Jumong

Jumong, also known as Dongmyeong, is a legendary figure in Korean history credited as the founder of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is described in the traditional histories Samguk sagi (12th century) and Samguk yusa (13th century) and is regarded as a foundational figure in the early history of northern Korea and Manchuria.

According to these sources, Jumong was a prince of Buyeo who fled his homeland after a palace dispute and established the kingdom of Goguryeo in the Jolbon region near today’s borders of China and Korea. His reign is traditionally dated from 37 BCE to 19 BCE, during which Goguryeo expanded its territory, military strength, and influence in the region.

The Goguryeo kingdom endured for several centuries, playing a central role in regional politics until its conquest by Silla with Tang alliances in 668 CE. Jumong’s legacy is often treated as a mythic or symbolic origin for the state, illustrating the early formation of Korean kingdoms and the region’s northern connections.

In modern culture, Jumong remains a prominent figure in Korea. The best-known adaptation is the 2006–2007 television series Jumong, also titled The Founder of Goguryeo, which dramatizes his life and the founding of the kingdom. The story continues to influence interpretations of Goguryeo in historiography and popular culture.