The number is the world’s largest! Korea’s proud World Heritage Site: The Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa

Dolmens, megalithic tombs known as “shisekibo,” are found all over the world. They were mainly built in Western Europe, in places such as England and France, but in fact, they can also be seen in our neighboring country, Korea. They are located in three areas: Gochang County in Jeollabuk-do Province in southwestern Korea, Hwasun County in Jeollanam-do Province, and Ganghwa County in Incheon Metropolitan City, home to Incheon International Airport. In 2000, these three sites were registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

Among them, the dolmens in Ganghwa County number as many as 120. Their shapes vary from large to small, carrying a mysterious charm that makes you want to check them all out. Incidentally, in Korean, dolmens are called “Goindol.” This time, we will introduce Korea’s World Heritage “Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa.”

What are the Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa?

Worldwide, about 80,000 dolmens have been identified. Of these, roughly 30,000 are found in Korea, making it one of the world’s leading dolmen heritage sites. These dolmens were constructed between 2500 BC and 1500 BC and are said to have spread to the Korean Peninsula around 500 BC.

These dolmens served not only as tombs for the ruling class but also as ritual altars. There are two types: the “Northern style,” in which stones are placed on tall stone pillars in a table-like form, and the “Southern style,” in which stones are placed on shorter pillars in a checkerboard-like arrangement. A dolmen can be up to about 6 meters wide, and the capstone placed on top can weigh as much as 80 tons!

The table-shaped Northern style is scattered mainly in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, with the Ganghwa dolmen site in Incheon Metropolitan City being a prime example. On the other hand, the Southern style is concentrated in the south, including the Gochang and Hwasun dolmen sites.

There was even a time when these dolmens went unnoticed and unappreciated. Because they were so numerous, people did not realize they were precious Bronze Age tombs, and some were destroyed or even used as platforms for drying grain. Although they may seem like a modest World Heritage site at first glance, they are very important remains for understanding prehistoric culture. The fact that they are concentrated in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula is also intriguing.

Access to the Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa

＜Gochang Dolmen Site＞
Gochang County can be reached from both Jeonju in Jeollabuk-do and Gwangju in Jeollanam-do in about 80 minutes, but since there are more buses departing from Jeonju, it is recommended to travel from Jeonju. From Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal, there are 21 direct buses daily to Gochang. Local buses run at 10–20 minute intervals. From Gochang, there is a bus to the “Goindol Museum,” but since there are only 4 buses a day, it is better to take a taxi. Travel time to “Goindol” is about 10 minutes.

＜Hwasun Dolmen Site＞
When sightseeing in Hwasun County, it is best to base yourself in Gwangju, which is in the same Jeollanam-do Province. In front of Gwangju’s General Bus Terminal “U-Square,” there is a city bus stop where buses depart for Hwasun. Take bus number 218 or 318 to “Wolgok.” Since some buses do not stop at Wolgok, be sure to check with the driver before boarding! The ride to Wolgok takes about 1 hour.

＜Ganghwa Dolmen Site＞
From Seoul to Ganghwa Island takes about 1 hour 40 minutes by bus. Get off at Sinchon Station on Subway Line 2, go straight out of Exit 4, and take bus number 3000 bound for Ganghwa Island from the bus stop. From the center of Ganghwa Island to the dolmen site, it takes about 15 minutes by bus. From Ganghwa General Bus Terminal, take one of the local buses—numbers 1, 25, 27, 30, or 32—and get off at “Goindol.”

Recommended Highlights of the Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa

◆ Gochang Dolmen Site

The dolmens in Gochang number an astonishing 1,688 in total. Not only are they the most widely distributed in Korea, but in terms of density per area, they rank number one in the world! Of these, 447 dolmens distributed across the Jungnim-ri to Sangap-ri area have been registered as World Heritage.

To help people gain a deeper understanding of dolmens, Gochang holds an annual “Dolmen Experience Plaza.” Aimed mainly at students, this event offers exhibits that recreate the lifestyle of the Bronze Age, as well as hands-on activities such as carrying base stones.

Dolmens have been used in many ways—as objects of faith, as places to enshrine the dead, and as sites for rituals. They can thus be called a World Heritage Site that allows us to touch not only on the everyday life of prehistoric times but also on the spiritual world of the people of the time.

◆ Gochang Dolmen Museum

Before visiting the World Heritage Dolmen Site, you should definitely stop by the “Gochang Dolmen Museum (Gochang Goindol Bangmulgwan).” If you go to see the dolmens without any knowledge, you might just think, “They’re nothing more than big stones!”—which would completely spoil the experience.

At this museum, you can learn the basics about dolmens as well as the lifestyle of the people who lived in the Gochang region during the Bronze Age. In the permanent exhibition hall on the second floor, there are displays that explain everything about dolmens at a glance, and in the outdoor exhibition area, you can experience how huge rocks were moved when dolmens were constructed.

It is no wonder that the museum has received three stars from the Michelin travel guide. By studying in advance, you will surely enjoy your visit to the dolmen site even more!

◆ Hwasun Dolmen Site

In Hwasun, dolmens are distributed over a stretch of about 5 km and are divided into 12 clusters depending on the area. The densest clusters are the “Gwaebawi District,” “Gwancheongbawi District,” “Wolbawi District,” “Pingmebawi District,” “Gamtebawi District,” and the “Daesin-ri Excavation Site.” Among these, the “Pingmebawi District” is the highlight.

In fact, the “Pingmebawi District” contains what is said to be the largest dolmen in Korea! Its size measures 7.3 m in length, 4 m in thickness, and weighs about 280 tons. The discovery of this dolmen brought fame to the Hwasun Dolmen Site. The more you look at it, the more you wonder what techniques people of the time used to move such an enormous stone.

Compared with the dolmen sites of Gochang and Ganghwa, the Hwasun Dolmen Site contains many giant dolmens weighing over 100 tons. Each district has its own key dolmen, often accompanied by legends or folklore, so be sure to check those out too.

◎ Summary

Did the history and mysterious charm of these precious dolmen sites come across to you? The more you see them, the more fascinating they become. At first glance, they may seem like nothing more than stones, but once you learn about their history and the background behind their construction, you will understand why they deserve to be recognized as a World Heritage Site. When visiting Korea, make sure to extend your trip to Ganghwa Island in Incheon, or to Gochang and Hwasun in Jeolla Province!