The Portrait That Watched a King Unravel

A Goryeo king, once a hostage, paints his queen's portrait-what drives his reign to a shocking assassination? The Portrait That Watched a King Unravel This episode explores the life of King Gongmin, the 31st ruler of Goryeo, from his early years as a hostage to his efforts to reclaim his kingdom. What chain of events led to his violent end? Person: King Gongmin Date: 1374 Location: Royal palace in Songdo Event: Assassination of King Gongmin Period: Goryeo Dynasty - King Gongmin, the second son of King Chungsuk, was sent as an 11-year-old hostage to the Yuan dynasty court in 1341. - During his ten years at the Yuan court, he learned Mongolian, painting, and calligraphy, and married Princess Budashiri, later known as Queen Noguk. - Returning to Goryeo in 1351 at age 21, King Gongmin began to dismantle Mongol influence and reclaim lost territories. - His attempts at land reform to curb the power of the pro-Mongol aristocracy were met with resistance and stalled. - In 1365, Queen Noguk died during childbirth, along with their infant son, leaving King Gongmin in profound grief. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].