62 suspected artifacts found near Gangwon provincial office construction site in Chuncheon's Goeun-ri

A large number of suspected artifacts have been discovered at a Catholic church near the Gangwon provincial office construction site in Goeun-ri, Chuncheon, where construction was already halted following an earlier find.

Chuncheon city officials confirmed that 388 suspected artifacts have been found at the construction site — nearly three times the 145 items originally reported by the initial tipster. With a large volume of suspected artifacts now also turning up in a nearby village, experts say the Goeun-ri area may hold significant urban ruins dating back to prehistoric times. ▶See The Herald Business online report (Oct. 1, 9:56 a.m.): '[Exclusive] Chuncheon city officially confirms 388 artifacts found at halted provincial office construction site … Gangwon provincial office allegedly filed a reduced report to the Cultural Heritage Administration'

The civic group Jungdo Bonbu announced Thursday that it held a press conference on the steps of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province office and reported finding a total of 62 suspected artifacts on Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 at and around the Gomsil Catholic chapel of Geoduri Cathedral, located about 300 meters from the new provincial office construction site.

Gomsil is the old place name for Goeun-ri in Dongnaemyeon, Chuncheon. The Gomsil chapel is a community founded by Eom Ju-eon Martino and is considered the cradle of the current Chuncheon Diocese.

According to Jungdo Bonbu, 12 suspected artifacts were found at the Gomsil chapel site on Sept. 20.

Then on Sept. 27, at least 50 additional suspected buried cultural heritage items were found in farmland adjacent to the Gomsil chapel. The finds that day included 23 suspected stone implements, 19 suspected pottery and ceramic shards, and 8 suspected roof tile fragments.

Jungdo Bonbu said the exact materials, period, nature and status of the finds as buried cultural heritage require expert verification, and formally reported them to the Cultural Heritage Administration and Chuncheon city.

The group also called for a review of the potential distribution of buried cultural heritage around the Gomsil chapel, an objective assessment of possible links to the artifacts and ruins confirmed at the new provincial office construction site, additional investigation and preservation measures if needed, and preservation of the discovery locations and their current condition.

Jungdo Bonbu said it plans to continue documenting field evidence of finds at and around the Gomsil chapel and to monitor the results of on-site investigations and follow-up actions by the relevant authorities.