“After 100 Years?” Stone Believed to Be Corner Sculpture of Gujeong-dong Square Tomb Discovered

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Found in a private garden… Similar in size and form to artifact housed in the Gyeongju National Museum

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Gyeongju City Council member and researcher Lee Jin-rak reports discovery to authorities

A stone artifact believed to be a corner sculpture from the Gujeong-dong square tomb—long thought to have disappeared over a century ago—has been discovered in Gyeongju, drawing attention from the academic community.

Lee Jin-rak, a Gyeongju City Council member who has studied Silla royal tomb carvings for many years, recently identified the stone in the garden of a private residence located about 4 kilometers from the Gujeong-dong square tomb. He reported the finding to the Cultural Heritage Division of Gyeongju City on April 10.

According to Lee, the stone stands 74.5 cm tall and features a symmetrical composition of a lion figure and a Western (foreign) human figure. Its size and stylistic features are said to be similar to a corner stone currently housed at the Gyeongju National Museum.

The Gujeong-dong square tomb was first investigated in the 1920s during the Japanese colonial period, when sculptures of the Twelve Zodiac Guardian Deities without armor were identified around the square mound. The site was designated as Historic Site No. 27 in 1963 and underwent restoration in 1965.

In March 1977, during drainage construction near the tomb, a corner stone carved with a roaring lion and a Western figure in what is believed to be a polo costume—associated with Persian sports culture—was discovered and later transferred to the museum, where it remains today.

Scholars have long speculated that at least two, if not all four, corners of the tomb originally featured similar sculptural stones. However, the remaining pieces were presumed lost.

The newly discovered stone could help fill that historical gap, although its authenticity and origin will need to be confirmed through further archaeological investigation.

Lee Jin-rak stated, “The fact that the piece was preserved locally, rather than taken overseas, is highly significant. I hope this discovery will contribute to restoring the original form of Silla royal tombs and advancing broader efforts to rehabilitate the ancient Silla capital.”

The Gyeongju municipal government plans to conduct a detailed examination in coordination with relevant authorities and consider measures for preservation.