Gongju Gongsanseong Fortress to Unveil Royal Palace Entrance Facility 'Mun-gwol'

Two palace structures stand symmetrically on either side of the central road

Considered key archaeological remains confirming the royal palace's location

Findings briefing and on-site presentation to be held on November 11

Excavation findings at Gongsanseong Fortress in Gongju, including the mun-gwol, an entrance facility to the royal palace during Baekje’s Ungjin period, will be presented to the public. The Korea Heritage Service will hold a findings briefing and on-site presentation on November 11 with South Chungcheong Province, Gongju City and Kongju National University.

Ground-Filling Status at the Baekje Royal Palace Site/National Heritage Administration.

The most notable finding is the mun-gwol, first identified in South Korea in 2019. Two large palace structures stand symmetrically on either side of a 10-meter-wide road running north to south. They are considered key archaeological remains demonstrating the location of the royal palace.

One of the structures measures approximately 40 meters from east to west and 23 meters from north to south, and stands about 9 to 11 meters high. Regarding the symmetrical layout of the mun-gwol, the Korea Heritage Service said, "This structure can be seen as reflecting the determination to stabilize royal authority, which had been unsettled after the capital was moved to Ungjin, and to strengthen the hierarchy of the royal palace." It added, "The finding is highly significant as archaeological evidence of 'Gengwi Ganguk,' Baekje's declaration that it had once again become a powerful state."

The findings briefing will also feature lacquered armor and horse armor excavated at Gongsanseong Fortress and recreated through more than 10 years of historical research and restoration. The Korea Heritage Service explained, "The traditional techniques embodied in the excavated artifacts were identified through conservation treatment and analysis of materials after excavation."

Long-aisled building site and large building site / Korea Heritage Service.

Earlier excavations also uncovered several facilities that help reveal the spatial layout of the royal palace. Partial excavations at Gongsanseong Fortress began in 1980. After the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2015, academic excavations were carried out in accordance with the Korea Heritage Service's basic plan for excavation surveys.

Numerous Baekje roof-end tiles were excavated in the Ssangsujeong area during surveys in 1985-1986, leading researchers to believe it was the site of the royal palace. Subsequent surveys confirmed that the area contained a large long-corridor-style building site, with a large building site situated to its south at the center. The building measured seven bays across the front and three bays along the side, similar in size to large building sites in Gwanbuk-ri, Buyeo, and Wanggung-ri, Iksan. At the center of the palace site, excavations revealed a rectangular platform created by filling a valley, measuring approximately 104 meters from north to south and 87 meters from east to west. Wall structures and a pond site dating to Baekje's Ungjin period were also identified.

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