Tomb of King Wonseong

Tomb of King Wonseong sits in a pine forest on the south side of a low hill, believed to be the tomb of King Wonseong (r. 785-798), Silla's 38th monarch. Born Kim Gyeong-sin, a 12th-generation descendant of King Naemul, he left behind achievements including establishing a new civil-service exam system and expanding the Byeokgolje reservoir.

A small pond is said to have originally occupied this site before the tomb was built. According to folk tale, rather than filling in the pond, the king's body was suspended over its surface for burial — giving the tomb its alternate name, Gwaereung, meaning "suspended tomb." Elaborate stone figures — civil officials, military officials, and lions — line the mound, making this tomb a showcase of Unified Silla royal-tomb sculpture at its finest.