Baekje Loyalists Seongchung and Heungsu

[Narration]
Approximately 1,700 years ago, there were three kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula. Each of these three kingdoms exerted influence on the others’ development through an ongoing series of conflicts and alliances. During the 7th century AD, Baekje attacked Silla, which was based in the southeast, in an attempt to dominate the Korean Peninsula. In desperation, Silla requested assistance from China, which was awaiting an opportunity to gain control of the peninsula. China promptly dispatched troops and the fortunes of war were reversed. Baekje was in disarray once again. However, there were three loyalists who fought for Baekje until the bitter end. This shrine was built to honor those three loyalists. If you look inside the shrine you will see their portraits.

Shall we take a closer look at the portrait on the left first? This is Seongchung, a prime minister of Baekje, but he was imprisoned after getting caught up in a political struggle. He was near death due to his poor health, but he predicted that war would soon break out in Baekje. He wrote the following ardent letter to the king.

[Seongchung]
Your Majesty, please allow me one last chance to speak. During times of war, using geographic features to our advantage is crucial. If an enemy attacks Baekje in the near future, we should prevent them from entering the country by land at Chimhyeon and by sea at Gibeol Port. Please do not neglect to prepare for the possibility of war and please remember what I have said today.

[Narration]
Nevertheless, the king of Baekje did not listen to his faithful advice, and he soon passed away in prison. Four years later, Silla troops invaded Baekje and the king was so flustered and confused. He held a council to draw up countermeasures. However, his loyal subjects disagreed with each other and the state of confusion intensified. The king finally wrote a letter to Heungsu, a wise loyal subject who was living in exile. Heungsu replied as follows to the king.

[Heungsu]
Your Majesty, I’m sending you a letter of regards. Because the enemy has a large number of troops and we do not, Baekje should not engage in war on a plain. Please remember the advice you received from Seongchung four years ago.

[Narration]
Unfortunately, the king did not accept Heungsu’s faithful advice either. Other loyal subjects were opposed to his suggestion, and they asserted that his resentment at being exiled may have led him to be disloyal and untrustworthy. Meanwhile, Silla troops advanced on and captured the castle of Baekje. Only then did the king of Baekje lament his rejection of good advice.

[King]
I regret not listening to the advice of Seongchung and Heungsu.

[Narration]
Although Seongchung and Heungsu were abandoned by the king, they remained loyal and sincere toward Baekje until their deaths. Even today, they are praised as the last great loyalists of Baekje. Now let’s learn about the third loyalist, Gyebaek.


Gyebaek, the Great General of Baekje

[Narration]
Do you know the story about Sparta’s King Leonidas, who led 300 Spartans in a battle against a million Persian soldiers? The story was made into the movie titled 300. Then, do you know that Baekje also had a great general named Gyebaek? He is the only one shown in the portrait on the right.

In 660, Gyebaek fought with just 5,000 soldiers against 50,000 invading troops from Silla. Standing before his soldiers, he delivered a rousing speech.

[Gyebaek]
Many years ago, 5,000 soldiers from the state of Yue in China defeated 700,000 troops from the state of Wu. If we are prepared to die for our kingdom, there is no reason why we cannot win this battle! My leadership, together with your desperate courage, will give us the strength to defeat the 50,000 Silla troops, and Baekje will emerge victorious!

[Narration]
It was actually a hopeless war. Before entering the battlefield, Gyebaek stopped by his house to kill his wife and children, choosing an honorable death over losing their kingdom and risking enslavement. Wearing his blood-stained armor, Gyebaek ran towards the battlefield, thus beginning one of the fiercest battles in the history of Korea.

The desperate fighting by Baekje resulted in four consecutive victories, thereby raising the morale of Baekje’s soldiers. For its part, Silla dispatched a lone 16-year-old soldier to the enemy camp as part of the Silla general’s secret scheme to boost his troops’ morale. The young soldier was apprehended by Baekje soldiers, but when General Gyebaek saw the brave young soldier, he exclaimed:

[Gyebaek]
How could Silla send a soldier as young as you to this cruel battlefield? I do not want to spill your young blood on Baekje’s land. I will let you return alive.

[Narration]
However, following the young soldier’s return to the Silla camp, Silla troops, including the young soldier, again attacked Baekje. Gyebaek could not spare his life twice and so he cut off the boy soldier’s head and sent it to Silla. The death of the 16-year-old boy changed the atmosphere of battle completely.

The grueling battle ended at last with the death of General Gyebaek and a victory for Silla. There’s a saying that a winner is remembered but a loyalist is permanently imprinted on the mind. Gyebaek, the last loyalist of Baekje and a great symbol of devotion and fidelity, is honored at this shrine.