Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs
Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs in Hwaseong, the tombs of Crown Prince Sado and King Jeongjo
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Planning the visit
Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs is stop 5 of 9 on the Royalty Route.
The stamp is at the Ticket check counter behind Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs Ticket Office, so you pass it on the way in.
Admission is charged: Adults KRW 1,000.
The two closest stamp points are Hwaseong Fortress, 8.8 km away, and Namhansanseong Fortress at 35 km. All three fit into one day.
Details
- Address
- 21, Hyohaeng-ro 481beon-gil, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Stamp zone
- Ticket check counter behind Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs Ticket Office
- Hours
- February~May: 09:00~18:00 June~August: 09:00~18:30 September~October: 09:00~18:00 November~January: 09:00~17:30 (Ticketing ends 1 hour before closing / Closed every Monday)
- Admission
- Adults KRW 1,000
- Phone
- 031-222-0142
- Website
- http://royaltombs.cha.go.kr
- Coordinates
- 37.20828, 126.98898
What the campaign says about it
Crown Prince Sado, the second son of King Yeongjo (21st monarch of Joseon), died in a wooden rice bin at the age of 27 after being caught up in a political maelstrom. King Jeongjo, who inherited the throne upon King Yeongjo’s death, renamed his father (Crown Prince Sado) Crown Prince Jangheon, and moved his tomb from the foothills of Baebongsan Mountain to Hwaseong in Gyeonggi-do in 1789 CE (13th year of King Jeongjo). The new tomb for Crown Prince Jangheon was originally called Hyeollyungwon, but in 1899 CE (36th year of King Gojong), it was elevated to Yungneung when King Gojong posthumously named Crown Prince Jangheon as Emperor Jangjo. Lady Hyegyeong, who was buried with her husband upon her passing, was also posthumously honored as “Empress Heongyeong.” Posthumously bestowing the title of a monarch serves to elevate the person’s status as king upon his death. Yungneung, built on what was considered the most auspicious plot of land in all of the Joseon Dynasty, is known for its solemn and splendid design despite the fact that it was built for a king who was only posthumously honored as a monarch. The lower part of the burial mound is a delicate folding screen engraved with lotus flowers. In front of the burial mound is a Jangmyeongdeung lantern that combines the traditional octagonal and rectangular stone Jangmyeongdeung styles. The Jangmyeongdeung lantern, which symbolically shines a light over the tomb, wards off evil spirits. This new style Jangmyeongdeung lantern at Yungneung is widely considered the most beautiful example of Jangmyeongdeung lanterns at the royal tombs of Joseon. Beyond the dense forest road to the west of Yungneung is Geolleung, the tomb of King Jeongjo and Queen Hyoui. Geolleung was originally located to the east of Yungneung, but it was relocated to its present site in 1821 CE (21st year of King Sunjo) as the new site was believed to be more auspicious. Overall, Geolleung has a similar ambiance and design to Yungneung, except for the fact that the burial mound has a balustrade that goes all the way around. When you walk through the entrance of the tomb, you will arrive at a fork in the road. The one on the right leads to Yungneung, and the one on the left leads to Geolleung. Every year, ancestral rites for Yungneung are performed in April, followed by another ritual ceremony for Geolleung in May. The forest path, which is lined by pine trees and oak trees is also perfect for a quiet walk away from the bustling city.
Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.
Getting there
Take bus no. M4108 at the Myeongdong Kookmin Bank bus stop → Get off at Daeun Village bus stop, then transfer to bus no. 1000 → Get off at Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs bus stop → Walk for 1 minute
Photographs
Photographs supplied by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.