Open Korea

Korean Identities Beyond Borders

Where Did the Refugees of Balhae Go?

in ,
Where Did the Refugees of Balhae Go?

The Migration of Balhae Refugees (Naetu, 來投)

The migration of Balhae refugees (Naetu, 來投) refers to the historical movement of Balhae royalty, nobles, officials, soldiers, and ordinary people who sought refuge in Goryeo after Balhae was conquered by the Khitan in 926. King Taejo Wang Geon actively welcomed these refugees. Even before Balhae’s final collapse, General Sin Deok (申德) led around 1,000 households into Goryeo in 925, marking one of the earliest large-scale migrations.

As part of his northern expansion policy, Taejo regarded the people of Balhae as fellow descendants of Goguryeo and granted them government positions, land, and places to settle. These events are well documented in the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), compiled by the National Institute of Korean History.

1. Major Waves of Migration and Key Figures

The migration of Balhae refugees continued for nearly 200 years, from 925 to 1117.

Before the fall of Balhae (925) : As Balhae came under increasing pressure from the Khitan, General Sin Deok (申德) and Minister Da Gyun-ro (大鈞老) each led hundreds of followers into Goryeo.

The largest migration (934) : Several years after Balhae fell in 926, Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon (大光顯), the last crown prince of Balhae, entered Goryeo with tens of thousands of refugees (described in some records as tens of thousands of households). This was the largest and most symbolic migration of Balhae people into Goryeo.

After the collapse of the Balhae successor states (10th–12th centuries) : Following the fall of Balhae, several successor states established by Balhae refugees including Jeongan (Later Balhae), Heungyo (Great Balhae) were eventually conquered by the Liao dynasty. As these states disappeared, additional waves of Balhae refugees continued to seek refuge in Goryeo until 1117. Among them were prominent members of the Balhae ruling class, including people from the Dae (大) royal clan and the Go (高) clan, many of whom later served important roles in Goryeo.

2. King Taejo’s Policy of Acceptance

While competing with Later Baekje for control of the Korean Peninsula, King Taejo regarded the Balhae refugees not simply as refugees but as fellow descendants of Goguryeo.
He granted Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon the royal surname and the name Wang Gye (王繼), treating him as a member of the Goryeo royal family. He also allowed the Balhae royal ancestral rites to continue.
Balhae nobles, generals, officials, and scholars were given government positions, land, and servants, allowing them to become part of Goryeo’s ruling elite.
Their military experience and administrative knowledge were also put to use in the wars against Later Baekje and in defending Goryeo’s northern frontier against the Khitan.

3. Settlement of the Balhae Refugees.

The refugees were settled according to their social status, numbers, and Goryeo’s northern expansion policy.
Leading nobles and military groups, including Dae Gwang-hyeon, were mainly settled in frontier regions such as Baekju (present-day Baechon in Hwanghae Province) and Seogyeong (modern-day Pyongyang). They played a key role in developing former Goguryeo territory and strengthening Goryeo’s northern frontier against future Khitan invasions.
Ordinary refugees, as well as mixed groups that included Khitan or Jurchen people, were dispersed across southern provinces to reduce the risk of unrest and promote regional development.

Because the people of Balhae and Goryeo shared the same Goguryeo heritage, they integrated into Goryeo society relatively quickly. Within one or two generations, most had become fully integrated into Goryeo while preserving many of their original family names.
The large-scale migration of Balhae refugees strengthened Goryeo’s claim as the legitimate successor of Goguryeo. It also increased Goryeo’s population, military strength, and administrative capacity, providing an important foundation for the kingdom’s long-term development.

4. The Manbu Bridge Camel Incident and the Outbreak of the Goryeo Khitan War

Relations between Goryeo and the Khitan had already deteriorated long before the First Goryeo Khitan War.

In 942, the Khitan (Liao) sent an official delegation to Goryeo along with 50 camels as diplomatic gifts. King Taejo Wang Geon firmly rejected the gesture because the Khitan had destroyed Balhae, which Goryeo regarded as a fellow successor state of Goguryeo.

According to the Goryeosa, Taejo openly denounced the Khitan as “barbarians” before their envoys for destroying a fellow Goguryeo successor state. He declared that Goryeo would not establish diplomatic relations with the Khitan, exiled about 30 Khitan envoys, and ordered the 50 camels to be tied beneath Manbu Bridge (Manbugyo) in Gaegyeong, where they were left to starve to death.

The Manbu Bridge Camel Incident became one of the strongest symbols of Goryeo’s refusal to recognize Khitan rule over former Balhae territory. It greatly deepened hostility between the two states and became one of the major factors that eventually led to the First Goryeo Khitan War in 993, together with Goryeo’s acceptance of Balhae refugees, its northern expansion policy, and the Khitan’s attempts to bring Goryeo into its sphere of influence.

submitted by /u/Creepy_Intention_926
[link] [comments]

Related Posts

The Evolution of Pyongyang: A Journey Through History, Economy, and Political Dynamics The Rise and Fall of the Goryeo Dynasty: A Precursor to the Joseon Era The Later Three Kingdoms Era and the Birth of the Goryeo Dynasty: A Dynamic Transition in Korean History

Latest News from Korea

Latest Entertainment from Korea

Learn People & History of Korea