Suwon Hwaseong, Joa hotel

Originally, the center of Suwon was located at the foot of Mt. Hwasan, about eight kilometers away from its current location. King Jeongjo, the 21st king of the Joseon Dynasty, moved the tomb (Yungneung) of his father Crown Prince Sado from Mt.Baebongsan in Yangju to the current location of Mt. Hwasan in Suwon in the 13th year of his reign (1798). The village and houses below it were moved collectively to the foot of Mt. Paldalsan, forming the beginnings of the Suwon city of today. King Jeongjo launched the fortress construction to express his filial piety for his father and to strengthen the royal authority in the 18th year of his reign (1794). The construction was completed in 1796.

Hwaseong Fortress was built by Jo Sim-tae, county governor of Hwaseong, under the supervision of Prime Minister, Chae Je-gong, based on the theories of fortress designs of Yu Hyeong-won and Jeong Yak-yong, scholars of the Practical School. The most scientific of all fortress walls in Korea, its structures are elaborately arranged, assuming graceful and majestic aspects. Noting a few special features of the fortress: stone and mud bricks used in combination were a modern structure of defense that was prepared for not only against arrows spears and swords, but also against guns; these materials were standardized and machines such as conventional cranes were used. Hwaseong Fortress was registered as a World Cultural Heritage at the 21st General Meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, held in Naples, Italy on December 4, 1997.

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