King Seong of Baekje

King Seong ruled Baekje, a kingdom on the Korean peninsula, from 523 to 554. A son of King Muryeong, he moved the capital to Sabi, near present-day Buyeo, in 538. The move accompanied a reorganization of court and provincial government. His reign also maintained exchanges with Liang China and the Yamato court in Japan, drawing on travelling teachers, scriptures and technical knowledge. [S01]

The Japanese Nihon shoki, a royal chronicle completed in 720, credits Seong with sending Emperor Kinmei a Buddhist image and scriptures in 552. Other traditions date the royal transmission to 538. This gift belonged within a wider relationship in which Baekje also requested military help and supplied specialists in medicine, calendars and divination. Seong governed a kingdom facing its own territorial and diplomatic pressures. [S01, S02, S03]

In 551, Baekje and Silla cooperated against Goguryeo and recovered territory in the Han River region. Silla then took Baekje's part of that region in 553. Seong joined the subsequent campaign against Silla and was killed in 554 near Gwansanseong, in present-day Okcheon. His death ended a reign that had relocated and strengthened Baekje's royal centre, while leaving its territorial recovery undone. His son later ruled as King Wideok. [S01]