Gyeongju Seoak-dong Ancient Tombs

Gyeongju Seoak-dong Ancient Tombs refer to four large tombs distributed on the hill just behind the Tomb of King Muyeol in Seoak-dong, Gyeongju. They were designated as a Historic Site on August 29, 1964. The tombs here are round earthen burial mounds, similar in form to the large tombs of the Gyeongju Basin. Since no excavation has been conducted, the internal structure is unknown, but based on the massive size of the mounds, the use of natural stones to create a stone border, and their location higher than the Tomb of King Muyeol, they are presumed to be royal tombs. It is speculated that they are of the stone-mound wooden-chamber tomb type, where a square wooden chamber was built and covered with a stone pile. Considering the topography where these tombs are distributed—on a ridge extending southwest from Seondosan Mountain, and across ridges over the east-west valleys behind the mountain—it is evident that they were influenced by feng shui principles. Regarding the tomb owners, it is speculated that the first tomb is the Tomb of King Beopheung of Gyeongju, the second is the Tomb of King Jinheung of Gyeongju, the third is the Tomb of King Jinji of Gyeongju, and the fourth is the Tomb of King Munheung of Gyeongju.