Detail

`October 10, 1996 marks the 200th anniversary of the dedication of Suwon Castle, which is often described as the crown jewel of all fortress walls during the Choson dynasty. The filial love of King Chongjo is strongly felt here. It seems to cling to the castle walls like a luxuriant, bright green moss. Originally called Hwasung (``Brilliant Castle``), Suwon Castle was completed in 1796 after over two years of construction on the orders of King Chongjo, the 22nd monarch of the Choson dynasty, in memory of his father, the crown prince Sadoseja. Sadoseja, a victim of court intrigues and factional feuds, was starved to death in a locked wooden rice storage box. Thus, Suwon castle is a symbol of filial piety and political reform. The practical and utilitarian wisdom of sirhak (``Pragmatic studies``) scholars in the 18th century were manifested in the innovative and scientific construction methods employed in building the fortress. Modern equipment such as a mechanical crane and pulleys and a new method of baking bricks were developed and used in erecting the walls of Suwon Castle, which were built in a unique style never found in China and Japan with both defense as well as political and commercial functions in mind. The events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the dedication of Suwon Castle are being held to present the furure course and vision of Suwon as a newly transformed city in the coming 21st century but their true menaing lies in re-illuminating the governing policy of King Chongjo. He was a dutiful son and generous ruler who fostered pragmatic studies and liberal arts and pursued sweeping reform including the implementation of a policy of impartiality aimed at according equal favor in official appointment to men of all political stripes. Marking the occasion, the Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing a Commemorative stamp to bring the public`s attention to the excellence of our cultural assets and to preseve our valuable national cultural heritage for all posterity.`