Pyeongwon
King of the Goguryeo dynasty of Korea
About Pyeongwon
Lived 501 – 590 (aged 88–89).
Pyeongwon (ruled 559–590) was the 25th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Pyeongwon was also known as 'Pyeonggangsanghowang'. His birth name was Yangseong (though the Suishu and Tangshu have him as Tang ).
Reign The years of Pyeongwon's rule are generally agreed upon by historians, but his year of birth has not been established with any degree of certainty. It is known that he was the eldest son of Yangwon of Goguryeo and became crown prince in 557, two years before assuming full power. He is said to have been courageous, and skilled in horseriding and archery.
By this time, royal power had been significantly eroded by the aristocracy. Concerned for the people, he encouraged agricultural and sericultural developments and reduced the royal cuisine.
He maintained tense but relatively peaceful relations with the Göktürks and the various Chinese dynasties, briefly battling the Northern Zhou at the Liaodong Peninsula in 577. He frequently sent tributes to the Chen dynasty, Northern Qi, Northern Zhou and Sui dynasty.
The rule of Pyeongwon came to an end in 590, which is the year of his death according to the Samguk sagi, but there is no specific documentation to confirm the circumstances.
He was given the posthumous royal title of King Pyeongwon.
Family Father: King Yangwon Grandfather: King Anwon Grandmother: Middle Lady Unknown wife Daughter: Princess Pyeonggang – married On Dal . 1st son: Prince Won 2nd son: Prince Geonmu 3rd son: Prince Daeyang ; father of King Bojang.
Popular culture Portrayed by Kil Yong-woo in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Invincible Lee Pyung Kang. Portrayed by Lee Yong-jik in the 2017 Netflix TV series My Only Love Song. Portrayed by in the 2021 KBS2 TV series River Where the Moon Rises.
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Important facts
People in Pyeongwon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Pyeongwon's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Pyeongwon?
king of the Goguryeo dynasty of Korea
When was Pyeongwon born?
Pyeongwon was born in 501.
When did Pyeongwon die?
Pyeongwon died in 590.
What nationality was Pyeongwon?
Pyeongwon's recorded nationality: Goguryeo.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Pyeongwon of Goguryeo
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pyeongwon. https://biography.guide/pyeongwon/
MLA: "Pyeongwon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pyeongwon/.
Chicago: "Pyeongwon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pyeongwon/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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