Suwon Haenggung or 수원 행궁

Joseon Dynasty Guards

I went there with a bunch of our friends from HUFS International Students Association (ISO). Our ISO has been actively inviting and preparing cool stuffs and programs for us--foreign students--to experience Korea in ways beyond our imagination. I mean: They do all the stuffs of preparing numerous arrays of activities that suit our interests. One of them is this one: a cultural trip to Korean heritages.
So, on October 29, 2011 we went to Suwon Haegung which is said to be the best place to see a detached palace architecture of Joseon Dynasty.

If other do it, why don't we?^^

I learned a bit about this architecture which was famous for being the filming location of the phenomenal Dae Jang Geum TV drama--which stirred lots of international interest in Korean past.
=> Oh, that was the reason as to why I saw lots of tourists from Japan, Thailand, China, and other countries, too -- I supposed--who were visiting this palace.

Arrays of Daejanggeum's costumes
from child to adulthood

Ok, this palace was established around Mount Paldalsan under the authority of King Jeongjo(?) hmmm I hope I spelled it right:). It was used as a Suwon government office and a temporary residence or palace for dignitaries I supposed. Oh, let's see when it was built: oh, it was in 1780s or 1790s. Not sure. Gosh, I should have listened or known it. Oh, well.
Anyway, I just came to realize that it was still relatively intact and well preserved.
Of course, it came into existence as an exhibit today thanks to the rigorous Korean government in re-enacting the real-life back then.
Lots of guys dressed in cloaks and olden days' Joseon Dynasty's soldiers greeted all the guests or visitors to the palace...and what's more interesting was that we could take pics with them.



And..that was exactly that drew the flocks of people to see and taste it--I guess.
Actually, there was supposed to be a cultural performance there, but since it was raining ....it was cancelled. too bad, though.

whos' there?

the wall surrounding the palace

So, instead, we went to see the back of the palace and found ourselves trapped within the walls surrounding the palace. We wanted to go up the hills, but instead we were just circling around the area since it was dead-locked. We did not find any way out. So, we might as well take some pictures.
The chilly windy Autumn set in.
It was a nice trip, except for the chilling Autumn. So much so, I did enjoy it all the way.^^