Tomb of King Seongdeok

In a pine forest on a hill southeast of the road from Gyeongju toward Bulguksa Temple stands the tomb of King Seongdeok (r. 701-737), Silla's 33rd monarch.

King Seongdeok, born Yung-gi, son of King Sinmun, actively engaged with Tang China and led Silla through its most politically stable golden age. According to the Samguk Sagi, when the king died in 737 he was buried south of a temple called Igeosa; a temple site believed to be Igeosa still remains north of the tomb today. Sitting right along the route to Bulguksa, it's a natural stop for encountering traces of Silla's golden age along the way.