Wang Kon

Wang Kon, a feudal magnate in the Songak (Kaesong) area in the middle of the Korean peninsula, collaborated with Kung Ye, leader of the rebel forces. In 918, he led a coup and overthrew Kung Ye, a tyrant, and established a new dynasty.

He named the new kingdom Koryo indicating that it was the successor to Koguryo, and pursued the policy of national unification.

He reconciled with Silla and took a hard line towards Later Paekje by intensifying military offensives. He pursued the policy of recovering the territory of erstwhile Koguryo in the north of the Taedong River and embraced the surviving people of Palhae who immigrated to Koryo.

In 935, he annexed Silla peacefully; in 936, he defeated Later Paekje by force of arms, thus achieving the cause of territorial unification.