Sejong's First Historic Site Is a Baekje Tomb: "Reveals the Reality of Local Autonomy"

Sejong Hansol-dong Ancient Tombs: Extra-large Stone Chamber and Burial Passage
"Confirmation of an Independent Local Power"

Tomb relics that provide a glimpse into the existence of regional power bases during the Baekje period will now be managed as national heritage sites.

The National Heritage Administration announced on September 11 that the Baekje-era tomb cluster in Hansol-dong, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, known as the "Sejong Hansol-dong Ancient Tombs," has been designated as a Historic Site. The relics were discovered during the development of the Multifunctional Administrative City. Excavations conducted from 2006 to 2009 identified forty-eight ancient tombs and residential sites believed to have been constructed during the Baekje period. All of them are thought to have been built around the year 475, when Baekje moved its capital to Ungjin (present-day Gongju, South Chungcheong Province).

Currently, seven horizontal stone chamber tombs and seven stone-lined tombs have been restored. The horizontal stone chamber tombs, also known as "hyeonghyeol-sik seoksilmyeo," are characterized by a stone-lined side passage leading into the burial chamber. Stone-lined tombs refer to tombs built with stone walls but without a passageway.

The most notable tomb is Tomb No. 2. Compared to other horizontal stone chamber tombs built around the same time, it is larger in scale and features a long, sloped passage with entrance stones, known as "myodo chulipseok," still remaining. These entrance stones are placed at regular intervals along the temporary passage used to carry the body into the tomb. The fact that both the passage and the burial chamber are underground is a unique feature not commonly seen in other horizontal stone chamber tombs.

With this designation, the Hansol-dong Ancient Tombs have become Sejong's first Historic Site. The academic community expects the site to serve as valuable material for understanding the historical background and significance of the Sejong area in the future. The National Heritage Administration explained, "Along with the nearby Naseong-dong urban relics and earthen fortifications, the existence of these large and elaborate tombs suggests that a powerful local force was based in this region."

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