Dae Gwang-hyeon


Dae Gwang-hyeon was the last Crown Prince of Balhae and a member of the Balhae Royal Family, and was the leader of the Balhae refugees who sought refuge in the Korean Kingdom of Goryeo.

Biography

Dae Gwang-hyeon was probably the first son of King Dae Inseon, and the last Crown Prince of Balhae.
After several months of oppressing Balhae, the Khitan army swept through the nation and reached Sanggyeong, the capital city. The last king of Balhae surrendered to the Khitan Army and the capital was overrun. The king was captured, but the Crown Prince managed to gather an army and escape to Goryeo in hopes of gathering strength to avenge the humiliating defeat and downfall of his nation. Dae Gwang-hyeon arrived with his fellow Balhae people during the 1st month of 937, the 17th year of King Taejo's reign. He was warmly welcomed and included into the ruling Goryeo family by Wang Geon, bringing a unification of the two successor nations of Goguryeo.
He had at least one son, Dae Do-su, who later led Goryeo to victory against the Khitan Liao at the Battle of Anyung Fortress. He was also the ancestor of the Hyeopgye and Yeongsun Tae clan and the Miryang Dae clan, most of whose members currently reside in South Korea.