An Ancient Story That Rose from the Ground in Hwajang-dong
Hi, I'm Sudal. Today I've brought a very old story that came up from the ground in Hwajang-dong, Yeosu. Did you know there's a place in Yeosu with traces showing that people lived here a very, very long time ago? When I first heard about this park, I found it amazing that so much time had been layered beneath the ground we walk on. Shall we take a slow walk through that story together today?
Long, Long Ago, People Lived in Hwajang-dong
Yeosu Prehistoric Relics Park is said to have opened in 2002. But it wasn't planned as a park from the start — while excavating this site, important relics and remains such as dolmens, petroglyphs, and what appear to be two Unified Silla-era kiln sites were found together, and the park was created to preserve and showcase that value. I found this story really interesting. Instead of being designed as a park from the beginning, it took its current shape thanks to what was discovered beneath the ground. So you could say the park itself is Yeosu's very old time, layered and laid out right in front of us.
As soon as you enter the park, the first thing you see is said to be the Hwajang-dong relic site, where the excavated kiln is described as a semi-underground tunnel kiln. Judging by the patterns and techniques on the roof tiles, it's believed to be a kiln used during the Unified Silla period, and I've heard its size is overwhelming. Just imagining standing in front of it, thinking about the hands that once fired tiles here so long ago, makes it feel like a spot you can't just walk past.
They dug into the ground, and Yeosu's time came out, just as it was.
— 🦦 SudalBut it turns out this park doesn't end with the kiln site. If you walk a little further in, you can even meet the way people actually used to live.
Pit Houses Were Built, and Dolmens Were Raised
Starting in 2001, living spaces were also built on this relic park site, I'm told. An Iron Age post-less oval pit house, an elevated storehouse, and a storage structure have been restored, letting you see with your own eyes how people back then lived and what they kept in storage. And on the rocks and cave walls left exposed in nature, petroglyphs carved with animal figures and geometric symbolic patterns still remain, along with a group of dolmens that are also displayed and restored. I find it fascinating that all of this is gathered in one single park. A kiln site, pit houses, petroglyphs, and dolmens — traces from different eras with different purposes, all coming together in one place to form the park as it looks today.
You might think this is a place full of nothing but old stories, but I've heard it's actually a great spot to visit with kids, too.
A Park That's Also Great for Walking with Kids
Yeosu Prehistoric Relics Park is also said to have an outdoor learning field. So if you come with kids, they can naturally pick up some history while looking at the dolmens, petroglyphs, and pit houses, and it also makes for a nice place to just walk around. There's a photo zone and a wildflower garden, plus pink muhly grass you can see, so if you enjoy taking photos, that's even better news. What I find so appealing about this park is that it wears two faces at once — you can come to seriously learn about the old stories, or just come for a relaxed stroll and a few pretty photos.
The address is 945-1 Hwajang-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, and it's open at all times, all year round, so you don't need to worry about picking a date — you can drop by whenever you feel like it. Seeing this park made me appreciate all over again that Yeosu isn't just a city with a pretty sea, but a place that also holds onto this much old time within it. If you happen to be passing through Hwajang-dong, I think it's worth taking a little time to walk through this old story for yourself.
SOODAL's Tip · The park is open at all times, all year round, but since it's an outdoor park, the pink muhly's bloom timing and the best walking hours can vary by season and weather, so it's a good idea to check before you go.