Large Quantity of Goryeo and Joseon Artifacts Discovered in Cheongwadae Area (Comprehensive)

'Gyeongbokgung Palace Rear Garden Basic Survey Research' Results Released
Pottery, Porcelain, Onggi, Tile Fragments Discovered
"Must Move Beyond Simple Curiosity-Driven Viewing"

Fragments of roof tiles presumed to date back to the Goryeo period were discovered in the Cheongwadae area, where it is said that a secondary palace (a detached royal residence outside the main palace) existed during the reign of King Sukjong of Goryeo. Traces of the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace from the Joseon Dynasty were also confirmed, highlighting the urgent need for historical value assessment and investigation.

The Cultural Heritage Administration’s Office of Palaces and Royal Tombs disclosed on the 3rd the results of the "Basic Survey Research on the Rear Garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace," commissioned to the Korean Architectural History Society and others, aimed at confirming the historical value of the Cheongwadae area, which was opened to the public in May last year, and establishing a systematic foundation for preservation and management. According to the findings, artifacts presumed to have been used during the Goryeo and Joseon periods were identified at eight locations. Small-sized earthenware, porcelain, Onggi (traditional Korean earthenware), and roof tile fragments were found southwest of the Cheongwadae main building. Roof tile fragments, porcelain, white porcelain, and Jeondol (roof ridge tiles) were recovered around Chinryugak and the palace walls (Gungjang).

The research team evaluated, "A considerable number of artifacts were scattered here and there," adding, "Most of the recovered items are roof tiles, and artifacts that can be identified as both Joseon and Goryeo roof tiles were confirmed, suggesting the possibility that building sites related to Namgyeong of Goryeo are buried here." They further recommended, "A precise investigation should be conducted to define the exact scope of technical research and to locate traces of artifacts."

Records concerning Namgyeong can be found in historical texts such as the "Goryeosa" and "Goryeosa Jeolyo." Kim Wi-je, a Goryeo official in charge of alcohol, submitted a memorial to King Sukjong requesting the establishment of a capital city south of Bukhansan and north of Namsan. The geomancer Choi Sa-chu was tasked with surveying the terrain, leading to the establishment of the Namgyeong Construction Office and the completion of the palace according to the landscape. The Goryeo royal family designated Namgyeong as one of the three capitals alongside Seogyeong (Pyongyang) and Donggyeong (Gyeongju), assigning it a central role in regional administration. However, detailed information remains unknown due to a lack of related historical materials, causing research to stagnate.

The case of the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace is the opposite. The "Annals of King Gojong," "Ilseongnok," "Seungjeongwon Ilgi," "Gyeongbokgung Reconstruction Diary," "Palace Records," and "Juyeonseonjip" contain records of the purposes, functions, and histories of each space. Thanks to this, three experts were able to produce meaningful results in this recent investigation by visually comparing old aerial photographs and building layout maps. A representative finding was the report that the palace walls in the Cheongwadae area coincide with the palace walls of the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Stones engraved with the characters '영 (營)' or '훈 (訓)' were also found in three locations at the base of the walls.

The research team clearly stated in the report that comprehensive investigations across various fields are necessary. They emphasized, "The current mode of use remains a simple, curiosity-driven viewing experience targeting a very limited historical period, without an established concept of basic investigation and preservation," and stressed, "It is essential to fully recognize the true historical value of the rear garden area of Gyeongbokgung Palace and to establish a foundation that enables systematic preservation, management, and utilization."

Over the past seven months, approximately 2.78 million visitors have toured Cheongwadae. The government has set historical preservation and utilization as a national agenda beyond mere public opening and has been reviewing concrete measures. The results of this investigation serve as foundational data. It covers the historical transitions from the Goryeo period to the time before the opening of Cheongwadae, focusing on the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The current status by field was summarized, and the cultural and natural heritage values were also evaluated.

The Office of Palaces and Royal Tombs stated, "It has been proven that various historical layers exist around the walls and in the eastern area of Cheongwadae, where topographical changes are minimal," adding, "It can be said that the need for systematic preservation and management has been raised along with the judgment that there are historical, academic, and scenic values." The Cultural Heritage Administration also said, "We will strive to clarify the historical value of the Cheongwadae area and ensure preservation and utilization for the public."

Whether additional investigations will be conducted will be decided by the Cheongwadae Management and Utilization Advisory Group of the Presidential Office, which includes experts in history, culture, arts, and tourism. Although a detailed roadmap was initially planned to be announced by the end of last year, there has been no news so far.

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