03 June 2013

Inspecting Combat-ready Korean Warriors

Hwaseong ("Brilliant Castle") is the fortress surrounding the centre of the city of Suwon, located c. 30 km south of Seoul, South Korea. This fortress was built from 1794 to 1796 CE by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to house and honour the remains of his father Prince Sado, who had been executed by being locked alive inside a rice chest by his own father King Yeongjo after failing to obey the command to commit suicide…

The fortress includes King Jeongjo's palace Haenggung which is the focus of several martial arts performances and festivals (primarily Korean polearms and swordsmanship). The famous Twenty-four Martial Arts (muyedobotongji) are regularly demonstrated following the routine used in King Jeongjo's time as king. The Twenty-four Martial Arts were compiled in 1790 CE by Yi Deokmu and Pak Je-ga, who had received orders as such from King Jeongjo, and Baek Dong-soo, a master of martial arts at that time. These distinctive martial arts were then regularly practised by the warriors of Hwaseong.

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; portrait; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; colour; photography; Asia; East Asia; South Korea; Suwon; Korean swordmanship; martial arts; muyedobotongji; costum; cuture; tradition; Korean man; Hwaseong Haenggung Palace; traditional military attire; martial artist; performer; eye contact; face; eyes; sweat; bokeh; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; travel; travel destination; tourism

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; portrait; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; colour; photography; Asia; East Asia; South Korea; Suwon; Korean swordmanship; martial arts; muyedobotongji; costum; cuture; tradition; Korean man; Hwaseong Haenggung Palace; traditional military attire; martial artist; performer; eye contact; face; eyes; sweat; bokeh; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; travel; travel destination; tourism

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; portrait; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; colour; photography; Asia; East Asia; South Korea; Suwon; Korean swordmanship; martial arts; muyedobotongji; costum; cuture; tradition; Korean man; Hwaseong Haenggung Palace; traditional military attire; martial artist; performer; eye contact; face; eyes; sweat; bokeh; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; travel; travel destination; tourism

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; portrait; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; colour; photography; Asia; East Asia; South Korea; Suwon; Korean swordmanship; martial arts; muyedobotongji; costum; cuture; tradition; Korean man; Hwaseong Haenggung Palace; traditional military attire; martial artist; performer; eye contact; face; eyes; sweat; bokeh; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; travel; travel destination; tourism

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; portrait; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; colour; photography; Asia; East Asia; South Korea; Suwon; Korean swordmanship; martial arts; muyedobotongji; costum; cuture; tradition; Korean man; Hwaseong Haenggung Palace; traditional military attire; martial artist; performer; eye contact; face; eyes; sweat; bokeh; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; travel; travel destination; tourism


Street portraits of Korean people in Matt Hahnewald's