Hello, my name is Nuri. Today, I visited the National Museum of Korea. The museum houses numerous artifacts and sculptures related to history. It is divided into different sections, and I explored the one dedicated to the Goryeo Dynasty. Since most Goryeo-era artifacts are currently in North Korea, understanding its history was somewhat challenging due to the limited materials available.

Today, I would like to introduce the history of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the early 10th century, Silla was weakened, and many nobles sought independence from Silla. The strongest resistance movements even established their own states—Later Goguryeo and Later Baekje—led by Gungye and Gyeonhwon, respectively. After intense battles, Wang Geon overthrew Gungye, became the king of Goryeo, and later conquered Later Baekje. Silla, too weak to resist, surrendered peacefully due to good relations with Wang Geon.

Goryeo expanded and experienced a golden age but eventually faced decline. One of its greatest threats was the Mongols. Originating from present-day Mongolia, they rapidly expanded and formed a vast empire. Relations between Goryeo and the Mongol Empire began when they jointly defeated the Khitan invaders. However, the Mongols demanded tribute—money, women, and other goods—claiming their assistance warranted compensation. Tensions escalated when a Mongol envoy was killed near Goryeo¡¯s borders. The Mongol Empire, furious, declared war on Goryeo. The two sides fought seven fierce wars. Knowing that Mongol troops relied heavily on cavalry and were weak at sea, the Goryeo government relocated to Ganghwa Island. In response, the Mongols attacked mainland Goryeo, leading to the collapse of the government, which was replaced by a new leadership that recognized the inevitable and surrendered. This led to Goryeo enduring about 80 years under Mongol influence.

During King Gongmin¡¯s reign, Goryeo successfully removed Mongol forces and reclaimed its lost territories. However, internal decline continued, and eventually, Goryeo fell, giving way to a new dynasty, Joseon.

I find the history of Goryeo fascinating, especially since the name "Korea" originates from it. It saddens me that this once-powerful dynasty has disappeared from history.

It was fun today!