Samcheok Gongyangwangneung (Tomb of King Gongyang)

This is said to be the tomb of King Gongyang (r. 1389–1392), the last monarch of the Goryeo dynasty, and his two sons. It is also known as Gungchon Wangneung (Royal Tomb of Gungchon). In July of the 4th year of King Gongyang's reign (1392), Yi Seong-gye ascended the throne as King Taejo of Joseon. In August, Taejo deposed King Gongyang, granting him the title of Prince Gongyang, and sent him to Wonju, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, to be kept under surveillance. In March of the 3rd year of Taejo's reign, Gongyang and his two sons were moved to Gungchon-ri, Geundeok-myeon, Samcheok-si, and all were executed in April, one month later. The tomb of King Gongyang is said to exist in two locations: here in Samcheok and in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Due to a lack of documentary records, it is unclear which is the true royal tomb. Records of this Samcheok Gongyangwangneung can be found in 『Cheokjuji』 written by Heo Mok, the magistrate of Samcheok, in the 3rd year of King Hyeonjong's reign (1662), and in 『Cheokjuseonsaengan』 written by Kim Gu-hyeok in the 6th year of King Cheoljong's reign (1855). This site was repaired in the autumn of the 3rd year of King Heonjong's reign (1837) by Samcheok magistrate Yi Gyu-heon, and was newly renovated in 1997 through the efforts of the Samcheok County Governor and the Geundeok-myeon Chief. A memorial rite is held here every year on the 17th day of the 4th lunar month.