Gongju: The Royal Tomb & Its Museum

Getting to the start

Change to a city bus at KTX Gongju Station, or take an intercity coach from Seoul Nambu Terminal to Gongju. Gongsanseong fortress is about a kilometre away, so the two go together in one day.

The route

1. 1

   Royal Tombs of Gongju

   Gongju · 1h

   The tomb of King Muryeong of Baekje and his queen. Found unlooted in 1971, it is the only Three Kingdoms royal tomb whose occupant is confirmed — by the stone tablet laid inside. The chamber is now closed to protect it, and a replica hall beside it reproduces the interior. What was found inside is at the Gongju National Museum.

   Official site →
2. Walk10m

   About 400m northwest of the tomb park's main gate, ten minutes on foot. Both sit inside the same heritage precinct, so it is hard to go wrong.

   2

   Gongju National Museum

   Gongju · 1h 30m

   Most of what came out of King Muryeong's tomb is here — the gold crown ornaments and the stone beast that guarded the chamber are the pieces to look for. Come after the tomb itself and the order makes sense: what you saw as an empty chamber gets filled in here.

   

   Official site →

Map

• Royal Tombs of Gongju →
• Gongju National Museum →

Also close by

Other places close to this route's stops — useful if you have time left or want to swap something out.

• Gongsanseong FortressHeritage · 1h 30m1.0km
• Magoksa TempleHeritage · 1h 30m13.7km

Good to do next

• Gongju: Gongsanseong FortressGongju · Half day

  The royal fortress from Baekje's Ungjin capital period. The 2.6km wall above the Geum River takes a little over an hour to walk round.

• Magoksa Temple, GongjuGongju · Half day

  One of the seven mountain monasteries inscribed by UNESCO. A stream loops around the compound, and you cross a bridge to reach the main courtyard.

• Buyeo: The Baekje CapitalBuyeo · Full day

  Sabi, the last capital of Baekje. A hill fortress and an ancient pond within walking distance of each other, both part of the UNESCO Baekje Historic Areas.