Tomb of King Munmu in the Sea

Tomb of King Munmu in the Sea

It takes about 50 minutes by bus from Gyeongju to Banggi Beach to reach the East Sea. Gazing at the blue waters of the East Sea, you can see a small but beautiful rocky islet not far from the shore. This small rocky islet is the underwater tomb of King Munmu the Great (AD 661–681), the 30th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (BC 57–AD 935) who unified the Three Kingdoms of Korea. This unique underwater tomb was built according to the king’s will. He wished to become a dragon in the sea after his death to protect the nation from Japanese pirates. His successors carried out his wishes and held his funeral on this small rocky islet near Banggi Beach in Gyeongju after his passing. First, they dug a cross-shaped lake in the center of the 200-meter-circumference islet, with arms extending north, south, east, and west. Then, at a depth of two meters, they placed a stone measuring 3.6 meters in height, 2.85 meters in width, and 0.9 meters in thickness, beneath which the king’s remains were laid. Scholars still debate whether the remains consist of ashes or bones. To allow the king, transformed into a dragon, to rest at Gameunsa Temple, a waterway was constructed. Traces of this waterway have also been found at Gameunsa Temple. In autumn, the road from Gyeongju to Banggi Beach, where the Tomb of King Munmu in the Sea is located, becomes a spectacular sight. On the way from Gyeongju to the tomb, there is the site of Gameunsa Temple, dedicated to King Munmu the Great. Although only the temple’s foundation stones and two three-story stone pagodas remain, these pagodas are precious masterpieces, comparable to the peak of Silla-era pagoda art such as Seokgatap and Dabotap. It takes about 10–15 minutes to walk from the tomb to the temple site.

Transportation: Take bus No. 150 from Gyeongju Bus Terminal bound for Yangbuk and get off at Banggi Beach Station; the ride takes about 50 minutes.

Detailed Information: 1. Inquiry Phone: Gyeongju Station Tourism Information Center +82-54-772-3843 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese) 2. Admission: Free 3. Opening Hours: Open all day 4. Closed: Never closed

Location: Banggiri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang Province

Gyeongju, South Korea