Historians clash with Olympians to preserve South Korean martial arts in Suwon

Hwaseong Haengung martial artists demonstrate a single sword martial art.

Suwon, about 45 minutes south of Seoul, is home to a unique group of martial artists.

These men and women are keeping alive a set of skills used to teach South Korean warriors fighting. Created hundreds of years ago by studying the strengths and weaknesses of other martial arts, these arts are divided into unarmed, armed and horse-mounted styles.

At the daily demonstration only the armed and unarmed styles are performed. The horse-mounted styles are saved for special occasions like the October citizen’s festival.

The performers come from all walks of life, from South Korean history scholars to ex Olympic alternates to local high school students. They train and perform six days a week, and sacrifice a lot to preserve this part of South Korean culture.

Durin the Suwon Citizen’s festival in October, the martial artists get a chance to display the horse martial arts and reenact a night assault on the Hwaseong fortress. Every year a lot of thought goes into making this event special and unique. Fireworks and hundreds of re-enactors take the guise of Japanese soldiers and samurai.

The performance in Suwon has become so popular that they have started a performance in Seoul at Namsan tower. This performance is different in that it is more court based and flows more like a dance, while the one in Suwon is more military based.

They perform every day except Mondays at 11 a.m. from March to December at Hwaseong Haegung in Suwon. The performance is free. Another group performs at Namsan tower in Seoul every day except Monday at 3 p.m.

Bae Guk Jin demonstrates the single sword martial art.

Choi Hyeong Guk demonstrates a mounted martial art at the October night performance.

Hwaseong Haengung martial artists demonstrate a double sword martial art.

Choi Hyeong Guk demonstrates the double sword martial art.

Song Seung Min slices through straw targets at Suwon.

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दक्षिण कोरिया ने हाल ही में एक अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण राष्ट्रपति चुनाव के माध्यम से अपने लोकतांत्रिक विकास की एक निर्णायक दहलीज़ पार की है। यह चुनाव केवल राजनीतिक दलों या व्यक्तित्वों के बीच की टक्कर नहीं था , बल्कि यह शासन , जवाबदेही और राष्ट्र के भविष्य को लेकर व्यापक जनचिंताओं का सजीव प्रतिबिंब बन गया—जिसने पूरे देश में मीडिया सुर्खियों और जनचर्चा को गहराई से प्रभावित किया। हालांकि कुछ दक्षिणपंथी विपक्षी नेताओं ने चुनाव में अनियमितताओं का शोर मचाया , लेकिन इन आरोपों को न तो जनता ने गंभीरता से लिया और न ही मीडिया ने। आधिकारिक परिणाम एक स्पष्ट और निर्विवाद जनादेश के रूप में सामने आए , जो दक्षिण कोरिया के जागरूक और संलग्न मतदाताओं की स्पष्ट इच्छा को दर्शाते हैं। डेमोक्रेटिक पार्टी के ली जे-मयोंग ने एक सूक्ष्म रूप से रणनीतिक और समावेशी चुनाव अभियान चलाया , जिसका उद्देश्य राजनीतिक ध्रुवीकरण को पाटना था। उन्होंने केवल पार्टी के परंपरागत समर्थकों को ही नहीं , बल्कि उन मध्यपंथी और उदार दक्षिणपंथी मतदाताओं को भी संबोधित किया , जो बढ़ती राजनीतिक कट्टरता से थक चुके थे। उनका चुनाव...

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