Gimhae, Republic of Korea

General Information

Administrative status

City in South Gyeongsang Province

Gaya Tumuli

Registration Year

2023

Historical function

Cultural

Location and site

The city of Gimhae features one of the tombs of the serial property consisting of seven important archaeological sites with burial mounds attributed to the Gaya Confederacy, including the ancient tombs of Daeseong-dong in Gimhae.

The seven cemeteries are the burial grounds for the top leaders of seven Gaya polities that developed independently at different sites across the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. The cemeteries are all located on elevated terrain at the centre of a polity and are home to densely clustered tombs constructed over a long period. This dispersed distribution of equally monumental and elaborate tomb clusters manifesting shared practices for locating and building high-status tombs testifies to the existence of multiple equally powerful and autonomous polities living under the influence of the same culture.

Registration Criteria

Criterion (iii): The Gaya Tumuli bear exceptional testimony to Gaya, a unique ancient East Asian civilisation that coexisted with its more strongly centralised neighbours but maintained a distinct confederated political system. The property is important evidence of the diversity found among ancient East Asian civilisations.

Historical Reference

Through its geographical distribution, locational characteristics, types of burials, and contents of grave goods, the property attests to the distinctive Gaya political system in which affiliated polities were allowed to exist as autonomous political equals while sharing cultural commonalities. The Gaya Confederacy responded with flexibly to political shifts in ancient East Asia and contributed to maintaining the balance of power in the region by cooperating internally and taking part in exchanges with neighbouring states.

Photos

News

30 June 2025


Welcome to Gimhae, a new member city of the OWHC!

Gimhae, Republic of Korea


Contact

Mr. Tae-Yong Hong

Mayor
City of Gimhae

2401 Gimhae-daero
Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
50924

+82-55-330-3002
tb0122@korea.kr

Ms. Gyeong-Nam Kang

Head of the World Heritage Team
City of Gimhae

126 Gayaui-gil
Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
50917

+82-55-350-0422
misikn@korea.kr

Mr. Kyong-Won Ahn

Deputy Mayor
City of Gimhae

2401 Gimhae-daero
Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
50924

+82-55-330-3079
kwahn@korea.kr

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