▲ Jangneung Royal Tomb in Yeongwol County. Photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) ▲ Stone statue of a civil official at Sareung Royal Tomb in Namyangju. Photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will conduct a detailed inspection of the condition of stone relics guarding the tomb of King Danjong, the ill-fated ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, officials said Tuesday.

 

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and the Korea Heritage Service said they will jointly carry out a comprehensive survey of stone cultural assets at Joseon royal tombs through 2028, in cooperation with the Korea National Arboretum.

 

Taking into account past conservation records and the characteristics of the relics, the institutions plan to examine 907 stone artifacts across 10 royal tombs.

 

This year, inspections will focus on Geonwolleung in Guri, which enshrines King Taejo, founder of Joseon; Jangneung in Yeongwol County, the tomb of King Danjong; and Sareung in Namyangju, the resting place of Queen Jeongsun, Danjong’s consort.

 

▲ Geonwolleung Royal Tomb within Donggureung in Guri. Photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Constructed in 1408, Geonwolleung is considered a model of the Joseon royal tomb system and contains more than 190 stone artifacts, including statues of civil and military officials. Its burial mound is notably covered with silver grass rather than turf. Previous surveys assessed many of its stone relics as being in “severe” condition.

 

Jangneung in Yeongwol is the only Joseon royal tomb located outside the capital region. After Danjong died in 1457, a local official is believed to have secretly buried his body there. The tomb was later restored to royal status in 1698.

 

“Jangneung has previously been classified as having a ‘severe’ level of damage,” the institute said, adding that 16 stone relics at the forested site will be examined.

 

▲ Jangneung Royal Tomb in Gimpo. Photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Sareung in Namyangju, originally part of the family burial grounds of Queen Jeongsun’s in-laws, was also restored to its current form in 1698 after her royal status was reinstated. A total of 16 stone relics there will be closely inspected.

 

In 2027, authorities plan to expand inspections to Taereung in Seoul, Myeongneung in Seooreung and Huireung in Seosamneung in Goyang, as well as Hyereung in Donggureung in Guri.

 

▲ Burial mound at Taereung Royal Tomb in Seoul. Photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

In 2028, further surveys will be conducted at Jeongneung in Seolleung and Jeongneung in Seoul, Geolleung in Yungneung in Hwaseong, and Jangneung in Gimpo.

 

During the survey, experts from the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage will assess physical damage to the stone relics and examine surface contaminants and microscopic lichen distribution that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

 

The Korea National Arboretum will identify biological species that contribute to deterioration and analyze their distribution patterns, with the goal of producing a “biological damage impact map.”

 

The Korea Heritage Service said the findings will be used to support future conservation and restoration projects. The institutions also plan to sign a memorandum of understanding in the first half of this year.

 

“Given the growing public interest in Jangneung in Yeongwol and Sareung in Namyangju, we will closely diagnose their preservation status and establish systematic conservation plans,” officials said.

 

Joseon royal tombs, which date from the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire period (1897–1910), are considered the pinnacle of traditional Korean architecture and ritual practices. All 40 surviving tombs in the country are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]