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Rulers of Korea

The Korean peninsula has been ruled by a number of kingdoms and republics over the last several millennia. Listed below are the rulers and leaders of the major Korean dynasties and states from the beginning of the Common Era to the present day.

Table of contents
1 Notes
2 Gaya (Garak) (AD 42-532)
3 Baekje (18 BC-AD 660)
4 Goguryeo (37 BC-AD 668)
5 Silla (57 BC-AD 935)
6 Barhae (669-926)
7 Goryeo (918-1392)
8 Joseon (1392-1897)
9 Korean Empire (1897-1910)
10 Japanese Residents-General (1905-1910) and Governors-General (1910-1945)
11 US-Soviet Joint Occupation (1945-1948)
12 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1948-present)
13 Republic of Korea (1948-present)
14 References
15 External link

Notes

Kingdoms are listed in the order of their fall. Thus, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla are listed an order that is the reverse of their traditional order of formation.

This list includes only the monarchs' romanized posthumous or temple names and reign dates. The reign dates come from http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/index_sub02.html (in Korean only), with additional information from Rulers.org and from Nahm (1988).

Names have been romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune-Reischauer romanizations of names may be found at the articles about the individual rulers.

Gaya (Garak) (AD 42-532)

Gaya (also called "Garak") was a minor state (that is, not one of the three major kingdoms) during the Three Kingdoms Period. Gaya was absorbed into Silla in AD 532.

All kings of Gaya had the Korean title Wang, which means "king."

  1. King Suro (AD 42-199)
  2. King Geodeung (199-259)
  3. King Mapum (259-291)
  4. King Geojilmi (291-346)
  5. King Isipum (346-407)
  6. King Jwaji (407-421)
  7. King Chwiheui (421-451)
  8. King Jilji (451-492)
  9. King Gyeomji (492-521)
  10. King Guhyeong (521-532)

Baekje (18 BC-AD 660)

Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea in the first millennium of the Common Era (along with Goguryeo and Silla), and fell to Silla in AD 660.

All kings of Baekje had the Korean title Wang, which means "king."

  1. King Onjo (18 BC-AD 29)
  2. King Daru (AD 28-77)
  3. King Giru (77-128)
  4. King Gaeru (128-166)
  5. King Chogo (166-214)
  6. King Gusu (214-234)
  7. King Saban (234)
  8. King Goi (234-286)
  9. King Chaeggye (286-298)
  10. King Bunseo (298-304)
  11. King Biryu (304-344)
  12. King Seol (344-346)
  13. King Geunchogo (346-375)
  14. King Geungusu (375-384)
  15. King Chimnyu (384-385)
  16. King Jinsa (385-392)
  17. King Asin (392-405)
  18. King Jeonji (405-420)
  19. King Guisin (420-427)
  20. King Biyu (427-454)
  21. King Gaero (455-475)
  22. King Munju (475-477)
  23. King Samgeun (477-479)
  24. King Dongseong (479-501)
  25. King Muryeong (501-523)
  26. King Seong (523-554)
  27. King Wideok (554-598)
  28. King Hye (598-599)
  29. King Beop (599-600)
  30. King Mu (600-641)
  31. King Euija (641-660)

Goguryeo (37 BC-AD 668)

Goguryeo was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea in the first millennium of the Common Era (along with Baekje and Silla), and fell to Silla in AD 668.

Goguryeo was ruled by the Go Dynasty. All kings of Goguryeo had either the Korean title Wang ("king") or the title Daewang ("great king," here translated as "King X the Great," where X is the king's name).

  1. King Dongmyeong (37 BC-19 BC)
  2. King Yuri (19 BC-AD 18)
  3. King Daemusin (AD 18-44)
  4. King Minjung (44-48)
  5. King Mobon (48-53)
  6. King Gukjo (53-146)
  7. King Chadae (146-165)
  8. King Sindae (165-179)
  9. King Gogukcheon (179-197)
  10. King Sansang (197-227)
  11. King Dongcheon (227-247)
  12. King Jungcheon (247-270)
  13. King Seocheon (270-292)
  14. King Bongsang (292-300)
  15. King Micheon (300-330)
  16. King Gogugweon (331-371)
  17. King Sosurim (371-384)
  18. King Gogugyang (384-391)
  19. King Gwanggaeto the Great (391-413)
  20. King Jangsu (413-490)
  21. King Munjamyeong (491-519)
  22. King Anjang (519-531)
  23. King Anweon (531-545)
  24. King Yangweon (545-559)
  25. King Pyeongweon (559-590)
  26. King Yeongyang (590-618)
  27. King Yeongnyu (618-641)
  28. King Bojang (642-668)

Silla (57 BC-AD 935)

Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea in the first millennium of the Common Era, along with Baekje (which it conquered in AD 660) and Goguryeo (which it defeated in 668). Silla fell in turn to Goryeo in 935. The post-668 kingdom is often referred to by academics as Unified Silla, since it was the first unified state to rule over most of the Korean peninsula.

Silla was ruled by the Bak, Seok, and Kim Dynasties. Rulers of Silla had various titles, including Isageum, Maripgan, Wang, and Yeowang, as explained in the list below. For the sake of consistency, all rulers in the list below (except for the first two) are given the titles "King" or "Queen."

  1. Bak Hyeokgeose (BC 57-AD 4)
  2. Namhae Chachaung (AD 4-24)
  3. King Yuri (24-57) (Kings Yuri through Heurhae had the Korean title Isageum, an old word for "ruler")
  4. King Tarhae (57-80)
  5. King Pasa (80-112)
  6. King Jima (112-134)
  7. King Ilseong (134-154)
  8. King Adalla (154-184)
  9. King Beorhyu (184-196)
  10. King Nahae (196-230)
  11. King Jobun (230-247)
  12. King Cheomhae (247-261)
  13. King Michu (262-284)
  14. King Yurye (284-298)
  15. King Girim (298-310)
  16. King Heurhae (310-356)
  17. King Naemul (356-402) (Kings Naemul through Soji had the Korean title Maripgan, and old word for "ruler")
  18. King Silseong (402-417)
  19. King Nulji (417-458)
  20. King Jabi (458-479)
  21. King Soji (479-500)
  22. King Jijeung (500-514) (Kings Jijeung through Gyeongsun had the title Wang (the modern Korean word for "king"), with the exceptions noted below)
  23. King Beopheung (514-540)
  24. King Jinheung (540-576)
  25. King Jinji (576-579)
  26. King Jinpyeong (579-632)
  27. Queen Seondeok (632-647) (Queens Seondeok and Jindeok had the title Yeowang, meaning "queen")
  28. Queen Jindeok (647-654)
  29. King Muyeol (654-661)
  30. King Munmu (661-681)
  31. King Sinmun (681-691)
  32. King Hyoso (692-702)
  33. King Seongdeok the Great (702-737) ("King Seongdeok the Great" is a translation of Seongdeok Daewang, "Daewang"'' meaning "great king")
  34. King Hyoseong (737-742)
  35. King Gyeongdeok (742-765)
  36. King Hyegong (765-780)
  37. King Seondeok (780-785)
  38. King Weonseong (785-798)
  39. King Soseong (798-800)
  40. King Aejang (800-809)
  41. King Heondeok (809-826)
  42. King Heungdeok (826-836)
  43. King Heuigang (836-838)
  44. King Minae (838-839)
  45. King Sinmu (839)
  46. King Munseong (839-857)
  47. King Heonan (857-861)
  48. King Gyeongmun (861-875)
  49. King Heongang (875-886)
  50. King Jeonggang (886-887)
  51. Queen Jinseong (887-897) (Queen Jinseong had the Korean title Yeowang, which means "queen")
  52. King Hyogong (897-912)
  53. King Sindeok (913-917)
  54. King Gyeongmyeong (917-924)
  55. King Gyeongae (924-927)
  56. King Gyeongsun (927-935)

Barhae (669-926)

Barhae (Bohai in Mandarin) was a kingdom that occupied territory in Korea, Manchuria, and modern-day Russia during the Unified Silla period. See Bohai (Barhae) for a list of rulers.

Goryeo (918-1392)

The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and defeated Silla in 935-936, making "Goryeo" the name of Korea. (Incidentally, "Goryeo" is the source of the English name "Korea.") In 1392, the kingdom fell to the Joseon Dynasty.

Goryeo was ruled by the Wang Dynasty. The first king had the temple name Taejo, which means "great progenitor" and was applied to the first kings of both Goryeo and Joseon, as they were also the founders of the Wang and Yi Dynasties respectively. The next 23 kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, which had the title jong in them. Beginning with Chungnyeol (the 25th king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title Wang—the standard Sino-Korean word for "King"—as part of their temple names.

  1. King Taejo (AD 918-943)
  2. King Hyejong (943-945)
  3. King Jeongjong (945-949)
  4. King Gwangjong (949-975)
  5. King Gyeongjong (975-981)
  6. King Seongjong (981-997)
  7. King Mokjong (997-1009)
  8. King Hyeonjong (1009-1031)
  9. King Deokjong (1031-1034)
  10. King Jeongjong (1034-1046)
  11. King Munjong (1046-1083)
  12. King Sunjong (1083)
  13. King Seonjong (1083-1094)
  14. King Heonjong (1094-1095)
  15. King Sukjong (1095-1105)
  16. King Hyejong (1105-1122)
  17. King Injong (1122-1146)
  18. King Euijong (1146-1170)
  19. King Myeongjong (1170-1197)
  20. King Sinjong (1197-1204)
  21. King Heuijong (1204-1211)
  22. King Gangjong (1211-1213)
  23. King Gojong (1213-1259)
  24. King Weonjong (1259-1274)
  25. King Chungnyeol (1274-1308) (Chungnyeol was the first king of Goryeo to have the title Wang, which means "King")
  26. King Chungseon (1308-1313)
  27. King Chungsuk (1313-1330; 1332-1339)
  28. King Chunghye (1330-1332; 1339-1344)
  29. King Chungmok (1344-1348)
  30. King Chungjeong (1348-1351)
  31. King Gongmin (1351-1374)
  32. King U (1374-1388)
  33. King Chang (1388-1389)
  34. King Gongyang (1389-1392)

Joseon (1392-1897)

Joseon was the name of Korea during most the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from the fall of Goryeo in 1392 until the beginning of the Japanese Colonial Period in 1910. In 1897, the country became the Korean Empire.

Joseon Dynasty kings had temple names ending in jo or jong. Jo was given to the first kings of new lines within the dynasty, with the first king having the special name (Taejo), which means "great progenitor" (see also Goryeo). Jong was given to all other kings. Two kings—Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun— were so disgraced in the eyes of later official historians that they were deprived of their temple names after their reigns ended. Each king had a posthumous name—which was different from his temple name—that included either the title Wang ("King") or Daewang ("King X the Great"). For the sake of consitency, the title "King" has been added to each king's temple name in the list below.

  1. King Taejo (AD 1392-1398)
  2. King Jeongjong (1398-1400)
  3. King Taejong (1400-1418)
  4. King Sejong the Great (1418-1450)
  5. King Munjong (1450-1452)
  6. King Danjong (1452-1455)
  7. King Sejo (1455-1468)
  8. King Yejong (1468-1469)
  9. King Seongjong (1469-1494)
  10. Yeonsangun (1494-1506)
  11. King Jungjong (1506-1544)
  12. King Injong (1544-1545)
  13. King Myeongjong (1545-1567)
  14. King Seonjo (1567-1608)
  15. Gwanghaegun (1608-1623)
  16. King Injo (1623-1649)
  17. King Hyojong (1649-1659)
  18. King Hyeonjong (1659-1674)
  19. King Sukjong (1674-1720)
  20. King Gyeongjong (1720-1724)
  21. King Yeongjo (1724-1776)
  22. King Jeongjo (1776-1800)
  23. King Sunjo (1800-1834)
  24. King Heonjong (1834-1849)
  25. King Cheoljong (1849-1864)
  26. King Gojong (1864-1897) (Became emperor in 1897)

Korean Empire (1897-1910)

In 1897, Korea was renamed Daehan Jeguk (Korean Empire, or literally, "Great Han Empire"). King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty became the first emperor (Hwangje in Korean). Technically, the emperors should be referred to by their era names rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.

Emperor Gojong's reign was given the era name "Gwangmu," while Sunjong's reign had the era name "Yeonghui."

  1. Emperor Gojong (1897-1907)
  2. Emperor Sunjong (1907-1910)

Japanese Residents-General (1905-1910) and Governors-General (1910-1945)

Korea was a Japanese protectorate from 1905 to 1910, and a colony from 1910 until 1945. During the colonial period, Korea was officially called Chosen, the Japanese version of the old name Joseon.

Residents-General

  1. 1905 - 1909 Ito Hirobumi
  2. 1909 - 1910 Sone Arasuke
  3. 1910 - 1910 Terauchi Masatake

Governors-General

  1. 1910 - 1916 Terauchi Masatake
  2. 1916 - 1919 Hasegawa Yoshimichi
  3. 1919 - 1927 Saito Makoto (1st time)
  4. 1927 - 1927 Ugaki Kazushige (1st time)
  5. 1927 - 1929 Yamanashi Hanzo
  6. 1929 - 1931 Saito Makoto (2nd time)
  7. 1931 - 1936 Ugaki Kazushige (2nd time)
  8. 1936 - 1942 Minami Jiro
  9. 1942 - 1944 Koiso Kuniaki
  10. 1944 - 1945 Abe Nobuyuki

US-Soviet Joint Occupation (1945-1948)

Soviet commanders-in-chief:

  1. Ivan Chistyakov (1945-1947)
  2. Gennady Korotkov (1947-1948)

U.S. commander-in-chief:
  1. John R. Hodge (1945-1948)
U.S. military governors
  1. Archibald V. Arnold (1945)
  2. Archer L. Lerch (1945-1947)
  3. William F. Dean (1947-1948)

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1948-present)

(Under construction)

Republic of Korea (1948-present)

(Under construction)

References

Nahm, Andrew C. (1988). Korea: Tradition and Transformation - A History of the Korean People. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International.

External link

Rulers of Korea since 1700