"Are They Really Korean?" Silla Burial Mound 'Thoughtless Photo' Sparks Regret as Seo Kyung-duk Laments Annual Recurrence

Seo Kyungduk: "It Is Regrettable That Such Incidents Occur Every Year in a Historic City"

Controversy has arisen in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, as a child was seen climbing on top of a Silla-era burial mound, just ahead of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

A recent scene captured of a child climbing on top of a Silla tomb in Gyeongju. Online community

Recently, a photo was released on social networking services (SNS) showing a child standing atop a Silla tomb while a man, presumed to be the child's father, takes a picture of the child with his smartphone from below.

The netizen who took the photo expressed frustration, saying, "I wonder if they are really Korean, and why they are acting this way when even other children are trying to climb up."

The Gyeongju area, which was the capital of Silla, is home to dozens of large and small burial mounds, including the Daereungwon Tomb Complex in Hwangnam-dong, the Nodong-dong Tumuli, and the Noseo-dong Tumuli. However, incidents raising concerns about damage to these heritage sites have continued. At last year's Gyeongju Silla Cultural Festival Hwarang Hip Hop Festa, a young man was seen dancing on top of a burial mound.

At last year's Gyeongju Silla Cultural Festival Hwarang Hip Hop Festa, a young man was seen dancing on top of a burial mound (left), and in 2020, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) was parked on top of a burial mound in the Jjoksaem district. Online community

In 2020, a man in his twenties sparked controversy by parking a sports utility vehicle (SUV) on top of a burial mound in the Jjoksaem district. The Jjoksaem district contains royal and aristocratic tombs from the 4th to 6th centuries. According to the current Cultural Heritage Protection Act, anyone who interferes with the management activities of a national heritage management organization without legitimate reason may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

The man claimed that he did not know it was a burial mound, and the prosecution, accepting this explanation, suspended his indictment on the condition that he perform 40 hours of community service related to cultural heritage.

Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, pointed out, "It is regrettable that such incidents occur every year in Korea's representative historic city." He further emphasized, "While efforts by relevant government ministries and local governments to address the issue are important, above all, tourists themselves must better observe basic etiquette regarding cultural heritage."