The Silla gold crowns are displayed during a media preview of the special exhibition “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige” held at the Gyeongju National Museum on October 27. The exhibition commemorates both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and the museum’s 80th anniversary.
GYEONGJU, Nov. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s National Museum of Gyeongju has opened a landmark exhibition that gathers all six surviving gold crowns of the ancient Silla Kingdom for the first time, showcasing the height of the kingdom’s golden age of artistry and royal splendor.
Titled “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige,” the exhibition opened Sunday in the museum’s Silla History Gallery and features 20 artifacts, including six gold crowns and six gold belts—seven designated as National Treasures and seven as Treasures.
The Silla gold crowns are displayed during a media preview of the special exhibition “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige” held at the Gyeongju National Museum on October 27. The exhibition commemorates both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and the museum’s 80th anniversary.
The Silla crowns, dating from the fifth to sixth centuries, represent the zenith of the kingdom’s gold culture when rulers known as Maripgan presided over an era of prosperity and refinement.
The crowns’ intricate tree-like and antler-shaped designs are widely interpreted as symbols linking heaven and earth, embodying the power and divine authority of Silla’s monarchs.
The photo shows the gold crown and ornaments excavated from the Cheonmachong Tomb.
“This is the first time all six Silla gold crowns have been displayed together,” said Yoon Sang-deok, director of the Gyeongju National Museum. “It’s an exhibition we’ve long dreamed of, both for researchers and for the public.”
The exhibit includes pieces from across the country—crowns unearthed from Geumgwanchong, Geumneungchong, Seobongchong, Cheonmachong, Hwangnamdaechong, and Gyo-dong tombs—brought together after more than a century of separate display.
Visitors wait in line to enter the “Silla Gold Crowns” exhibition.
Among them, the Gyo-dong crown has a dramatic history: discovered by a looter in 1969 and later recovered by authorities, it is considered the oldest and simplest of the Silla crowns.
The Hwangnamdaechong crown, believed to belong to a queen, is notable for its size and paired gold belt inscribed with “Lady’s Belt.” The famed Cheonmachong crown, excavated in 1973 during South Korea’s first major archaeological project after liberation, stands as a crowning symbol of Silla’s cultural sophistication.
The photo shows the gold crown and gold belts excavated from the northern and southern tombs of the Hwangnam Daechong Tomb.
A replica of the Cheonmachong crown was recently presented to U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Gyeongju for the APEC summit, an artifact he reportedly described as “extraordinary.”
President Lee Jae Myung (R) awards U.S. President Donald Trump with the “Grand Order of Mugunghwa,” South Korea’s highest order, at the Gyeongju National Museum in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 29, 2025, making him the first U.S. president to receive it. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
To prevent overcrowding, the museum has separated access between the permanent and special exhibitions. The show will run through December 14.
Image credit: Yonhap, Gyeongju National Museum / photonews@koreabizwire.com
