Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was constructed by King Jeongjo (reigning 1777~1800), the 22nd King of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910)
after moving the tomb of his father Sadoseja, Crown Prince, who had been victimized in faction struggles in the court, and put inside a rice chest and had died in it, from Mt. Baebong, Yangju, to Mt. Hwa, Suwon. and the moving of the local government headquarters from near Mt. hwa to the current location under Mt. Paldal, Suwon. The mountain was considered as the best place to build tombs according to the theory of geomancy in those days.
There were multiple reasons for constructing the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. The most important reason was King Jeongjo's filial piety to his father. But, there were other reasons: his political strategy to eradicate faction struggles and establish the king-led politics; use of it as a fortress of national defense to the south.
Using Seonghwajuryak (1793) written by Jeong Yak Yong, government official at Gyujanggak, referring to technology books of the East and the West as the guidebook, the fortress started to be constructed in January 1794, and was completed in September 1796 under the general supervision of Chae Jae Gong, former prime minister and then yeongjungchubusa, and the direction of Jo Sim Tae.
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