Goi (died 286, r. 234–286) was the eighth king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Background

He is recorded as the second son of the 4th king Gaeru and younger brother of the 5th king Chogo. Upon the death of the 6th king Gusu, Gusu's eldest son Saban became king, but proved to be too young to rule. Goi dethroned Saban and became king. The Samguk sagi records that "King Chogo's younger brother, who had the same mother, became king.". This is disputed because of the time differences. It is rather believed that his father was a collateral relative of Gaeru. Some scholars interpret the Korean records Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa to mean that Goi was the younger brother of the mother of King Chogo, implying that he is of the Utae–Biryu lineage, rather than a direct descendant of the traditionally recognized founder Onjo. The Chinese records Book of Zhou (周書) and Book of Sui (隋書) refer to "Gutae" as the founder of Baekje, and some scholars believe that "Gutae" actually refers to Goi as the true founder of the kingdom.

Reign

Goi is generally credited with centralising the Baekje kingdom, concentrating royal power and laying the foundation of the state structure. Immediately upon taking the throne, he established a central military office to restrain the independence of regional clans. The Samguk sagi also records that in 260, he established a central bureaucracy of six ministers(called jwapyeongs), sixteen rank levels, and a code of dress, although the full system may have been completed after his reign (see, e.g., Best (2002)). In 262, he is said to have established regulations against bribery, requiring corrupt officials to repay three times the amount of the bribe. He also ordered the cultivation of farmlands south of the capital. In 266 the king dispatched soldiers to attack Bongsan Fortress of Silla. The master of the fortress, Jikseon, led a sortie of 200 of his most robust troops and defeated them. He attacked Silla again in 272, 278 and 284. During the attack of 278 his troops surrounded the fortress of Goegok. Samguk sagi:

Foreign relations

Under Goi's reign, Baekje expanded control of the Han River region and gained permanent ascendancy over the remaining states of the Mahan, a loose confederacy in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. He also attacked the borders of Baekje's eastern rival Silla. Baekje also changed its defensive posture against the Chinese to an offensive one. Goi attacked the Chinese-controlled Lelang commandery and the Daifang commandery when the Chinese launched an attack against the Han River region to disrupt and prevent Baekje's emerging power. In 246, according to both the Korean Samguk sagi and the Chinese Sanguozhi, Baekje went to war against Cao Wei by attacking Daifang and Lelang commanderies, and Daifang's governor Gong Zun was slain. However, fearing that Wei may launch a counterattack, Goi quickly sued for peace by returning his captives. In the spring of 286 he sent messengers to Silla to sue for peace and in the winter of that year he died.

Family