Portrait of King Samgeun (Patreon)

King Samgeun (삼근왕, r. 477~479) was the 23rd king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of ancient Korea.

Samgeun ruled during the turbulent period of Baekje history. In 475, the northern Korean kingdom of Goguryeo captured the capital of Baekje. Baekje was forced to move their capital south to Ungjin (present-day Gongju).

After moving the capital, the Baekje royal family lost much of their power to the aristocracy. King Munju (r. 475~477) was killed by minister Hae Gu. He installed the thirteen-year-old son of the late king, Samgeun, on the throne as his puppet. However, despite his young age, Samgeun formed an alliance with another noble faction and executed Hae Gu and his associates.

Unfortunately, this ambitious teenage king suddenly died in April 479. The sources do not specify the cause of Samgeun's death, however he was most likely assassinated. King Samgeun’s dream of restoring the royal authority was eventually realized by his uncle King Muryeong (r. 501~523) decades later.

Although there are several Baekje tombs, the tomb of King Muryeong is the only one that we can concretely identify the deceased thanks to the epitaph stone. However, on June 17, 2025, the historic identification of another king’s burial was announced. It was the tomb of King Samgeun.

Samgeun’s tomb was found to be one of the Baekje royal tombs in Songsan-ri, Gongju. In the early 20th century, a rudimentary survey was conducted for this tomb complex. From 2023 to 2025, the Buyeo National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage led an archaeological project at Tomb No. 1, 2, 3, and 4. In tomb No. 2, two molar teeth that belongs to a teenager have been found. Samgeun is the only Baekje king who died young during the Unjin period, which allows us to positively identify him.

Along with the teeth, various burial goods were also found in Tomb No. 2. One pair of golden earrings decorated with blue glass beads, dozens of colorful glass beads from Thailand, a gilded silver ring, a gold bead that was most likely part of a necklace or Buddhist rosary, a pentagon-shaped pommel, a small leaf-shaped ornament, and the gold ornament for the end of the small dagger.

The drawing is based on these findings, complemented with other Baekje artifacts and historical sources. The gold crown and belt buckles are based on findings from the tomb of King Muryeong. The medallion pattern on the robe comes from a floor tile discovered in Oe-ri, Buyeo. The foliage scrolls on the hem are based on a roof tile from Mireuksa Temple. Aside from the tip ornament, the dagger is based on the one from Songje-ri Tomb No. 1 in Naju.

This drawing has a special meaning for me. On June 17, 2025, when the news of the identification was announced, I was visiting that exact tomb complex in Gongju. I was mostly focused on King Muryeong’s tomb, but I did saw the other tombs, including No. 2, were barricaded due to archaeological surveys. When I read the news later, it blew my mind. I was only a few hundred meters away from the boy king’s tomb without even realizing! It was a surreal experience, and since then I have wanted to draw the portrait of King Samgeun. So, here it is!

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Sources

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나주 정촌고분 출토 소환두도

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미륵사지 출토 당초무늬 암막새

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부여군 규암면 외리유적 출토 문양전