'Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster' Becomes Sejong City's First National Historic Site

[Financial News]  The 'Sejong Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster', the tomb of the highest ruling class of the Baekje era, has been announced as the first national historic site in Sejong City.
 Sejong City announced that the 'Sejong Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster' within the Baekje Tomb History Park in Hansol-dong was recognized for its historical and cultural value as it was announced as a national cultural heritage site on the 29th.
 The Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster was confirmed through excavation during the urban development process from 2006 to 2008 after the establishment of the administrative complex city development plan. It is a Baekje-era tomb cluster with a total of 14 tombs, including 7 horizontal stone chamber tombs and 7 stone coffin tombs.
 Based on the size, location, and excavated artifacts of the confirmed tombs, it is presumed to be the central tomb cluster of the local power that ruled this area at the time. The second horizontal stone chamber tomb is the largest among the Baekje-era horizontal stone chamber tombs confirmed so far, and it is the first case where the entire burial chamber was built underground.
 It shows various construction techniques not confirmed in existing horizontal stone chamber tombs, such as Myodochulipseok (burial path entrance stone) and Myopyosiseok (burial marker stone), which adds to its historical value.
 The overall construction period of the tombs is from the early 5th century, from the Hanseong period to the early Ungjin period of Baekje. During this period, the horizontal stone chamber tombs show a trend of the burial chamber area gradually becoming smaller over time, and the plan shape expanding from square to rectangular and square forms.
 The Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster is evaluated as a relic that fully shows the transition process of such tomb construction methods. Additionally, it is significant as a historical monument, being the first case where the full structure of a city, including tombs (Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster), residential cities (Naseong-dong Site), and defense facilities (Naseong-dong Earthen Fortress), has been confirmed in Korean ancient history.
 Choi Min-ho, the mayor of Sejong City, said, "The Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster has been proven to be a strategic base and central area designed as a planned city during the Hanseong period of Baekje," adding, "Sejong City will continue the historical flow to complete a true administrative capital."
 Meanwhile, the Sejong Hansol-dong Tomb Cluster is expected to be designated as a national historic site after a 30-day public opinion gathering and review by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the National Heritage Administration.
kwj5797@fnnews.com Kim Won-jun Reporter