Held at the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, the Jangyongyeong Guard Ceremony is a re-enactment of a ritual performed by the Royal guards of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty). On December 4, 1997, Hwaseong was registered as a World Cultural Heritage at the meeting of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee.

Created by the king to strengthen his authority, today the guard-ceremony re-enactment is an international cultural event and a worthwhile historic, cultural, and tourist destination. It is based on thorough historical research and enables weekend visitors to learn about a part of Suwon’s history.

Event Program: Hwaseong Haenggung Palace was built at the eastern foot of Mt. Paldalsan after Sineupchi was constructed in Suwon in 1789, during the 13th year of King Jeongju’s reign. In the beginning, it was used both as the Suwon government office and the country palace. New palace walls were constructed from 1794-1796, enlarging it to its present size. The largest and most beautiful of all country palaces in Korea, it was here that King Jeongjo held a banquet in honor of his mother Hyegyeonggung Hong.

To commemorate Hwaseong Haenggung’s history, various traditional events are re-enacted here every Sunday. The most important of these events is the Jangyongyeong Guard Ceremony. At the drumbeat, King Jeongjo appears at Haenggung in golden armor, with the Jangyongyeong guards acting as his escort. Afterwards, the changing-of-the-guards ceremony, the Gungseongmun gate-opening ceremony, the king’s procession, and the archery and rifle-firing demonstrations are held in order. The hour-long program with a closing ceremony is as interesting as watching a historical drama. This event has been named as one of Korea’s 13 Best Cultural and Tourism Permanent Programs designated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2004.

Event Highlight: The Jangyongyeong Guard Ceremony also offers visitor participatory events. These include hitting the huge drum, firing a rifle used during the Joseon period, acting as an escort for King Jeongjo, and having your photo taken with the performers. The drum beating and king’s escort events require online application in advance. All others are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
 
Performance Times 
14:00 on every Saturday 
 
Admission/Participation Fees 
Free of charge