Gija was the paternal uncle of the last emperor of the Chinese Shang Dynasty, the tyrannical King Zhou. Gija was imprisoned by the tyrannt until the downfall of Shang Kingdom, when King Wu of Zhou released him. Not wanting to be the subject of the Zhou Kingdom, Gija led 5,000 to present-day Korea and became the king of Joseon.
Gija Joseon was succeeded by Wiman Joseon.