A test excavation of the Mangjubong area of Seonyudo Island in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province, has found a large number of artifacts believed to be from a guesthouse for foreign envoys during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the Buddhist temple of Jaboksa. Shown are the remains of a building discovered at the Goryeo-era archaeological site on the island.

By Hong Angie
Photos = Gunsan City Hall

A massive haul of archaeological remains believed to be from a guesthouse for foreign envoys during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and Jaboksa Temple have been discovered in the Mangjubong area of Seonyudo Island in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province.

Major domestic media on Sept. 17 said a trial excavation by Kunsan National University Museum uncovered traces of a large-scale building site plus many high-quality architectural materials such as ridge and floor tiles and celadon.

The discovery of a Chinese coin inscribed with "Chongning Zhongbao," which coincides with the visit of Song Dynasty envoy Xu Jing in 1123, is considered evidence of Korea's diplomacy at the time.

Formerly named Gunsando, Seonyudo is described in the Illustrated Account of the Xuanhe Embassy to Goryeo, a historical text from 1124 written by Xu, as a diplomatic hub with a cluster of imperial summer palaces and facilities for receiving diplomats.

Based on these academic findings, the Gunsan city government will conduct additional excavations and develop the island into a major destination for historical and cultural tourism.

These ridge and floor tiles were discovered at the ruins of a Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) site on Seonyudo Island in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province.

shong9412@korea.kr