Reunited After 83 Years: A Stele Fragment Discovered at Wolseong in Gyeongju

Name: Reunited After 83 Years: A Stele Fragment Discovered at Wolseong in Gyeongju
Start: 2026-04-13
End: 2026-12-31
Location: Silla Millennium Heritage Museum

83년 만에 만남, 경주 월성에서 찾은 비석 조각

A stele fragment discovered at the western side of Wolseong in Gyeongju in 1937 bore only the character '存'. In 2020, a second fragment emerged during archaeological excavations of the site, revealing the characters '貢', '白', '不', and '天'. Through 3D analysis, the fracture surfaces of these two pieces matched perfectly, together completing the character '稱'. While the original inscription's contents, author, date, and purpose remain unknown, compositional analysis confirms the stele was carved from local alkali granite sourced from Mount Namsan near Gyeongju. The use of lishu (clerical script) rather than the regular script typical of Silla stelae raises a fascinating debate: might this be a Goguryeo stele from the 5th century, or a later Silla creation?

Book on the official site

Dates: Apr 13, 2026 → Dec 31, 2026
Venue: Silla Millennium Heritage Museum · 🏯 Gyeongju
Price: Free
Ticketing: Official museum site

Practical information

Opening hours: 2026-04-13 ~ 2026-12-31
Age: All audiences
Exact location: Silla Millennium Treasure
Organiser: National Gyeongju Museum, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Gyeongju
Phone: 054-740-7537

🎟️ How to book — Official museum site

1
Check opening hours on the museum's official site
Many Korean national museums close one day a week, often Mondays — worth checking before you make the trip.
2
Book a time slot for the most popular exhibitions
The most anticipated temporary exhibitions sometimes limit access to online time-slot reservations, especially on weekends.
3
Permanent collections are often free
Only certain special or temporary exhibitions charge admission — the permanent collection itself is free to enter at most national museums.
4
Book ahead for groups or guided tours
School groups and guided tours generally need to be booked directly with the museum ahead of the visit.

💡 Good to know

Many Korean national museums close one day a week (often Mondays) — check before you go.