Mokjong of Goryeo

Mokjong of Goryeo (5 July 980 – 2 March 1009), personal name Wang Song, was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.

Reign
Born as Wang Song, Mokjong was the only son of King Gyeongjong; however, when his father died, he was too young to become king, so it was his uncle, prince Gaeryeong Wang Chi, who succeeded to the throne as King Seongjong. Mokjong eventually became king after his uncle's death in 997 and chose his mother, Queen Honae, as regent.

Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa (land-allotment system) as well as his various efforts to reorganize the military system and rebuild Pyongyang's castle to strengthen Goryeo's northern defenses early in his reign. He is also remembered for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and her lover Kim Ch'i-yang to overthrow him. Queen Honae and Kim sought to replace Mokjong with their child, whom they had presented as a son of Mokjong's father, Gyeongjong of Goryeo, which Mokjong sought to prevent as it would have meant the end of the Wang Clan's rule over Goryeo. Further complicating the situation was Mokjong's homosexuality, which led to his lack of heirs, and his sexuality would be used as an excuse for his eventual overthrow. Mokjong called in General Kang to stop Queen Honae and Kim's coup, but in the process, Mokjong himself was dethroned by general Kang Cho on charges that he had neglected the defense of the country which was in imminent danger from an invasion by the Khitan Liao as well as allegations that his homosexuality was a "sickness" and was forcefully sent into exile in Chungju. However, he was slain before he arrived there.

Mokjong's tomb was known as Gongneung, but its present location is not known.

Family

 * Father: Gyeongjong of Goryeo (고려 경종, 955–981)
 * Grandfather: Gwangjong of Goryeo (고려 광종, 925–975)
 * Grandmother: Queen Daemok of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan
 * Mother: Queen Heonae of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan
 * Grandfather: Daejong of Goryeo (고려 대종, d. 969)
 * MGrandmother: Queen Seonui of the Chŏngju Yu clan
 * Consorts and their respective Issue(s):
 * 1) Queen Seonjeong of the Chungju Yu clan ; maternal first cousin or paternal second cousin – No issue.
 * 2) Palace Lady Yoseoktaek, of the Kim clan  – No issue.

Mokjong is on record as having kept several wonchung ("male lovers") in their courts as “little-brother attendants” (chajewhi) who served as sexual partners.

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Lee In in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
 * Portrayed by Baek Sung-hyun in the 2023 KBS2 TV series Korea–Khitan War.