On October 4, a joint reenactment of King Jeongjo’s royal tomb procession will travel from Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul to Yungneung in Hwaseong.
The event draws attention because it is not simply a street parade, but a historical journey connecting Jeongjo, the burial site of his father Crown Prince Sado, and Yongjusa Temple.
In Hwaseong, events welcoming Jeongjo alongside the procession and a ritual at Yungneung are scheduled.
3-Line Summary
1. The destination of the royal tomb procession is Yungneung in Hwaseong.
2. The distance from Seoul to Yungneung is 31.8 km.
3. Yongjusa is a royal temple rebuilt by Jeongjo.
Yungneung at the End of 31.8 km
The joint reenactment of King Jeongjo’s royal tomb procession in 2026, as announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will take place along a total 31.8 km route from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Yungneung in Hwaseong. Approximately 4,000 (4000) people, including citizens, and 108 horses will participate in the event, reenacting King Jeongjo’s royal tomb procession of 1795.
Programs are organized differently at key points in Seoul, Suwon, and Hwaseong. The Hwaseong section will feature a procession combining modern and traditional segments, the Hwaseong magistrate’s welcome to Jeongjo, and gyeokjaeng, or appeals presented directly to the king. At Yungneung, the procession’s destination, a royal carriage procession for the royal tomb ritual and a memorial rite at Hyeollyungwon are scheduled to take place.
The memorial rite will be broadcast live from Jeongjo Hyo Park, and time is also planned for sharing sacrificial rice cakes with citizens after the rite. The heart of this event lies not simply in the movement itself, but in retracing together the route and rituals Jeongjo followed when visiting the burial site of his father, Crown Prince Sado.
Traces of the Royal Temple Left by Yongjusa
Hwaseong Special City introduced Yongjusa as a representative cultural heritage site ahead of the ‘2026 Jeongjo Hyo Culture Festival·King Jeongjo’s Royal Tomb Procession,’ to be held on October 3. Yongjusa is the headquarters of the 2nd district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located in Songsan-dong, Byeongjeom-gu, Hwaseong.
After moving the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado, to Hwasan—present-day Yungneung—in 1789, Jeongjo extensively rebuilt Yongjusa on the former site of Galyangsa to protect the royal tomb. It is introduced as an unusual example in Joseon, a Confucian state, of a king personally leading the founding of a Buddhist temple.
During his reign, Jeongjo visited this place 13 times to offer Buddhist prayers and prepare for the royal tomb procession. The fact that a red-painted gate remains within the temple grounds is also connected to its status as a royal temple. Yungneung, the royal tomb procession, and Yongjusa are worth viewing together because they are not separate tourist attractions, but places linked by Jeongjo’s filial devotion and royal rituals.
October Continues with Events at Suwon Hwaseong
Cultural events will also continue throughout October in the Suwon Hwaseong area. Suwon City announced that it will hold the 63rd Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival from October 4 through 11, with King Jeongjo’s royal tomb procession taking place on the 4th.
At Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, an entrance performance for King Jeongjo and Lady Hyegyeong Hong and the finale performance of ‘Jeongjo Fantasy’ are scheduled. The Suwon section will also include a Suwon Hwaseong parade involving approximately 1,200 citizens and a reenacted royal tomb procession involving approximately 1,000 people.
If you are planning to attend the event, it is also necessary to check traffic controls along the route. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s notice, sections through which the procession passes on the 4th will be reopened sequentially after controls are imposed.
References
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