Suwon Hwaseong Culture Festival kicks off with traditional Korean experiences for guests
Published: 04 Oct. 2024, 15:27
![Visitors color a painting, inspired by byeongpung (folding screen) featuring Hwaseong at this year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/04/a59dabaa-6e93-44ce-9ad2-4e6c7c7f132e.jpg)
Visitors color a painting, inspired by byeongpung (folding screen) featuring Hwaseong at this year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival. [NEWS1]
The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival will kick off its three-day run on Friday in Suwon, Gyeonggi, with multimedia artworks, an AI-assisted traditional play and a hands-on experience at making the very desserts eaten by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival was designated in March as one of Korea's Finest Fests by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the goal of boosting inbound tourists in tandem with the festivals. The festival will receive a total of 660 million won ($494,630) until 2026.
The government-aided Suwon Hwaseong festival will introduce various multilingual performance and experience programs to make traditional Korean culture more accessible to foreign tourists, according to the Culture Ministry. Suwon Hwaseong was one of four main regional government centers during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwaseong Fortress, built to protect the city, was designated as a Unesco World Cultural Heritage site on Dec. 12, 1997 for its historical value.
The festival's programs include the themed performance “Jagunggagyo,” inspired by the 60th birthday banquet held for Lady Haegyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan, the immersive art performance “Hwaryeong,” and the “King's Dessert” experience offering palace-style refreshments. English subtitles will be provided for the traditional Korean opera “Jagunggagyo,” while smart AI glasses will offer translations in Chinese, Japanese and other languages, according to the ministry.
The nighttime performance of “Hwaryeong” will utilize the entire Hwaryeongjeon shrine, where King Jeongjo's portrait is enshrined, creating an immersive experience with surrounding sound and lighting effects.
The pre-registration program, “King's Dessert,” for international visitors, which includes making traditional Korean sweets and enjoying palace-style refreshments, is already fully booked. The "King's Dessert" program has been especially tailored to foreign visitors to make and taste the royal desserts of King Jeongjo's time. All slots have been sold out, according to the Culture Ministry.
“I believe that a festival that Koreans want to visit will soon become a festival that people from all over the world will want to visit,” said Culture Minister Yu In-chon.“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will actively support the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival and other Korean festivals to become global festivals that meet or exceed international standards in terms of tourism infrastructure, including transportation and accommodation.”
The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, along with the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival and Incheon's Pentaport Rock Festival, was selected as one of the Korea's Finest Fest in March.
The Culture Ministry will promote the content and programs of the three domestic festivals from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4 at this year's Taipei International Travel Fair, the biggest professional travel exhibition in Taiwan.
![Visitors play traditional Korean games at Fortification Playpark at last year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival. [SUWON CULTURAL FOUNDATION]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/04/5e5cd1e4-fa6a-4c53-95fc-d299ece6d8e1.jpg)
Visitors play traditional Korean games at Fortification Playpark at last year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival. [SUWON CULTURAL FOUNDATION]
BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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