Revealing the Secrets of Shipwrecks in the Gogunsan Archipelago Waters

Long-term Investigation Initiated by Haeyang Munhwajae Yeonguso
Utilizing Latest Equipment Including Multibeam Echo Sounder

Underwater excavation surveys will begin in the Gogeunsan Archipelago waters of Okdo-myeon, Gunsan City.

The National Maritime Cultural Heritage Research Institute held a water-opening ritual (開水祭) on the 26th to pray for the safety of the excavation team and embarked on a long-term investigation. The Gogeunsan Archipelago waters refer to the area encompassing islands such as Seonyudo, Munyeodo, Sinsido, and Jangjado. According to the 1872 "Gogeunsanjin Map," it was a stopover point on international trade routes and a key location on the West Coast coastal route. Transport ships anchored here to shelter from the wind or wait. According to the Seonhwabongsa Goryeodogyeong, there was also Gunsanjeong (群山亭) on Seonyudo, where envoys coming to Goryeo stayed. The Seonhwabongsa Goryeodogyeong is a travel report written by Song Dynasty envoy Seo Geung in 1123 based on his observations.

In 2020, the National Maritime Cultural Heritage Research Institute received a report of underwater cultural heritage discovery in this area. The following year, a 60-day investigation confirmed 125 pieces of Goryeo celadon, 9 pieces of Buncheong ware, 49 pieces of white porcelain, and 3 anchor stones. Among them, 81 celadon bowls and plates were found stacked in bulk as cargo. Wooden anchors, oars, and anchor stones, tools used on ships, were also found together, suggesting a high possibility that an old ship was shipwrecked.

The current investigation will deploy the latest equipment, including the underwater excavation vessel "Nurianho." A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "We plan to secure underwater images of the Gogeunsan Archipelago seabed using three-dimensional (3D) stratigraphic survey equipment and multibeam echo sounders, and conduct surveys to detect anomalies simultaneously." The multibeam echo sounder is a device that measures water depth based on the speed and time of sound waves reflected from the seabed. It can measure a wider area than before and visualize the seabed surface in 3D.

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