Sejong-si, Hansol-dong 'Baekje Burial Mounds' Designated as a Monument

A panoramic photo of the Baekje tumulus group excavated in Hansol-dong, Sejong. Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Cluster has been designated as a cultural monument of Sejong City.

According to Sejong City on the 20th, the Baekje Tumuli Cluster is located in the Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Historical Park. The tumuli cluster, discovered during the urban development process following the establishment of the administrative city development plan, consists of 14 Baekje period tumuli, including seven horizontal stone chamber tombs and seven stone coffin tombs.

The area where the tumuli cluster was confirmed is known to have been a hilly region adjacent to the Geum River, possessing a natural environment suitable for human habitation since prehistoric times.

In particular, the city explained that considering the scale, location, and excavated artifacts of the confirmed tumuli, it is regarded as the central tumuli cluster of the local power that ruled the area at that time.

The construction period of the Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Cluster is estimated to be from the mid-5th century during the Hanseong period to the early Ungjin period.

During this period, horizontal stone chamber tombs show characteristics of gradually decreasing burial chamber size over time and expanding floor plans from square to rectangular and square shapes. The Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Cluster also fully reflects this transitional construction method.

Above all, the city emphasizes that this is the first example where the entire ancient city is fully accompanied, along with nearby urban relics (Naseong-dong relics) and defensive facilities (Naseong-dong earthen fortress), making it highly significant as a new type of historical monument in Korean ancient history.

Yang Wan-sik, Director of the City’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, “The Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Cluster holds great value not only for its historical and academic significance as tumuli but also as evidence of the local power base at that time. We will promote the elevation of the Hansol-dong Baekje Tumuli Cluster to a nationally designated cultural heritage site (historic site) to systematically preserve, manage, and utilize this cultural asset.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.