King Taejo

Hello! My name is Yi Seong-gye, but you might know me by my special kingly name, Taejo. I was born a very long time ago, on October 27th, 1335. Before I ever wore a shiny crown or sat on a throne, I was a soldier in the army. I worked very hard and became a general, which is like the leader of all the soldiers. People knew me because I was very brave and strong in my duties. I always wanted to protect my home and the people who lived there. It was my most important job to keep everyone safe from harm.

As a general for the kingdom of Goryeo, my main job was to keep our country safe. Sometimes, other groups would try to invade our land, and it was up to me and my soldiers to protect everyone. I led my armies in many important battles to guard our borders and keep our homes peaceful. I was known for being a good leader, and because we were successful, I became very famous all across the kingdom. People respected me for my courage and for always putting the safety of our people first.

After many years of being a general, I noticed that the Goryeo kingdom was not as strong as it used to be. The leaders were not making good choices, and many of the people were unhappy and struggling. I felt in my heart that something had to change to make things better for everyone. So, in the year 1392, I made a very big decision. I decided it was time for a new beginning. I started a brand new kingdom for our people and called it Joseon. And because I started it, I became its very first king.

Every new kingdom needs a wonderful capital city where the king lives and important decisions are made. In 1394, just two years after I became king, I chose a perfect spot for our new capital. We named it Hanyang. We worked hard to build a beautiful and grand palace for the royal family to live in. To keep the city safe, we also built tall, strong walls all the way around it. This amazing city I built is still here today, but it has a different name you might have heard of. We now call it Seoul!

The Joseon kingdom that I started grew strong and lasted for over 500 years. It was a very important time that helped shape the culture and history of Korea. I lived to be 72 years old. Today, people remember me as King Taejo. They tell my story as the brave general who became a king and started a dynasty that helped create the wonderful country of Korea that people know and love today.