Gongju: Heritage authorities announced that a royal tomb from the ancient Baekje Kingdom is likely to belong to King Samgeun, its 23rd monarch. The tomb is part of a cluster of royal burial mounds in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. This area served as the Baekje capital, known as Ungjin, from A.D. 475 to 538. Among the seven known tombs, only King Muryeong's, the 25th ruler, has been positively identified. The others have remained unidentified, having suffered damage during Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
According to Yonhap News Agency, King Samgeun, grandson of King Gaero and son of King Munju, ascended the throne at 13 and died two years later at 15. Historical records on the king are scant due to his brief reign. Baekje, one of Korea's Three Kingdoms along with Goguryeo and Silla, governed parts of the Korean Peninsula from 18 B.C. until A.D. 660.
The Buyeo National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage reexamined Tombs No. 1-4 in 2023. In Tomb No. 2, researchers found two teeth, believed to be molars, and bone fragments. Forensic analysis indicated the molars belonged to someone in their late teens, aligning with King Samgeun's age. Despite severe looting damage, some remains were recovered through soil analysis.
"These were teeth from the upper right jaw. Based on the shape of the teeth, the individual is estimated to have been in their teens, not yet in their twenties," stated Lee Woo-young, an anatomy professor at Catholic University involved in the project. The institute suggested a strong possibility that Tomb No. 2 is King Samgeun's, considering his ascension period, familial ties, and the age suggested by the teeth. It also noted that individuals in Tombs No. 1-4 likely descend directly from King Gaero.
Artifacts from the tomb include gold earrings with blue glass beads, a gold-plated silver striped ring, and a pentagonal sword handle ornament with silver on iron. "Glass beads are only found in earring artifacts from the Ungjin capital period, indicating a more sophisticated level of craftsmanship," said Lee Han-sang, a Daejeon University professor and Three Kingdoms-era metalwork expert. He highlighted the artifacts' significance, offering insights into Baekje's culture during King Muryeong's late fifth-century reign, noting similar earrings from King Muryeong's Tomb.