Hwaseong

Hwaseong refers to two related places in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon and Hwaseong City (Hwaseong-si). The fortress is the better known of the two and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hwaseong Fortress is a late 18th-century fortress built during the Joseon Dynasty under King Jeongjo. Construction ran from 1794 to 1796, with planning and design influenced by court scholars, including Jeong Yak-yong. The walls encircle much of Suwon and incorporate watchtowers, gates, and the royal Haenggung palace within the complex. The site is recognized for its architectural synthesis of traditional fortress concepts with practical, innovative features of the period, including purpose-built gun platforms and advanced surveying methods. The fortress remains a major cultural landmark and a popular destination for visitors seeking to understand Joseon-era military architecture and urban planning.

Hwaseong-si is a city in Gyeonggi Province that lies within the Seoul metropolitan area, to the west of Suwon. It has experienced rapid urban growth as part of suburban expansion around Seoul, with residential districts, industrial zones, and logistics facilities. The city is connected to surrounding regions by major transportation networks and serves as a hub for living and economic activity in the western part of the province.

Together, the name Hwaseong reflects both a historic fortress that commemorates Joseon-era statecraft and a modern urban municipality that forms part of the greater Seoul region.