Archaeological Authenticity and Policy Dilemmas in the Excavation of the Silla Royal Capital

This study critically reviews the past decade of the Restoration and Maintenance of Key Historic Sites of the Silla Royal Capital project (hereinafter Silla Royal Capital Project), launched in 2014, from an archaeological perspective, and aims to analyze the structural dilemmas faced by national heritage governance. The Silla Royal Capital Project began with the dual goals of recovering Gyeongju's historical identity and revitalizing the local economy. However, throughout its implementation, it exposed a severe conflict between 'Political Time,' which demands visible and rapid results, and 'Archaeological Time,' which requires long-term, precise investigation to determine the authenticity of the ruins. The analysis reveals that in the early stages, the academic rigor of excavation investigations was frequently threatened, with hasty restoration plans established in the absence of archaeological data or discussions about the mass deployment of private investigation agencies to shorten the excavation period. Such conflicts led to tangible side effects, such as the damage to archaeological features during the construction of the Hwangnyongsa History and Culture Center. In response, the academic community and national research institutes have sought qualitative advancements by securing legal stability through the enactment of the Special Act on the Restoration and Maintenance of Key Historic Sites of the Silla Royal Capital and establishing a ‘Comprehensive National Heritage Research Model’ to practice interdisciplinary research and Public Archaeology. However, the recent political pressure regarding the excavation of Wolseong Palace implies that development logic and performance-ism still threaten archaeological principles even after legal institutionalization. In conclusion, this study suggests that for the Silla Royal Capital Project to succeed, it is urgent to build a new governance system that can guarantee 'archaeological authenticity' by institutionally ensuring the academic duration of excavation investigations, establishing a research-centered budget structure, and deriving a process-oriented social consensus.