2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment
A 31.3 km Route Across Seoul, Suwon, and Hwaseong
Departure Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace
Attractions Along the Procession Route
The "2025 King Jeongjo Royal Procession Joint Reenactment," in which 5,000 citizens will walk together across Seoul, Gyeonggi, Suwon, and Hwaseong, will take place on the 28th. This large-scale historical and cultural festival revives the "Wonhaeng"-the royal procession undertaken by King Jeongjo in 1795 to honor his father, Crown Prince Sado, accompanied by his mother, Lady Hyegyeong Hong, to Yungneung-in a modern context.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 25th that the event will be held on the 28th, covering a 31.3-kilometer route from Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul to Yungneung in Hwaseong, beginning at 8 a.m. Around 5,000 citizens and 138 horses will participate, recreating the royal procession of that era. Along the routes in Seoul, Suwon, and Hwaseong, a variety of attractions blending tradition, modernity, and the future will be showcased.
The Seoul section of the procession runs from Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Siheung 5-dong Community Center; the Suwon section from Anyang to Suwon; and the Hwaseong section from Dongtan to Hwanggye-dong. Notably, after the main procession arrives at Jeongjo Hyogong Park, the "Sanreung Ritual Royal Procession" continues to Yungneung, an experience unique to the Hwaseong section that is expected to provide both historical significance and emotional resonance.
Citizens participating in this event will be referred to as "Gwangwangminin," a term used for the commoners who gathered to witness the king’s procession during the Joseon Dynasty. Citizens will gather at Gyeongbokgung Palace at 8 a.m. to begin the departure ceremony. Under the theme "A Festival of the People, Becoming a Festival for Citizens," they will walk to Nodeulseom over approximately two hours. Along the route, various spectacles will unfold, including a welcoming ceremony at Deoksugung Palace, a traditional taffy vendor performance at Seoul Station, lion dance at Sookmyung Women’s University Station, pungmul (folk percussion) troupe at Samgakji Station, and a royal military band at Yongsan Station.
Upon arriving at Nodeulseom after the two-hour procession, the "Mi-eum Daban Performance" will reenact the scene of King Jeongjo offering rice gruel to Lady Hyegyeong Hong. There will also be a "History Concert" by popular history lecturer Choi Taesung and a performance by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s children's royal military band.
For the safe operation of the event, traffic will be controlled in certain sections of Seoul, Suwon, and Hwaseong on the 28th. As traffic restrictions will vary by time and location, it is recommended to check detailed traffic information on the websites of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Seoul Traffic Information Center, Suwon City, Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, Hwaseong City Cultural Tourism Foundation, and the Jeongjo Hyo Cultural Festival.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "This year, many citizens will participate in the Seoul section of the procession, making it a meaningful occasion to connect with the legacy of King Jeongjo’s filial piety. We hope many citizens will join us to honor King Jeongjo’s devotion to filial piety, love for the people, and communicative governance, and to fully enjoy the refreshing autumn with their families after a long time."
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