Seosamneung Royal Tombs

Between the wide pastures and woods of Wondang in Goyang, Seosamneung, "the three tombs west of the capital", is the name for the royal tombs of Huireung, Hyoreung and Yereung, where Joseon kings and queens are buried. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, it is the second-largest group of royal tombs after Seooreung. Besides the three royal tombs it holds the graves of crown princes, princes, princesses and royal concubines, plus the placenta chambers of the royal family, so the last chapters of the Joseon royal house are all gathered here.

History: a tomb group that began with Huireung

Seosamneung began in 1537, when Huireung, the tomb of Queen Janggyeong, second queen of King Jungjong, was moved here. Jungjong's own tomb was built west of Huireung in 1545 but moved in 1562 to what is now Gangnam in Seoul. Later came Hyoreung, for King Injong and Queen Inseong, Yereung, for King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin, and the tomb of Crown Prince Sohyeon, King Injo's eldest son.

Under Japanese rule, royal placenta chambers from across the country, graves of princes, princesses and concubines, and the tomb of Crown Prince Munhyo, King Jeongjo's eldest son, were moved here. After liberation the tombs of Prince Uiso and of Deposed Queen Yun, wife of King Seongjong, followed. Today Seosamneung has three royal tombs, three crown-prince tombs and one other tomb, plus 47 graves of princes, princesses and concubines and 54 placenta chambers. Much of the tomb grounds is still used as horse and cattle breeding farms.

What to see

• Huireung: Queen Janggyeong's tomb is the heart of the open area. Follow the stone path from the red gate to the T-shaped shrine to see the mound on the hill with its civil and military officials and stone horses.
• Yereung: the tomb of King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin, a late Joseon royal tomb with civil and military officials and stone animals on a broad grassy slope.
• Uiryeongwon and Hyochangwon: the tombs of Prince Uiso and Crown Prince Munhyo, both of whom died young, smaller and simpler than the royal tombs.
• Forest paths: quiet pine paths link the tombs, pleasant for a walk.

Good to know

• Some areas, including Hyoreung, Crown Prince Sohyeon's tomb and the concubines' graves, are closed or open only on a limited basis.
• Placenta chambers held the placentas of royal babies. Originally spread around auspicious sites nationwide, they were gathered here under Japanese rule.
• Crown Prince Munhyo's tomb originally stood on the site of today's Hyochang Park in Seoul and was moved here at the end of the colonial period.

Nearby

• Seooreung Royal Tombs: another Joseon royal tomb World Heritage site about 5 km south, so both western tomb groups fit into one day.
• Wondang horse farm (Let's Run Farm Wondang): the horse farm beside the approach road, often visited together with the tombs.
• Bukhansan: 20 to 30 minutes by car if you want to add a hike.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: February–May and September–October 09:00–18:00, June–August 09:00–18:30, November–January 09:00–17:30; last entry one hour before closing. Closed Mondays; when a Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes the next weekday instead.
• Admission: adults KRW 1,000, foreign visitors aged 7–18 KRW 500. Parking is free.
• Getting there: public transport is awkward, so a car or taxi is easiest. The approach road runs past the horse farm.
• Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours for the open tombs and forest paths. Visitor numbers are low, making for a calm walk.