Jumongs

Jumongs is the plural form of a Korean given name, most notably associated with the legendary founder of the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. In historical and literary contexts, Jumong is often treated as a proper name for several figures who bear or are given the name, with the most famous bearer being the founder of Goguryeo, who is also known by the posthumous title Dongmyeong, meaning “Bright East.”

In traditional accounts, Jumong is credited with establishing Goguryeo in the northern Korean Peninsula and parts of Manchuria in the late first century BCE. He is a central figure in Korean myth and history, appearing in chronicles such as the Samguk Sagi, where his life and the early history of Goguryeo are recounted. In hanja, the name is sometimes rendered as 朱蒙, though spellings vary by source, and the exact etymology of Jumong remains opaque in reconstructed Korean.

Modern usage of Jumong has extended beyond historical references. The name has appeared in literature, film, and television, most prominently in the 2006 TV series titled Jumong, which dramatizes the founder’s life and the founding of Goguryeo. In contemporary contexts, Jumong may be used as a given name or as a cultural reference tied to Goguryeo heritage. The plural Jumongs can denote multiple individuals bearing the name or serve as a generic reference in discussions of related fictional or historical figures.

See also: Jumong, Goguryeo, Dongmyeong.