Baekje Historic Areas

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Baekje Historic Areas from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• A Framework for Seismic Risk Assessments in the Buyeo Baekje Historic Areas

  Historic areas, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Baekje Historic Areas in Buyeo, face significant seismic risks due to subsurface conditions that can amplify ground motion. This study introduces a quantitative index for site amplification and proposes an integrated framework for seismic risk assessment, combining seismic hazard and performance evaluations. By leveraging field seismic tests, one-dimensional site response analyses, shaking table tests, centrifuge models, finite element method (FEM), and discrete element method (DEM) simulations, researchers mapped regional susceptibility to resonance at short periods. The findings highlight that while these methodologies serve distinct roles, their integration effectively reduces uncertainty in assessing seismic risks for heritage structures, offering a robust approach for preserving culturally significant sites.

  Ji, K., Lee, K., & Park, H.-J. (2026). A Framework for Seismic Risk Assessments in the Buyeo Baekje Historic Areas. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2026.2646960

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• Core Sites and Linkage Strategies of the Jungwon Historical and Cultural Zone: A Case Study of Chungju City

  Research identifies three core zones in Chungju—Jungangtap-myeon, Tangeumdae, and Chungju-eupseong—as pivotal to the Jungwon Historical and Cultural Zone's layered heritage. These zones, representing overlapping historical strata from Mahan to Unified Silla, offer concrete demonstrations of Baekje’s cultural significance. The study proposes integrated management strategies, including the Historic Urban Landscape approach, to enhance public recognition and foster community-driven heritage utilization. This model aims to restore a dynamic regional environment where heritage, space, and people interact sustainably.

  Yang, S., & Park, S. (2026). Core Sites and Linkage Strategies of the Jungwon Historical and Cultural Zone: A Case Study of Chungju City. The Hoseo Archaeological Society, 64, 127–156. https://doi.org/10.34268/hskk.2026.64.127

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• The Historical Value of Iksan and its Meaning

  Recent archaeological discoveries at Iksan, South Korea, have significantly elevated its historical significance by linking it to King Mu of Baekje (r. 501–523 CE). Excavations at the Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri confirmed it as a royal palace fortress associated with King Mu, while the Mireuksa Temple Site revealed a continuous religious presence from his reign through the early Joseon Dynasty. The 2009 discovery of a Sarira Reliquary in the West Tower further tied the site to King Mu’s governance. Additionally, the excavation of Twin Royal Tombs strengthened the hypothesis that one interred individual is King Mu, providing a clearer image of Iksan as a royal capital. These findings, combined with evidence from the Historic Site in Seogodo-ri and Ohaeng-daepo, suggest King Mu’s mother may have been part of a local clan, reshaping our understanding of his early life. The study proposes a paradigm shift, arguing that Iksan’s strategic importance predated King Mu’s accession rather than being a consequence of it.

  Chung, J. Y. (2026). The Historical Value of Iksan and its Meaning. The Research Institute for the Mahan-Baekje Culture, 47, 46–80. https://doi.org/10.34265/mbmh.2026.47.46

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• Reconstructing the Historic Terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs for Enhancing the Understanding of World Heritage Authenticity Using Multi-Temporal Spatial Data

  Reconstruction of the historic terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs, part of the UNESCO-listed Baekje Historic Areas, reveals that these royal funerary sites were strategically positioned on south-facing slopes outside the Sabi capital. This deliberate spatial planning reflects the funerary ideology and urban organization of the Baekje kingdom during the Sabi period (A.D. 538–660). The study employed multi-temporal spatial data, including historical maps, aerial photographs, archaeological excavation records, and contemporary datasets like LiDAR and UAV-based photogrammetry, to overcome methodological challenges in terrain reconstruction. A rigorous three-stage backward georeferencing procedure using Helmert and Thin-Plate Spline (TPS) transformations ensured accurate mapping of the pre-intervention landscape, providing insights into the original topographic context obscured by modern maintenance works conducted in 1966.

  Lee, J.-W., Lee, S.-K., Jung, S.-H., Choi, D.-Y., Kim, B.-G., Jang, D.-W., & Seong, J.-Y. (2026). Reconstructing the Historic Terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs for Enhancing the Understanding of World Heritage Authenticity Using Multi-Temporal Spatial Data. Heritage, 9(9), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9090346

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• A Basic Review of Iksan Ssangneung (Twin Tombs) as a Royal Tomb

  Recent investigations of Iksan Ssangneung, the twin tombs of King Mu and his consort from the late Baekje period (600-641), have revealed a significant expansion in understanding royal funeral rites and architectural practices. The study, conducted between 2017 and 2019, estimated the tomb complex's scale at approximately 260,000 square meters, with a rectangular layout of 670m north-south and 370m east-west. Unlike earlier Baekje royal tombs, Iksan Ssangneung is situated on a low hilltop, suggesting Tang Dynasty influence from China. The complex's spatial organization includes distinct areas for rituals, management, and ceremonial functions, such as Hyangdaecheong (storage for memorial services) and Suragan (meal preparation). Aerial photograph analysis further supported these findings, providing insights into the tomb's structure and its surrounding facilities.

  Lee, M.-H. (2025). A Basic Review of Iksan Ssangneung (Twin Tombs) as a Royal Tomb. Central Institute of Cultural Heritage, 47, 97–126. https://doi.org/10.20292/jcich.2025.47.97

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• A Study on the Formation and Development Process of the 3rd~6rd Century Settlements in the downstream of Dong-cheon, Gwangyang

  Recent archaeological excavations in the downstream of Dong-cheon, Gwangyang, South Korea, reveal that this region served as a pivotal settlement and transitional zone between the political entities of Mahan, Sogaya, and Baekje from the 3rd to 6th centuries. The study identifies three distinct developmental phases: initial expansion into flatlands and integration with foreign cultural influences (3rd–mid-4th century), increased Sogaya dominance and square-shaped habitation patterns (early 5th century onward), and eventual incorporation into Baekje's administrative system (late 5th–6th century). The presence of diverse foreign artifacts suggests this area acted as a bridge in maritime trade routes connecting Baekje, Mahan, Gaya, and Wae. Analysis of indigenous production and regional head tombs indicates rising local power during the late 5th to early 6th centuries, culminating in centralization under Baekje's rule.

  Lee, G.-G. (2024). A Study on the Formation and Development Process of the 3rd~6rd Century Settlements in the downstream of Dong-cheon, Gwangyang. Central Institute of Cultural Heritage, 43, 33–69. https://doi.org/10.20292/jcich.2024.43.33

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• The status of Mahan culture in Northeast Asian history and Iksan

  Iksan emerges as a pivotal cultural and political hub in Northeast Asian history, particularly during the Mahan period (3rd to 1st centuries BCE), with its small states likely corresponding to Geonma states referenced in Chinese records. Archaeological evidence, including tombs and ruins, suggests that Iksan's significance extended through the late 4th century when it was integrated into Baekje's political system following the capital relocation to Ungjin. By the 5th–7th centuries, Iksan retained its importance as a regional center, comparable to Sabi, Baekje's capital. The study leverages historical texts and spatial analysis to establish Iksan's role in the transition from Bronze Age culture to iron-based societies, linking it to broader migrations and technological advancements in Northeast Asia.

  Kim, B. N.,. (2024). The status of Mahan culture in Northeast Asian history and Iksan. The Research Institute for the Mahan-Baekje Culture, 43, 64–94. https://doi.org/10.34265/mbmh.2024.43.64

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