A performer representing young Princess Hwasun runs during an immersive program titled "Princess Hwasun — The Mystery of the Love Letter Hidden in Her Green Wedding Robe," at Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, Oct. 22. Yonhap
Princess Hwasun (1720-58), the daughter of King Yeongjo the 21st king of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, is remembered for her poignant love story. Now, her tale is being told in an immersive and high-tech way at Seoul's royal palaces, offering visitors a unique glimpse into her life.
Titled "Princess Hwasun — The Mystery of the Love Letter Hidden in Her Green Wedding Robe," it runs through Sunday as part of the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign. This special program weaves together a tour of Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, integrating the narrative of the Royalty Route — a key heritage course of the campaign.
The experience begins at 8 a.m. with a tranquil morning walk through Changdeok Palace, a rare opportunity made even more engaging through interactive missions and performances that revive moments from Princess Hwasun's life.
Visitors are equipped with a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, which helps uncover the secrets behind Princess Hwasun's wedding. After a brief orientation by a cultural heritage expert, guests are invited to participate in the restoration of an old letter discovered in the princess's green ceremonial robe.
The journey involves an interactive component whereby participants scan QR codes using a special application to collect details about the princess and help prepare her wedding ceremony.
At Injeongmun Gate, a young girl dressed in hanbok (traditional Korean attire) joyfully runs to meet her brother, recently recovered from illness. This girl is none other than the young Princess Hwasun. Her energetic appearance is followed by Minister Kim Heung-gyeom and his son, Han-sin, who unknowingly begins a lifelong romance with the princess after picking up a handkerchief she drops.
As the tour continues through various palace halls, participants temporarily step into the role of potential suitors for Princess Hwasun, experiencing the selection process for a royal spouse.
Participants to "Princess Hwasun — The Mystery of the Love Letter Hidden in Her Green Wedding Robe" scan QR codes with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 at Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, Oct. 22. Yonhap
The immersive experience extends to the Secret Garden, where visitors collect symbolic items for a traditional Korean wedding, such as a nokwonsam (ceremonial robe), unhye (traditional Korean formal shoes), a jeweled hairpin and live wild geese, which represent eternal love in traditional Korean weddings.
Throughout the journey, performers appear at key moments to reenact the love story between Princess Hwasun and Kim Han-sin, wrapping up in a traditional wedding ceremony complete with dance performances, followed by an epilogue delivered by a cultural heritage expert, who recounts the end of their love story — Kim Han-sin dies at the young age of 37, and the princess, devastated, fasts for 14 days before passing away.
Traditionally, Princess Hwasun's actions were considered virtuous in traditional Confucian values, but the program also reflects on King Yeongjo's possible feelings of grief over the untimely death of his daughter. This emotional thread leads the tour through a newly restored gate connecting Changgyeong Palace and Jongmyo Shrine.
The tour concludes at Jongmyo's Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, home to the ancestral tablets of Joseon kings and queens, where participants are encouraged to reflect on the reconciliation of Princess Hwasun with her father.
Designed to be accessible to international visitors, there is an English version of the application and the smartphone's Interpreter Mode facilitates face-to-face translations.
Gilson, a Brazilian photographer who has lived in Korea for eight years, was pleased with the program, gaining a fresh perspective on Joseon's royal palaces.
"I've been to Changdeok Palace before, but never visited Changgyeong Palace or Jongmyo Shrine. I think the reenactment scenes added so much emotion. Usually, when you come to the palace, you just see the buildings. This made it more interesting,” he said.