List of monarchs of Korea

Korea has been ruled by a number of kingdoms/empires and republics over the last several millennia. Listed below are the rulers and leaders of the major Korean dynasties and states from the beginning of the recorded history to the present day.

Notes

Kingdoms/Empires are listed in the order of their fall. Thus, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla are listed an order that is the reverse of their traditional order of formation.

This list includes only the monarchs' romanized posthumous or temple names and reign dates. The reign dates come from http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/index_sub02.html (in Korean only), with additional information from Rulers.org and from Nahm (1988).

Names have been romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune-Reischauer romanizations of names may be found at the articles about the individual rulers.

Paedal (Sinshi) (?BC 3898-?BC 2333)

According to some history records, the first emperor of Korea moved into Korea in BC 3898 with 3000 of his people. He founded his capital on foot of Mount Paekdu (Mount Taebaek). The rulers used the title Hwanung after the name of the first emperor, and were also called Chunhwang, which means "the emperor of heaven" which can be translated emperor

Emperor Koubalhan (BC 3898-3804), also known as Emperor Hwanung.
Emperor Koubulli (3804-3718)
Emperor Wuyago (3718-3619)
Emperor Mosadal (3612-3512)
Emperor Taewui (3512-3419)
Emperor Dauibal (3419-3321)
Emperor Guryun (3321-3240)
Emperor Ahnburyun (3240-3167)
Emperor Yangwoon (3167-3071)
Emperor Galgo (3071-2971), also known as Emperor Dokrohan.
Emperor Kouyabal (2971-2879)
Emperor Jumushin (2879-2774)
Emperor Sawara (2774-2707)
Emperor Jaoji (2707-2598), also known as Emperor Chiwu
Emperor Chiaekteuk (2598-2509)
Emperor Chookdari (2509-2453)
Emperor Hyukdase (2453-2381)
Emperor Koubuldan (2381-2333), also known as Emperor Danung.

(Ancient) Joseon (?BC 2333-?BC 239)

There are two accounts of founding Joseon. One, a mythical story involves Hwanung, son of heaven descending to Mount Paekdu to marry a woman who was originally a bear. They had a child, who became the first emperor of Joseon, Tangun Wanggum. Another account, according to which this list is written, is that the son of the last emperor Koubuldan of Paedal, reorganised the declining empire and renamed the country Joseon, land of morning calm. The time for the end of Joseon is disputed. Some record records the abdication of last emperor, Emperor Koyulga, in BC 239. Other accounts record the date as BC 1137. The period of reign for each emperor is not listed as neither account currently prevails. According to one account, the dynasty's name was changed to Daebuyo in BC 425. The emperor used the title of Tanje, which literarilly means emperor under the birch.

Buyo (?BC 239-AD 494)

Buyo is believed to have risen from the areas of Joseon in 2nd-3rd century BC. They claimed their inheritance of Joseon, and the rulers continued to use the titles of Tanje or the emperor. According to some accounts, Buyo was divided into two countries, Bukbuyo and Dongbuyo, in BC 108. Bukbuyo was later succeeded by Goguryeo, but Dongbuyo, ruled by the heirs of Emperor Haemosu, was shattered by Goguryeo in 22 AD. Dongbuyo declined to meagre existence until 494, when they catipulated to Goguryeo.

Bukbuyo (?BC 108-?BC 58)

The rulers of Bukbuyo retained the use the title of Tanje, or the emperor.

Emperor Bukbuyo (BC 108-60)
Emperor Gomuseu (60-58)

Dongbuyo (?BC 86-AD 22)

The rulers of Dongbuyo submitted to the overlordship of Bukbuyo in BC 86 and thus used tht title of Wang, which means king.

Gaya (Garak) (42-532)

Gaya (also called "Garak") was a minor state (that is, not one of the three major kingdoms) during the Three Kingdoms Period. Gaya was absorbed into Silla in 532.

All kings of Gaya had the Korean title Wang, which means "king." This list represents the Kim Dynasty of Geumgwan Gaya.

Baekje (BC 18-660)

Goguryeo (37 BCE - 668 CE)

Goguryeo is the only one of the three realms that is described as the Empire, and its vassals used the title of king. Its rulers had the title of Taewang, which when literarily translated means the the greatest of the kings or emperor. Here the rulers are all styled as the emperors, with the era name in bracket where applicable.

Emperor Dongmyeongseong (Damul) (37 BCE-19 BCE) (also known as Jumong)
Emperor Yuri (19 BCE-18 CE)
Emperor Daemushin (18-44)
Emperor Minjung (44-48)
Emperor Mobon (48-53)
Emperor Taejo (Ryeungmu) (53-121 / 146) (also known as Emperor Gukjo)
Emperor Chadae (121 / 146] -165)
Emperor Shindae (165-179)
Emperor Gogukchun (179-197)
Emperor Sinsang (197-227)
Emperor Dongcheon (227-248) (also known as Emperor Dongyang)
Emperor Jungcheon (248-270) (also known as Emperor Jungyang)
Emperor Seocheon (270-292) (also known as Emperor Seoyang)
Emperor Bongsang (292-300) (also known as Emperor Chagal)
Emperor Micheon (300-331) (also known as Emperor Hoyang)
Emperor Gogukwon (331-371) (also known as Emperor Gukgangsang)
Emperor Sosurim (371-384)
Emperor Gogukyang (384-391)
Emperor Gwanggaeto the Great (Youngrak) (391-413)
Emperor Jangsu (Gunheung) (413-491)
Emperor Munjamyeong (Myungchi) (491-519)
Emperor Anjang (519-531)
Emperor Anwon (531-545)
Emperor Yangwon (545-559) (also known as Emperor Yanggang)
Emperor Pyeongwon (Daeduk) (559-590) (also known as Emperor Pyeonggang)
Emperor Yeongyang (Hongmu) (590-618) (also known as Emperor Pyeongyang)
Emperor Yeongryu (618-642)
Emperor Bojang (Kaehwa) (642-668)

Silla (BC 57-935)

King Hyukgousae (BC 57-AD4)
King Namhae (4-24). Used the title of Chachaung
King Yuri (24-57). First used the title of Isagum
King Tarhae (57-80)
King Pasa (80-112)
King Jima (112-134)
King Ilsung (134-154)
King Adalah (154-184)
King Burhew (184-196)
King Nahae (196-230)
King Jobun (230-247)
King Cheomhae (247-261)
King Michu (262-284)
King Yurye (284-298)
King Girim (298-310)
King Heurhae (310-356)
King Naemul (356-402) (Kings Naemul through Soji had the Korean title Maripgan, an old word for "ruler")
King Silseong (402-417)
King Nulji (417-458)
King Jabi (458-479)
King Soji (479-500)
King Jijeung (500-514) (Kings Jijeung through Gyeongsun had the title Wang (the modern Korean word for "king"), with the exceptions noted below)
King Beopheung (514-540)
King Jinheung (540-576)
King Jinji (576-579)
King Jinpyeong (579-632)
Queen Seondeok (632-647) (Queens Seondeok and Jindeok had the title Yeowang, meaning "queen")
Queen Jindeok (647-654)
King Muyeol (654-661)
King Munmu (661-681)
King Sinmun (681-691)
King Hyoso (692-702)
King Seongdeok the Great (702-737) ("King Seongdeok the Great" is a translation of Seongdeok Daewang, "Daewang" meaning "great king")
King Hyoseong (737-742)
King Gyeongdeok (742-765)
King Hyegong (765-780)
King Seondeok (780-785)
King Weonseong (785-798)
King Soseong (798-800)
King Aejang (800-809)
King Heondeok (809-826)
King Heungdeok (826-836)
King Heuigang (836-838)
King Minae (838-839)
King Sinmu (839)
King Munseong (839-857)
King Heonan (857-861)
King Gyeongmun (861-875)
King Heongang (875-886)
King Jeonggang (886-887)
Queen Jinseong (887-897) (Queen Jinseong had the Korean title Yeowang, which means "queen")
King Hyogong (897-912)
King Sindeok (913-917)
King Gyeongmyeong (917-924)
King Gyeongae (924-927)
King Gyeongsun (927-935)

Jin (Barhae) (669-926)

Jin (진), (Barhae (발해)) (Bohai in Mandarin) was an empire that occupied territory in Korea, Manchuria, and modern-day Russia during the Unified Silla period. Jin is the name of the country chosen by the rulers, and Barhae (Bohai) is what China named the empire. The rulers of Jin used the title of Hwangje, which is translated to be emperor. They had the temple name of either -jo or -jong, though there are exceptions. Their era names are in bracket where available.

Goryeo (918-1392)

The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and defeated Silla in 935-936, making "Goryeo" the name of Korea. (Incidentally, "Goryeo" is the source of the English name "Korea.") In 1392, the kingdom fell to the Joseon Dynasty.

Goryeo was ruled by the Wang Dynasty. The first king had the temple name Taejo, which means "great progenitor" and was applied to the first kings of both Goryeo and Joseon, as they were also the founders of the Wang and Yi Dynasties respectively. The next 23 kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, which had the title jong in them. Beginning with Chungnyeol (the 25th king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title Wang—the standard Sino-Korean word for "King"—as part of their temple names. Era names are in bracket where available

King Taejo (Chunsu) (918-943)
King Hyejong (943-945)
King Jeongjong (945-949)
King Gwangjong (949-975)
King Gyeongjong (975-981)
King Seongjong (981-997)
King Mokjong (997-1009)
King Hyeonjong (1009-1031)
King Deokjong (1031-1034)
King Jeongjong (1034-1046)
King Munjong (1046-1083)
King Sunjong (1083)
King Seonjong (1083-1094)
King Heonjong (1094-1095)
King Sukjong (1095-1105)
King Hyejong (1105-1122)
King Injong (1122-1146)
King Euijong (1146-1170)
King Myeongjong (1170-1197)
King Sinjong (1197-1204)
King Heuijong (1204-1211)
King Gangjong (1211-1213)
King Gojong (1213-1259)
King Weonjong (1259-1274)
King Chungnyeol (1274-1308) (Chungnyeol was the first king of Goryeo to have the title Wang, which means "King")
King Chungseon (1308-1313)
King Chungsuk (1313-1330; 1332-1339)
King Chunghye (1330-1332; 1339-1344)
King Chungmok (1344-1348)
King Chungjeong (1348-1351)
King Gongmin (1351-1374)
King U (1374-1388)
King Chang (1388-1389)
King Gongyang (1389-1392)

Joseon (1392-1897)

Joseon was the name of Korea during most the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from the fall of Goryeo in 1392 until the beginning of the Republic of Korea in 1919. In 1897, the country became the Korean Empire. Some of the kings were posthumously raised to the rank of emperors.

Joseon Dynasty kings/emperors had temple names ending in jo or jong. Jo was given to the first kings/emperors of new lines within the dynasty, with the first king/emperor having the special name (Taejo), which means "great progenitor" (see also Goryeo). Jong was given to all other kings/emperors. Two kings—Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun— were so disgraced in the eyes of later official historians that they were deprived of their temple names after their reigns ended. Each king/emperor had a posthumous name—which was different from his temple name—that included either the title Wang ("King"),Hwangje ("Emperor"), Daewang ("King X the Great") or Daeje ("Emperor X the Great"). For the sake of consistency, the title "King/Emperor" has been added to each monarch's temple name in the list below.

Korean Empire (1897-1919)

In 1897, Korea was renamed Daehan Jeguk (Korean Empire, or literally, "Great Han Empire"). King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty became the first emperor (Hwangje in Korean). Technically, the emperors should be referred to by their era names rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.

Emperor Gojong's reign was given the era name "Gwangmu," while Sunjong's reign had the era name "Yeonghui."

Presidents of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919-1948)

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was based in Shanghai, China. Although the current South Korean government insists on being its successor to assert legitimacy,and indeed some countries recognised the government, including China, the government was not internationally recognized by all great powers..

Syngman Rhee 이승만 (1919-1925)
Park Eunshik 박은식 (1925)
Yi Sangryong 이상룡 (1925-1926)
Hong Jin (Hong Myunhui) 홍진 (홍면희) (1926)
Yi Dongnyung 이동녕 (1926-1927)
Kim Ku 김구 (1927-1948)

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1948-present)

1948-1993 President Kim Il-sung
1993-Now Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il

Republic of Korea (1948-present)

Main Article: Presidents of South Korea

1948-1960 1st, 2nd, 3rd President Syngman Rhee (The 1st Republic)
1960-1962 4th President Yun Boseon (The 2nd Republic)
1963-1979 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th President Park Chunghee (The 3rd/4th Republic)
1979-1980 10th President Choi Kyuha
1980-1988 11th, 12th President Chun Doo-hwan (The 5th Republic)
1988-1993 13th President Roh Tae-woo (The 6th Republic)
1993-1998 14th President Kim Young-sam (The Civil Government)
1998-2003 15th President Kim Dae-jung (The Government of the People)
2003-Now 16th president Roh Moo-hyun (The Participatory Government)

References

Nahm, Andrew C. (1988). Korea: Tradition and Transformation - A History of the Korean People. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International.