Mokjong of Goryeo

7th King of Goryeo (r. 997–1009)

Mokjong

King of Goryeo
Reign| 997 – 2 March 1009
Coronation| 997
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Predecessor| Seongjong of Goryeo
Successor| Hyeonjong of Goryeo

Born| Wang Song
5 July 980
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Died| 2 March 1009 (aged 28)
Jeokseong-hyeon, Gaeseong-bu, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Burial|

Gongneung (공릉; 恭陵) → Uireung (의릉; 義陵)

Queen Consort| Queen Seonjeong
Concubine| Lady Yoseok
| Posthumous name

Great King Hyosa Wihye Geukyeong Jeonggong Seonyang
효사위혜극영정공선양대왕
(孝思威惠克英定恭宣讓大王)
Temple name
Minjong (민종; 愍宗) → Mokjong (목종; 穆宗)
House| Wang
Dynasty| Goryeo
Father| Gyeongjong of Goryeo
Mother| Queen Heonae
Korean name

Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Mokjong
McCune–Reischauer| Mokchong
Birth name
Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Wang Song
McCune–Reischauer| Wang Song
Courtesy name
Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Hyosin
McCune–Reischauer| Hyosin
Posthumous name
Hangul|

선양대왕

Hanja|

宣讓大王

Revised Romanization| Seonyang Daewang
McCune–Reischauer| Sŏnyang Taewang

Mokjong (5 July 980 – 2 March 1009), personal name Wang Song, was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.

## Reign

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Born as Wang Song, Mokjong was the only son of King Gyeongjong; however, when his father died, he was too young to become king, so it was his uncle, prince Gaeryeong Wang Chi, who succeeded to the throne as King Seongjong.[1] Mokjong eventually became king after his uncle's death in 997 and chose his mother, Queen Honae, as regent.[1]

Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa (land-allotment system) as well as his various efforts to reorganize the military system and rebuild Pyongyang's castle to strengthen Goryeo's northern defenses early in his reign.[2] He is also remembered for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and her lover Kim Ch'i-yang to overthrow him.[3] Queen Honae and Kim sought to replace Mokjong with their child, whom they had presented as a son of Mokjong's father, Gyeongjong of Goryeo, which Mokjong sought to prevent as it would have meant the end of the Wang Clan's rule over Goryeo.[3][2] Further complicating the situation was Mokjong's homosexuality, which led to his lack of heirs, and his sexuality would be used as an excuse for his eventual overthrow.[2] Mokjong called in General Kang to stop Queen Honae and Kim's coup, but in the process, Mokjong himself was dethroned by general Kang Cho on charges that he had neglected the defense of the country which was in imminent danger from an invasion by the Khitan Liao as well as allegations that his homosexuality was a "sickness" and was forcefully sent into exile in Chungju.[4][2] However, he was slain before he arrived there.[1]

Mokjong's tomb was known as Gongneung, but its present location is not known.

## Family

[edit]

* Father: Gyeongjong of Goryeo (고려 경종, 955–981)
* Grandfather: Gwangjong of Goryeo (고려 광종, 925–975)
* Grandmother: Queen Daemok of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (대목왕후 황보씨)
* Mother: Queen Heonae of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (헌애왕후 황보씨)
* Grandfather: Daejong of Goryeo (고려 대종, d. 969)
* Grandmother: Queen Seonui of the Chŏngju Yu clan (선의왕후 류씨)
* Consorts and their respective Issue(s):

1. Queen Seonjeong of the Chungju Yu clan (선정왕후 유씨); maternal first cousin or paternal second cousin – No issue.
2. Palace Lady Yoseoktaek, of the Kim clan (요석택궁인 김씨) – No issue.

Mokjong is on record as having kept several wonchung ("male lovers") in their courts as "little-brother attendants" (chajewhi) who served as sexual partners.[5]

## In popular culture

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* Portrayed by Lee In in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
* Portrayed by Baek Sung-hyun in the 2023 KBS2 TV series Korea–Khitan War.

Monarchs of Korea

Goryeo

1. Taejo 918–943
2. Hyejong 943–945
3. Jeongjong (定宗) 945–949
4. Gwangjong 949–975
5. Gyeongjong 975–981
6. Seongjong 981–997
7. Mokjong 997–1009
8. Hyeonjong 1009–1031
9. Deokjong 1031–1034
10. Jeongjong (靖宗) 1034–1046
11. Munjong 1046–1083
12. Sunjong 1083
13. Seonjong 1083–1094
14. Heonjong 1094–1095
15. Sukjong 1095–1105
16. Yejong 1105–1122
17. Injong 1122–1146
18. Uijong 1146–1170
19. Myeongjong 1170–1197
20. Sinjong 1197–1204
21. Huijong 1204–1211
22. Gangjong 1211–1213
23. Gojong 1213–1259
24. Wonjong 1259–1274
25. Chungnyeol 1274–1308
26. Chungseon 1308–1313
27. Chungsuk 1313–1330; 1332–1339
28. Chunghye 1330–1332; 1339–1344
29. Chungmok 1344–1348
30. Chungjeong 1348–1351
31. Gongmin 1351–1374
32. U 1374–1388
33. Chang 1388–1389
34. Gongyang 1389–1392

* v
* t
* e

## See also

[edit]

* List of Korean monarchs
* List of Goryeo people
* Kang Cho

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c 목종[穆宗] \- 비극적 결말에 가려진 12년의 치세. contents.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-11-07.
2. ^ a b c d 김, 경순 (February 25, 2020). 고려 : 7대 목종, 게이의 슬픔. 수완뉴스. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
3. ^ a b "[Why] [이한우의 역사속의 Why] 고려 목종을 폐립시킨 강조". Chosun Ilbo. January 31, 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
4. ^ Choe, Chong Dae (February 19, 2013). "Patriotism of Goryeo General Ha Gong-jin". Korea Times. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
5. ^ Hyung-Ki Choi; et al. "South Korea (Taehan Min'guk)". International Encyclopedia of Sexuality. Continuum Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-01-01.

* 목종 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.

Mokjong of Goryeo

House of Wang

Born: 5 July 980 Died: 2 March 1009

Regnal titles
Preceded by

Seongjong

|  King of Goryeo
997–1009  | Succeeded by

Hyeonjong

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

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