The founding of Goryeo was a momentous historical event that laid the groundwork for a new unified state amidst the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. The late Silla dynasty's loss of central government control and the rise of powerful local lords led to the emergence of two strong states, Gyeon Hwon's Later Baekje and Gung Ye's Taebong, plunging the Korean peninsula back into an era of division. Gung Ye, in particular, initially gained popular support and expanded his power, but gradually resorted to tyranny, claiming to be Maitreya Buddha, and ruthlessly purged opponents, exhibiting extreme paranoia and cruelty. Such misrule by Gung Ye intensified discontent within Taebong. Against this backdrop, Wang Geon, a prominent local lord from Songak (Gaeseong) and a distinguished military commander under Gung Ye, rose to become a key figure in Taebong. As Gung Ye's tyranny reached its peak, major Taebong generals, including Hong Yu, Bae Hyeon-gyeong, Shin Sung-gyeom, and Bok Ji-gyeom, decided they could no longer serve Gung Ye as their monarch. They agreed that a new leader was needed to alleviate the suffering of the people and resolve the national crisis, and proposed Wang Geon, who possessed both virtue and ability, as their choice. Wang Geon initially hesitated but eventually accepted their will after repeated pleas and discerning the popular sentiment. In 918, they staged a coup d'état, overthrew the tyrant Gung Ye, and enthroned Wang Geon as the new king. Upon his ascension, Wang Geon named the new dynasty 'Goryeo' and established Songak (Gaeseong), his hometown, as the capital. The name 'Goryeo' signified a succession from Goguryeo, aiming to reclaim its former northern territories and foster national pride. From the outset, King Taejo Wang Geon focused on stabilizing the livelihoods of the people and integrating local powerful families. He implemented conciliatory policies such as reducing taxes, promoting Buddhism, and forming marriage alliances with local lords to win them over. These policies were crucial in calming the populace during the chaotic Later Three Kingdoms period and firmly establishing the foundation of the new dynasty. The founding of Goryeo marked the prelude to the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms and the beginning of the Goryeo dynasty, which would last for approximately 500 years, serving as a significant historical turning point and the origin of the name 'Korea' today.