신라인? 고구려인? 중국인? 경주 월성 비석조각 누가 새겼나…국적 논란 증폭

The controversy surrounding the origin of the inscriptions on the ancient stone carvings found at the West and North-West entrances of the ancient Korean city of Pyeongchang continues to spark debate among historians and scholars. The two inscriptions, discovered in 1937 and 2020, date back to the 5th century and are currently housed in the National Museum of Korea and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.

The inscriptions bear similarities to the inscriptions on the Goguryeo King Wako's stele, leading some scholars to believe that they were made by Chinese artisans who had settled in Goguryeo and later moved to Pyeongchang to create these inscriptions. However, other scholars argue that the smoothness of the inscriptions, similar to those found on other Goguryeo steles, indicates that they were likely created by Goguryeo artisans.

The National Museum of Korea and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage recently extended the exhibition period of the inscriptions from December 31, 2023, to December 17, 2023, in an effort to further examine the inscriptions and gather more evidence to support their respective theories. The extended exhibition offers an opportunity for historians, archaeologists, and experts in calligraphy and stone carving to continue their heated discussions on the origins of these inscriptions and the techniques used to create them.