[교육연합신문=이채원 학생기자] 

Seoul is a city where modern life often moves quickly, yet its streets continue to carry traces of Korea’s royal past. On October 4, 2026, this history came to life through King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade, a large-scale reenactment of one of the most significant royal journeys of the Joseon Dynasty. Stretching from Seoul toward Suwon and Hwaseong, the parade recreates King Jeongjo’s historic journey to honor his family and visit his father’s tomb, bringing centuries-old traditions into the streets of modern Korea.

The original journey took place in 1795, when King Jeongjo traveled from Seoul to Hwaseong with his mother, Lady Hyegyeong, to celebrate her 60th birthday. Known as the Eulmyo Year Royal Procession, the eight-day journey was carefully documented in the Wonhaeng Eulmyo Jeongni Uigwe, a detailed record of the royal procession. The 2026 reenactment is based on these historical records and is organized by Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Suwon, and Hwaseong.

The Seoul portion of the parade began at Gyeongbokgung Palace, where a ceremony marked the king’s departure. From there, the procession traveled through the city toward Nodeulnaru Park. Participants dressed in traditional royal clothing recreated the elaborate procession, while performances and a citizen parade added a modern community element to the historical event. In total, the Seoul section covered approximately 7.5 kilometers, allowing spectators to encounter the procession as it moved through familiar city streets.

The parade was not limited to Seoul. The procession continued through Suwon, where visitors could see a royal welcoming ceremony and a parade around Suwon Hwaseong, before continuing toward Hwaseong. In Hwaseong, the event included both modern and traditional sections, ultimately recreating the journey toward Yungneung, the tomb associated with Jeongjo’s father, Crown Prince Sado. Together, the three sections recreated a 31.8-kilometer route, connecting different cities through a shared piece of Korean history.

What makes King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade particularly meaningful is the way it transforms historical records into a living experience. Rather than encountering the Joseon Dynasty only through museum displays or textbooks, visitors can watch the procession pass through the same broader landscape where royal journeys once took place. With more than 4,000 participants and 108 horses involved in the 2026 reenactment, the scale of the event reflects the grandeur of the original procession while allowing modern citizens to participate in preserving its memory.

Today, King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade serves as both a historical reenactment and a cultural celebration. By bringing together Seoul, Suwon, and Hwaseong, the event connects the capital with the places that shaped Jeongjo’s story and allows history to be experienced beyond the walls of a museum. As the procession moves through modern streets filled with cars, buildings, and thousands of spectators, the past briefly becomes part of the present, reminding visitors that history is not simply something preserved—it is something that can still move through the streets around us.