Geumgwanchong (Gold Crown Tomb)

In September 1921, a man building a house in Noseo-dong, in the centre of Gyeongju, dug soil from a nearby mound to level his plot. Children found beads in the earth and played with them; a policeman noticed, looked into the mound and realised it was a tomb. Out of it came the first Silla gold crown ever discovered, and the tomb was named Geumgwanchong, the 'Gold Crown Tomb'. Today it has been turned into an exhibition space that lets you look into the structure of the tomb itself.

An excavation finished in four days

The person buried here wore the gold crown along with gold earrings, a necklace, a gold belt, bracelets and rings. A chest by the head held vessels, ornaments, horse fittings and weapons, and the finds are said to number over 40,000 items. The crown and its ornaments, as well as the gold belt, are National Treasures.

Yet the excavation was rushed, completed in just four days without recording where items lay or producing a proper report. The finds were taken to Seoul but returned in 1923, when a building to store and display the crown was opened in Gyeongju. The original crown is now in the collection of the Gyeongju National Museum.

An owner named after almost a century

Geumgwanchong belongs to the Noseo-ri tomb group, one of the clusters of large mounds on the flat land of central Gyeongju. It is a wooden-chamber tomb with a stone mound, a type unique to Silla: a timber chamber built at ground level, covered with a heap of boulders and then with earth. It is thought to date from around 500 CE; sources put the mound at 45–50 m across and 12–13 m high.

In 2013, while conserving the large sword found at the owner's waist, the National Museum of Korea discovered the characters 'King Isaji' (尒斯智王) on the metal fitting of its scabbard. A further scabbard fitting inscribed 'sword of King Isaji' turned up during a re-excavation of the site in 2015. It is the only stone-mound wooden-chamber tomb in Gyeongju whose owner's name is known. Which king Isaji was, however, remains unclear: some scholars link him to King Jabi or King Soji, or to a close royal relative.

What to see

• Geumgwanchong preservation hall: Built around the preserved mound, it recreates the feel of being inside the tomb and uses a cross-section model and displays to show how these stone-mound tombs were structured and built.
• Silla Tomb Information Center: Immersive films on the history of Silla tombs, interactive displays on the finds and a replica of the gold crown. You can also try designing your own crown. Through the lobby's glass wall you can see the curve of the mound.

Tripto tips

• Opened: Both spaces officially opened on 30 June 2023.
• Opening hours: 09:00–18:00. Check admission and closing days with Gyeongju City's tourism information. Pets are not allowed.
• Time needed: 40 minutes to an hour covers both buildings.
• Route: It is about 400 m from Daereungwon. Visit the interior of Cheonmachong in Daereungwon first and you can compare the two tombs' construction; to see the real crown, go to the Gyeongju National Museum.
• Location: 91 Noseo-dong, Gyeongju. Hwangnidan-gil and Seongdong Market are within walking distance.
• Information: +82-54-750-8670.