, chose to end his own life in a rice chest. Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress was built in order to relocate the King's remains and the city was moved and rebuilt at the base of Mt. Paldalsan. Hwaseong Fortress was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December of 1997. The fortress wall of Hwaseong Fortress is approximately 5.52 kilometers long and is more practical for military use compared to other cities. The fortress wall consists of a female wall with many shooting holes, which both protect the fortress and attack and observe enemies. The fortress has four city gates in the east, west, south and north directions. The Changan Gate is the north gate, the Paldalmun Gate is the south gate, the Dongmun Gate is the east gate, and the Hwaseomun Gate is the west gate.

Address

Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea