Sejong-si Acquires 2,510 Locally Excavated State-Owned Cultural Assets

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 21 Apr.2022 08:45(KST)

Photos of state-owned buried cultural heritage items such as pottery, porcelain, iron swords, and iron plates, exhibited by the Sejong City Folk Museum after being acquired from the Samhan Cultural Heritage Research Institute. These artifacts were excavated around Yongho-ri and Hapgang-ri during the construction of the 5th living zone in Sejong City. Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City announced on the 21st that it has taken over 2,510 nationally owned burial cultural assets excavated in the region, which were stored by the Samhan Cultural Heritage Research Institute (excavation agency), through the Sejong City Folklore Museum.

This transfer of nationally owned cultural assets is the first case following the designation of the Sejong City Folklore Museum last month as the entrusted institution for the storage and management of nationally owned cultural assets.

The acquired artifacts were excavated during the construction of the five living zones in Sejong City, including Yongho-ri and Hapgang-ri. The artifacts include beads, bronze mirrors, bronze boxes, bronze spoons, earthenware, and porcelain used from the prehistoric to the Joseon Dynasty periods.

In particular, an iron sword decorated with the Gweolsu pattern (Gorari design) from the Iron Age and an integrated iron spearhead attract attention.

The Gweolsu pattern iron sword has been frequently found in the tombs of the ruling class in the Yeongnam region, and the integrated iron spearhead is introduced by the city as one of only four examples excavated domestically.

The iron spearhead excavated in Sejong is the longest in the country (199 cm), providing insight into cultural exchanges and the status of the ruling class during the Iron Age at the Jiyiyeok site in Yongho-ri.

Lee Chun-hee, mayor of Sejong City, said, “We will actively utilize nationally owned artifacts in the local heritage museum exhibitions to promote the history and culture of Sejong.”