Jang Bogo

Who was Jang Bogo?

Jang Bogo, also known as Gungbok, rose to prominence in Korea in the late Unified Silla period as a powerful maritime figure who for several decades effectively controlled the West Sea and Korean coast between southwestern Korea and China's Shandong peninsula. His impressive fleet of ships was centered around the island of Wando off Korea's southwestern tip. So influential a figure did Jang become in late Silla politics that he was granted official office as Maritime Commissioner of the Cheonghaejin Garrison and came near to marrying his daughter into the Silla Royal House before his assassination in 846. He was worshipped as a god following his death.