Wrecks off Taean prove a historical treasure trove as signs of new Goryeo Dynasty vessel discovered

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Wrecks off Taean prove a historical treasure trove as signs of new Goryeo Dynasty vessel discovered

Published: 10 Nov. 2025, 21:36 Updated: 12 Nov. 2025, 00:56

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Celadon artifacts are discovered at sea off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

The seas off Mado, an island near South Chungcheong's Taean region, were called the "graveyard of ships" by Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) sailors for their fierce tides and violent waves. But hundreds of years later, the ships lost beneath the waves are proving to be a treasure trove of discoveries for modern-day historians.

Five shipwrecks have been found in the area alone: the famed 2007 Taean wreck loaded with 23,000 Goryeo celadon pieces, and Mado wrecks No. 1 through 4. Ten years have passed since the last and Mado wreck No. 4 was unearthed in 2015, and traces of a new sunken vessel have emerged at the same site, offering the possibility of yet another chapter in Goryeo maritime history.

The National Research Institute of Maritime Culture Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service announced that it had detected signs of an additional shipwreck while recovering structural components of the Joseon-era Mado wreck No. 4, in a press briefing held at the National Palace Museum of Korea in central Seoul on Monday.

Tentatively named Mado wreck No. 5, the new discovery included a variety of pressed-relief celadon bowls, cups and dishes — many of them made using molds. Of particular note were small celadon bowls shaped like spinning tops or conical hats, previously unseen in other Goryeo shipwrecks.

Han Seong-wook, director of the Jahyeon Ceramics Library (translated), said the pottery reflects mid-12th century styles found at kiln sites in Gangjin and Buan. “Based on the forms, the ship likely sank between 1150 and 1175,” Han said.

From the site, researchers recovered 87 celadon pieces — including 65 plates, 15 bowls and 7 cups — as well as a wooden anchor, rope, rice grains, hull fragments and timber cargo supports. The composition of the cargo resembles that of Mado wrecks No. 1 and 2, suggesting the vessel was transporting grain and pottery. The celadon was of modest quality, bearing traces of bubbles and fired with a mix of high-grade quartz and mid-tier refractory clay — leading researchers to conclude it was likely intended as tableware for lower-ranking bureaucrats.

Divers work to retrieve artifacts seen near the shipwreck of Mado wreck No. 4, the only existing ship from the Joseon Era (1392-1910), off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Celadon artifacts retrieved from the sea off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Celadon artifact retrieved from the sea off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

A full excavation is planned for next year. If confirmed, Mado wreck No. 5 would predate the Taean wreck (late 12th century) and Mado wrecks No. 1 (1208), No. 2 (circa 1210) and No. 3 (circa 1265–1268), making it the oldest Goryeo shipwreck discovered in the area.

Monday’s briefing also included updates on Mado wreck No. 4 — the only known surviving vessel from the Joseon Dynasty. First discovered underwater in 2015, it was the first physical evidence of a segok (tax grain) transport ship, previously known only through historical records.

Wooden tags recovered from the ship (63 in total) confirmed it had departed Naju, South Jeolla, carrying tax grain and tribute bound for Gwangheungchang in Hanyang — present-day Mapo District in Seoul. Radiocarbon dating and other findings suggest the vessel sank around 1420.

Signs of another shipwreck are seen at sea off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Mado wreck No. 4, the only existing ship from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), is seen buried at sea off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean, before it was hoisted in October this year by the National Research Institute of Maritime Culture Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Inside the ship were 152 buncheong ceramic items, including dishes labeled “Naeseom,” a reference to the Naeseomsi — the royal office responsible for producing food and drink for high-ranking officials and the royal court. Various other pottery pieces were also retrieved.

Between April and October this year, the institute recovered 107 wooden structural components from the seabed, some 600 years after the ship sank. The hull, now being desalinated, measures 12 meters (39 feet) long and 5 meters wide. Researchers noted that while the port side was largely destroyed, the starboard side remained preserved up to 11 layers high — due to the ship having capsized onto its right side.

Unlike Goryeo vessels that featured a single central mast, Mado Ship No. 4 had twin masts — one at the front and one at the center — suggesting better maneuverability and speed. Its bow was constructed with horizontal timber for durability, and its hull was joined using small wooden pegs, with iron nails used for repairs — all features distinguishing it from earlier shipbuilding styles.

Wreckage from Mado wreck No. 4, the only existing ship from the Joseon Era (1392-1910), is being hoisted from the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean, in October this year by the National Research Institute of Maritime Culture Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Fragments from Mado wreck No. 4, the only existing ship from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), are being researched by the National Research Institute of Maritime Culture Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Wood from Mado wreck No. 4, the only existing ship from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), is being desalinated after being hoisted from the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean, in October this year by the National Research Institute of Maritime Culture Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

The 10-year delay in the recovery was due to budget constraints and the need to conduct surveys in other areas like Jeju, Gunsan and Yeonggwang. “We also needed time to secure facilities for preservation,” said Lee Eun-seok, director of the maritime research institute. Changes in sea currents due to seawall construction between Mado and Sinjin Island also opened new approaches to underwater artifacts, allowing for the renewed excavation. This year, the institute focused its 2.6 billion won ($1.8 million) excavation budget on the waters around Mado.

If confirmed, Mado wreck No. 5 would bring the total number of sunken Goryeo and Joseon ships found within a one-kilometer (0.6 mile) radius to five. The Mado Strait was a common stopover for vessels carrying tribute and goods from the provinces to the capital. But when typhoons struck or sea currents shifted suddenly, many ships never made it. According to historical recordings, around 200 ships sunk in the Taean region between 1392 and 1455.

Recovered components from Mado wreck No. 4 were hoisted last month using the Nurianho crane and are currently undergoing desalination at the Taean Maritime Museum. They will next be hardened and dried — processes that will take several more years. “This is the only surviving vessel from the Joseon Dynasty and we plan to attempt full restoration in about 15 years,” the institute said.

Sunken historical ships are often described as “time capsules of the sea,” as they typically carry goods freshly produced and vividly reflect the daily lives of the people aboard. A total of 15 historical shipwrecks have been found in Korean waters so far: the Shinan and Jindo wrecks, which were of two Chinese ships; the Yeongheungdo wreck from the Unified Silla (676-936) era; Mado wreck No. 4 from the Joseon Dynasty; and 11 from the Goryeo Dynasty.

Satellite image showing the location where the ships were found off the coast of Mado Island, near South Chungcheong's Taean [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KANG HYE-RAN [[email protected]]

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Wrecks off Taean prove a historical treasure trove as signs of new Goryeo Dynasty vessel discovered

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