From Gyeongbokgung Palace to Hwaseong Fortress and Yungneung Tomb... ”King Jeongjo's Tomb Procession” to be reenacted next month in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea, together with Gyeonggi-do, Suwon, and Hwaseong, will hold the "2019 Garden Festival" on the 28th of next month, which will recreate the gardening ceremony of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty, in the year of the rabbit in 1795.
On the 29th, they announced that they would hold a "King Jeongjo Great Tomb Procession Joint Reenactment" event. A "wonho" refers to a royal visit by a king to the tomb of his parents during the Joseon Dynasty. The "wonho" event took place in the year of Eul Rabbit in 1795, the year of King Jeongjo's birth.
It was a historic eight-day journey to the tomb of his father, Prince Sado, at Yungneung, together with his mother, Hyegyeonggung Palace Hong. This procession, which was attended by over 6,000 people at the time, is being brought back to life in modern times.
This year marks the eighth time that this joint event has been held. Last year's event was particularly well-received in a consumer satisfaction survey conducted by Financial News and Korea Research on 84 autumn festivals across the country.
This year, a total of 4,600 citizens are scheduled to take part in the procession along the 31.3km stretch from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Hwaseong Fortress and Yungneung Royal Tomb.
First, Seoul City will select citizens through public applications to play key roles such as King Jeongjo and Lady Hyegyeong.
(Seeing the king was considered the same as seeing the light, and the crowds crowded near the procession hoping to catch a glimpse of the king.) 1,300 people were recruited, and a procession of 1,500 people was formed, stretching from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Nodeul Island.
In Suwon, a total of 2,300 people will participate, including a citizen parade of 1,000 people made up of civic groups and clubs, and a re-enactment procession of 1,300 people.
The event will be vividly re-created based on historical research, with the troops and horse messengers at the front, including King Jeongjo and Lady Hyegyeong. Hwaseong City will be hosting a variety of events, including the event at Dongtan Central Park, attended by cosplayers, the general public, and foreigners.
The modern parade procession, which includes 800 people, departs, passes through Hwanggye-dong, passes through Hwanggujicheon Embankment Road, and joins the traditional research procession at Hyeonchung Park. The procession, totaling 800 people, walks to Jeongjohyo Park.
Kim Tae-hee, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Cultural Affairs Department, said, "We are making thorough preparations to revive the filial piety and love for the people of King Jeongjo 230 years ago and to make this a meaningful festival in which all citizens of the four municipalities can participate."
I want to do my best," he said.