How to Pronounce Suwon

Meaning and Context

Suwon, the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi Province in South Korea, is a dynamic metropolis where Joseon Dynasty history seamlessly intersects with cutting-edge modern industry. Founded in 1796 as a planned city under the orders of King Jeongjo, who moved the royal court to the area and constructed the formidable Hwaseong Fortress to honor his father, Suwon's legacy is permanently etched in stone and culture. This magnificent fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its scientific and aesthetic architecture, remains the city's crown jewel, drawing visitors to its imposing walls, pavilions, and gates. Beyond its historical core, Suwon is a major economic hub, hosting global headquarters for technology giants like Samsung Electronics, which underscores its vital role in South Korea's economy. The city offers a compelling tourism itinerary, from exploring the traditional Suwon Hwaseong Museum and participating in the vibrant Suwon Cultural Festival to enjoying local delicacies such as Suwon galbi (marinated beef ribs). This unique synthesis of a historic fortress city and a modern industrial powerhouse makes Suwon an essential destination for travelers exploring South Korea beyond Seoul.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct Romanization for the city is "Suwon," following the Revised Romanization of Korean system implemented by the South Korean government in 2000. A common historical alternative spelling, derived from the older McCune-Reischauer system, is "Suwŏn," which includes a breve diacritic over the 'o'. This older spelling may still be encountered in some academic texts or older travel guides. Frequent misspellings and typos often arise from phonetic misinterpretations or keyboard errors, with variations such as "Suwon" (incorrectly capitalizing the 'w'), "Suwon," "Sowon," or "Suwan." It is also sometimes mistakenly conflated with or spelled similarly to "Seoul" or "Seowon" (the latter referring to Korean Confucian academies). When searching for information, using the correct "Suwon" is crucial for accurate results, though major search engines often correct the common typos.

Example Sentences

No trip to South Korea is complete without a day spent walking the majestic walls of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.

Many visitors plan their visit to coincide with the annual Suwon Cultural Festival, which brings the city's Joseon-era history to life with reenactments and performances.

While Suwon is famously the home of Samsung's global headquarters, its culinary scene is equally renowned, especially for its succulent Suwon galbi.

We took a direct bus from Seoul to Suwon, which took less than an hour, making it a perfect and easy day trip.

The meticulous restoration of Suwon's historic sites, including the ornate Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, offers a profound glimpse into King Jeongjo's 18th-century vision.

Related Pronunciations

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