Editorial Note: Towards an Understanding of the Ancient City of Gyeongju

Any large city will inevitably develop its own distinct tone and characters. Just as Rome was not built in a day, conurbations form gradually over time, albeit with variations in the period involved, with the condensation of culture and accrual of countless individual lives.

Gyeongju is a highly unusual historical city for remaining the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom over the extraordinary period of a thousand years. For this reason, Gyeongju has always attracted special interest among Korea's many cities. As the city that bore witness to the birth and demise of Silla, it is infused with the history and culture of this ancient kingdom to its very roots.

In that sense, Geyongju can be called the manifestation of Silla's history and culture. Stripped of the legacy of Silla, it would be reduced to an empty city without a heart. Any discussion or study of the city is largely devoted to the history and culture of the ancient kingdom. In other words, it is difficult to understand Gyeongju without first understanding Silla.