The historical background to help understand Ep. 28
■ Kim Jeo’s rebellion (November, 1389)
Kim Jeo (김저 金佇) was General Choi Young’s nephew. When he and Jung Deuk-Hoo (정득후 鄭得厚) secretly visited King U (우왕 禑王 1365~1389) in exile, the deposed king lamented with tears.
“It’s terribly frustrating to spend the rest of my life here. If I had a warrior who is strong enough to kill Yi Seong-Gye, I could do what I want again.”
After Kim Jeo agreed to carry out the assassination plan, the deposed king handed over a sword and ordered them to deliver it to Gwak Chung-Bo (곽충보 郭忠輔) in the capital.
The date for the assassination was set on Palgwanhoe festival day (November 15 of the lunar calendar). Palgwanhoe (팔관회 八關會) was one of Goryeo‘s top 2 national Buddhist festivals. Do you remember? General Yi Seong-Gye forced the child king to sign on the budget paper for this year’s Palgwanhoe festival in Ep. 27. Right, that festival.
Anyway, the 2 men went to see Gwak Chung-Bo as they were told, and delivered the king’s sword. They believed the deposed king and Gwak Chung-Bo had been secretly communicating with each other, but unfortunately they were not. While pretending to agree with them, Gwak Chung-Bo secretly informed Yi Seong-Gye of their plot.
On November 14, 1389, Yi Seong-Gye didn’t attend the festival and stayed in his house, waiting for their night attack. Kim Jeo’s party raided General Yi’s mansion but they were easily captured by guards waiting in ambush.
Jung Deuk-Hoo killed himself. Kim Jeo was arrested and tortured to confess that Yi Saek’s party conspired together for the restoration of King U. Even though it was unclear whether his confession was true, all of those involved were ousted and exiled. Kim Jeo also died suddenly in the prison.
King Chang (창왕 昌王, 1380~1389) was also accused of communicating secretly with his father. Yi Seong-Gye immediately held a conference of senior statesmen at the heavily guarded Heungguksa, the royal Buddhist temple.
Nine ministers including Jung Do-Jeon, Jung Mong-Joo, Jo Joonconcluded to depose King Chang. They justified their decision by questioning the two kings’ doubtful lineage.
“Since U and Chang don’t belong to Wang clan (the royal family), they are fake kings. We should establish a new legitimate king.”
Yi Seong-Gye enthroned Wang Yo (Prince Jeongchang), the descendent of Goryeo’s 20th ruler, King Shinjong. He is later known as King Gongyang (공양왕 恭讓王, 1345~1394), the last king of Goryeo Dynasty.
In December 1389, one month after Kim Jeo’s rebellion, both King U and his son King Chang were executed.
In the aftermath, Yi Seong-Gye’s party completely changed their mind from the reforms within the framework of Goryeo to the dynastic revolution. Therefore,Jung Mong-Jo who had agreed with them to depose King Chang revolted to the other side and became thier formidable enemy in the end.
SFD writers seem to interpret Kim Jeo’s rebellion in a different perspective. Enjoy the drama, everyone!
Post time 7-1-2016 01:50 AM
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