An international forum held at Singyeongju University brought together scholars and local citizens to examine Gyeongju's historical significance as a potential starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The Sunday event, organized to commemorate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit that opened Thursday in the southeastern city, focused on the UNESCO-designated cultural heritage site's role in ancient East-West economic and cultural exchanges.
Marco Malagodi, an associate professor from the University of Pavia's Department of Musicology and Cultural Heritage, served as one of the keynote speakers at the forum titled "The Starting Point of the Silk Road, Gyeongju." Malagodi presented evidence supporting the theory that Gyeongju, historically known as Seorabeol, functioned as the eastern terminus of the famous trade route. He pointed to striking similarities in cultural artifacts discovered across multiple ancient cities, including Gyeongju, Xi'an (formerly Chang'an), Rome, and Istanbul, as proof of interconnected trade relationships.
The academic community has increasingly challenged the traditional understanding of the Silk Road's eastern boundary. While historians previously believed the route ended in Xi'an, China, mounting archaeological evidence suggests it extended further east to the Silla Kingdom's capital. Excavations in Gyeongju have uncovered Roman-style glassware and other Western artifacts from the Silla era (57 BC-AD 936), indicating direct trade connections between the ancient Korean kingdom and Western civilizations. Malagodi emphasized that these international exchanges significantly influenced and enriched Silla's cultural development.
Beyond trade connections, forum participants explored how Gyeongju's ancient governance systems offer lessons for modern democratic societies. The Silla Kingdom's hwabaek system, a council of nobles that made important political decisions, was highlighted as an early form of democratic governance. Singyeongju University President Kim Il-yun noted that even during the tribal era, Silla elected its first king through this democratic process, demonstrating sophisticated political structures that predated many Western democratic systems.
"The history and culture of Gyeongju, the capital of Silla for 1,000 years, holds lessons that can enable countries around the world to overcome their difficulties and achieve prosperity," Kim stated during his presentation. He emphasized that the hwabaek system represented "a forerunner of democracy" and urged attendees to focus on the historical significance of the ancient capital that served as "the root of a kingdom that lasted a thousand years."
North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo highlighted the region's remarkable concentration of cultural treasures and state-designated artifacts. The Gyeongju Historic Areas achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2000, recognizing the city's exceptional universal value and outstanding cultural significance. Lee expressed hope that the forum would serve as a platform to promote Gyeongju's cultural heritage to the international community and raise global awareness of the region's historical importance.
The collaborative event received support from multiple organizations, including co-hosts Singyeongju University and the World Capital Culture Research Association. Both the Gyeongju city government and North Gyeongsang Province government provided official endorsements for the forum. The timing of the event alongside the APEC summit created additional opportunities for international dialogue about the region's historical contributions to global trade and cultural exchange networks.
