GANGHWA COUNTY

Seongneung is the tomb of King Huijong (熙宗, r. 1204–1237), the 21st ruler of Goryeo. According to the History of Goryeo, “In August 1237, the 24th year of the reign of King Gojong, King Huijong died at the age of 57 at Beopcheonjeongsa (法天精舍), after which his remains were moved to Nakjingung Palace (樂眞宮). In October, he was buried at Seongneung, south of Deokjeongsan Mountain (德政山).” Huijong ascended the throne in 1204 following the abdication of King Sinjong. In 1211, after Choe Chung-heon abused his power, Huijong attempted to kill him with the eunuch Wang Jun-myeong (王濬明) and others, but the attempt failed. Choe Chung-heon subsequently deposed and exiled him to Ganghwa, after which he was moved to Yongyudo Island and then Gyodongdo Island. He was released from exile in 1219 and returned to Gaegyeong. In 1227, however, he was falsely accused of plotting to regain the throne and was again exiled to Ganghwa before being moved to Gyodong, where he later died at Beopcheonjeongsa Hermitage. A T-shaped ritual pavilion is presumed to have stood on the lower tier of the burial precinct, although no traces of it remain. One stone human figure remains on the second tier, and another stands beside the burial mound. Unlike other royal tombs in Ganghwa, Seongneung is distinguished by the curved wall behind the burial mound. During the reign of King Hyeonjong of Joseon, Jo Bok-yang, the magistrate of Ganghwa, is said to have inspected and repaired the Goryeo royal tombs in Ganghwa and dispatched a tomb custodian each year to maintain them. The tomb received little maintenance after 1895 and was looted during the Japanese colonial period, leaving it in ruins, before being repaired and restored in 1974. In 2002, it became the first Goryeo royal tomb in South Korea to undergo an archaeological excavation. Its structural remains were identified, and the tomb was restored to its present appearance. Artifacts discovered during the excavation included fragments of celadon and metal fittings used to decorate the coffin.