King Gongmin

Tombs of King Gongmin and his wife, Queen Noguk in Gaesong, N. Korea. Picture from here

   Since the new drama is approaching and the action takes place during the last, tumultous years of Goryeo Dynasty, it's time to introduce King Gongmin, one of those unfortunate souls that were born in the wrong time and place. While reading about this period, I couldn't stop thinking about the curse of being ahead of one's own times. King Gongmin was painfully aware of the political situation both in Goryeo and outside of it (waning of Yuan Dynasty and emerging of Ming), yet he was alone and without any real help.

The bureaucracy of Goryeo never forgave Gongmin his pro-Ming stance. They clinged to Yuans and found his moves as the direct threat to their status, and the political war turned bloody in 1374 when one man Yi In-im staged the rebellion and killed the King.

Military revolt in Goryeo

   The revolt resulted in shift in power from royal family tied closely to aristocratic families. Military officials (namely Choe) lasted for about a century and crumbled under Mongol invasion.

This is thought as the background for Mushin series, because the history layout in the first episodes may seem a little bit complicated.