[Gyeongju APEC] Cheonmachong Gold Crown Gifted to 'Gold-Loving' Trump... Weighs 1.3kg

The Largest Silla Gold Crown Ever Discovered
Adorned with 58 Gokok and More Pendants Than Any Other Crown

The original 'Cheonmachong Gold Crown' model, which President Lee Jae-myung presented as a gift to U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit to Korea, is a cultural heritage of Silla. Among Silla artifacts, which are famous for their ornate gold crowns, it is known as the largest and most magnificent.

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 29th, the Cheonmachong Gold Crown is believed to have been crafted in the early 6th century during the Silla period. It is currently housed at the Gyeongju National Museum, having been discovered at Cheonmachong Tomb in Gyeongju in 1973, and was designated as National Treasure No. 188.

President Lee Jae-myung is shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump after presenting him with a 'Cheonmachong Gold Crown Model' at Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongbuk on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Silla was so renowned for its gold craftsmanship that it earned the nickname "the country of gold," and numerous gold crowns have been unearthed as a result. However, the Cheonmachong Gold Crown is especially famous for its exceptional size and splendor. It stands 32.5 centimeters tall, featuring three branch-shaped ornaments and two deer antler-shaped decorations. The crown weighs 1.3 kilograms.

The branch-shaped ornaments on the crown are interpreted as representations of the sacred tree connecting heaven and earth. The crown thus symbolizes the absolute power held by the king who wore it.

The crown is also notable for its various decorative elements. It is adorned with 58 comma-shaped jade beads (gokok) carved into crescent shapes, and it features more shallow metal pendants than other crowns, making it especially dazzling. Lee Hansang, a professor of history and culture at Daejeon University and an expert in metal crafts from the Three Kingdoms period, described the Cheonmachong Gold Crown as a "time capsule containing Silla," emphasizing that "the Cheonmachong Gold Crown represents the golden culture of Silla."

Meanwhile, following the official welcoming ceremony on this day, President Lee presented President Trump with the Cheonmachong Gold Crown model as a commemorative gift for his visit to Korea. In addition, the highest government honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, was also conferred. President Lee stated, "The people of the Republic of Korea present this to President Trump with special gratitude," to which President Trump, admiring the medal, responded, "We will continue to strengthen the alliance between our countries," and added, "It is so beautiful that I want to wear it right away."

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