Gyebaek, or Kyebaek (died 20 August 660In the

Korean calendar Throughout its many years of history, various calendar systems have been used in Korea. Many of them were adopted from the Lunar calendar, lunar Chinese calendar system, with modifications occasionally made to accommodate Korea's geographic locat ...

(lunar), he died on 9 July 660.), was a general in the ancient

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

n kingdom of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...

during the early to mid-7th century. Little else is known of his personal life—including the year and location of his birth.

The Last Battle

In 660, Baekje was invaded by a force of 50,000 from Silla, supported by 144,000 Tang soldiers. Gyebaek, with only 5,000 troops under his command, met them in the battlefield of Hwangsanbeol. Before entering the battlefield, Gyebaek reportedly killed his wife and children to prevent them from being enslaved if he lost. His forces won four initial battles, causing severe casualties to Silla forces. General Gyebaek fought very courageously and killed many Silla soldiers. However, in the end, exhausted and surrounded, Gyebaek's army was outnumbered and overwhelmed. Baekje's forces were annihilated in battle along with their leader Gyebaek.

Aftermath

Baekje was destroyed, shortly after Gyebaek's defeat and death at Hwangsanbeol. As Neo-Confucian philosophy became more influential in the later Korean Dynasties, Gyebaek was recognized by historians and scholars as exemplifying the Confucian ideals of patriotism and devotion to his king, Uija, and praised as such. Although not much else is known about Gyebaek's life, his actions leading up to his last battle are well known to many Koreans.

In Taekwon-Do

Gye Baek (also written Gae Baek or Ge Baek in various Taekwondo manuals) is the 12th pattern or hyeong in the International Taekwon-Do Federation form of the Korean martial art taekwondo. It is practised by the 1st Dan black belt. The pattern has 44 moves, and the diagram (I) represents his severe and strict military discipline.

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Park Joong-hoon in the 2003 film '' Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield'' * Portrayed by Jung Heung-chae in 2006–2007 SBS TV series '' Yeon Gaesomun'' * Portrayed by Choi Won-young in the 2009 MBC TV series '' Queen Seondeok'' * Portrayed by Lee Seo-jin and Lee Hyun-woo in the 2011 MBC TV series '' Gyebaek'' * Portrayed by Choi Jae-sung in the 2012–2013 KBS1 TV series '' Dream of the Emperor'' * Featured in '' Age of Empires II'' HD Edition

References

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