Wanggung-ri

The Wanggung-ri archaeological site, located in present-day Iksan in North Jeolla Province, preserves the remains of what is believed to have been the second royal palace of the Baekje kingdom during its Sabi period, roughly the 6th to 7th century CE. Excavations have uncovered foundation stones, ornamental roof tiles bearing distinctive Baekje motifs, and court artifacts that point to a sophisticated palace culture predating Korean unification. Inscribed in 2015 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Baekje Historic Areas', the open site offers a direct encounter with early Korean royal architecture — sparse by design, with the excavated ground itself as the main exhibit.