{{Short description|Tomb complex in Gyeongju, South Korea}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Daereungwon | image = Gyeongju - King Tomb Park - panoramio.jpg | caption = Part of the complex (2007) | coordinates = {{coord|35.838|129.212|display=inline,title}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 | location = Gyeongju, South Korea | designation1 = WHS | designation1_partof = Gyeongju Historic Areas | designation1_criteria = Cultural: (ii), (iii) | designation1_date = 2000 | designation1_number = 976 | designation2 = Historic Sites of South Korea | designation2_offname = Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Gyeongju | designation2_date = 28 July 2011 | embedded = {{Infobox Korean name/auto | hangul = ^대릉원 | hanja = 大陵園 | child = yes }} }}

'''Daereungwon''' ({{Korean|hangul=대릉원|hanja=大陵園}}) is a complex of Silla-era tumulus tombs in Gyeongju, South Korea.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Si-jin |date=26 November 2024 |title=South Korea's Gyeongju blends old with new |url=https://asianews.network/south-koreas-gyeongju-blends-old-with-new/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=The Korea Herald |via=asianews.network}}</ref> Since 2011, it has been a designated Historic Site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Gyeongju – Heritage Search |url=https://english.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/selectGeneralSearchDetail.do?mn=EN_02_02&sCcebKdcd=13&ccebAsno=05120000&sCcebCtcd=37&pageIndex=1&region=&canAsset=&ccebPcd1=&searchWrd=DAEREUNGWON&startNum=&endNum=&stCcebAsdt=&enCcebAsdt=&canceled=&ccebKdcd=&ccebCtcd= |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=Cultural Heritage Administration }}</ref> Daereungwon is a popular tourist attraction. In 2023, it was reported that it received around one million visitors on average per year.

==Description== The complex contains 23 tombs of kings, queens, and nobles from the Silla period of Korean history.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=심 |first=광주 |script-title=ko:경주 대릉원 일원 (慶州 大陵園 一圓) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0070985 |access-date=1 February 2025 |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |language=ko}}</ref> The tombs were first excavated during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period: Geumgwanchong in 1921, Geumnyeongchong and Singnichong in 1924, and Seobongchong in 1926. After the 1945 liberation of Korea, Houchong was excavated in 1946, Machong in 1953, Ssangsangchong in 1963, and Cheonmachong in 1973.<ref name=":0" />

Most tombs hold a coffin below ground level, while others are found partly or wholly above ground. Stones, and then earth, were piled on top of the coffins. The sturdy construction of the tombs made them difficult for looters to access, which allowed for many relics to remain well-preserved until their rediscovery in the present era.<ref name=":0" /> A number of relics have been designated National Treasures.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Hae-yeon |date=27 January 2023 |title=Gyeongju Daereungwon to offer free admissions from May |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3049789 |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=The Korea Herald }}</ref> Artifacts have continued to be excavated. In 2020, a pair of ceremonial gilt-bronze shoes, dated to the late 5th and early 6th centuries, was discovered in the complex.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Dong-woo |date=27 May 2020 |title=Late 5th-early 6th century funeral relics unearthed at royal tomb complex |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200527005100315 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201181415/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200527005100315 |archive-date=1 December 2024 |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Yonhap News Agency |url-status=live }}</ref>

Daereungwon is a popular tourist attraction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Si-jin |date=3 June 2023 |title=[One with Nature] Gyeongju shines brighter at night |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3138529 |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=The Korea Herald}}</ref> In 2023, it was reported that it received around one million visitors on average per year.<ref name=":1" />

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Photocapy1.jpg|People walking near one of the tombs (2006) File:대릉원2.jpg|A lake within the complex (2019) </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Daereungwon}} * [https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/rgnContentsView.do?vcontsId=33871 Tourist information] (in English)

Category:Tourist attractions in Gyeongju Category:Tumuli in Gyeongju Category:Tombs of Silla Category:Historic Sites (South Korea) Category:Gyeongju Historic Areas