Royal parade reenactment of King Jeongjo's journey to kick off this week

People watch the starting ceremony for a reenactment at Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, last year. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

King Jeongjo (1752-1800) of the Joseon Dynasty embarked on a journey in 1795, during the 20th year of his reign, traveling from Changdeok Palace in the capital through Suwon Hwaseong Fortress to Yungneung, where his father Crown Prince Sado was buried.

To commemorate his historical event, Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province cities of Suwon and Hwaseong are set to reenact the parade on Sunday and Monday.

The reenactment is a joint festival, showcasing participation from local governments to recreate the journey, which initially began in 1996 in Suwon, to mark the 200th anniversary of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

Since 2016, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has joined in recreating the journey from Changdeok Palace to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Hwaseong City has been participating in the reenactment of the entire voyage, all the way to Yungneung, the royal tomb, since 2017.

The journey of King Jeongjo was a pivotal, large-scale national event aimed at bolstering the king's authority and listening to people’s voices while constructing the Hwaseong Fortress at that time, according to the Suwon Cultural Foundation.

A parade reenacting King Jeonjo's journey takes place on Nodeul Island on the Han River, Oct. 8, 2022. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

This year's event will reenact 43.4 kilometers of the total 59.2-kilometer trip, starting from Changdeok Palace through Suwon Hwaseong Fortress to Yungneung. Seoul will recreate sections from Changdeok Palace to Siheung 5-dong Community Center, while Suwon and Hwaseong will recreate the rest of the journey.

The parade will kick off with a ceremony at Changdeok Palace, and the journey will be reenacted through various sections, involving a total of 200 people leading 20 horses.

After traveling from Changdeok Palace to Sejong Street in Jongno District, the event will feature various programs at Nodeul Island on the Han River. In particular, the Han River crossing will be digitally reenacted using a "media boat bridge" with LED technology, accompanied by a musical performance.

The journey will then continue from Geumcheon District Office to Siheung 5-dong Community Center, marking the end of the Seoul section.

People watch King Jeonjo's royal parade in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last year. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

In Suwon and Hwaseong, a total of 3,750 people will participate, leading 243 horses to reenact the parade, starting from Anyang and concluding at Yungneung, the Royal Tomb of Crown Prince Sado in Hwaseong, after passing through Uiwang and Suwon.

To ensure safety, traffic regulations will be in place in specific sections of Seoul, Suwon and Hwaseong during the parade. Local governments strongly encourage the use of public transportation for citizens planning to visit the event.

“The parade in Suwon is a grand procession, particularly focused on citizen participation this year, aiming to create lasting memories for all,” a Suwon City Government official said.

"We've prepared a variety of events at each location this year and anticipate a significant turnout and enjoyment from citizens," an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government added.