Korean History › Gojoseon › Gojoseon
Wiman Joseon
194–108 BC· Empire, kingdom or state· Rulers & states
Well documentedSolid records, physical evidence or scientific consensus.
Gojoseon's final dynasty, founded in 194 BC when Wiman, a refugee from Yan, seized the throne from King Jun.
See it on the Korean History map →What happened
Wiman (위만) led over 1,000 followers east from the Chinese state of Yan around 195 BC. Gojoseon's King Jun let him guard the western frontier; Wiman gathered refugees and seized the capital, Wanggeom-seong, in 194 BC. His state grew rich on iron and on controlling trade between Han China and the southern chiefdoms, blocking their direct contact. His grandson, King Ugeo, defied Han, prompting Emperor Wu's invasion in 109 BC.
Why it matters
It made Gojoseon a regional power between China and the peninsula, and its middleman role helped trigger the Han conquest that reshaped northern Korea.
How we know
Sima Qian's Shiji, chapter 115, the 'Account of Joseon', written within a generation of the Han conquest; the Weilüe adds details on King Jun.
Still debated
Was Wiman Chinese or a returning Joseon native? The Shiji says he wore a topknot and local dress, which Korean historians cite as evidence of Joseon roots.
Connections (3)
▸Wiman Joseon began when Wiman usurped the throne of GojoseonWell documented
The connection
Wiman, a Yan refugee given a border command by King Jun, gathered other refugees and in 194 BC marched on the capital, claiming to defend it against Han, then took the throne. The state kept the name Joseon; historians call this last phase Wiman Joseon.
When and how
Wanggeom-seong, Gojoseon's capital, 194 BC; Wiman versus King Jun.
How we know
Recorded in Sima Qian's Shiji, about 100 BC, and in the Weilüe, quoted in the Records of the Three Kingdoms.
Debates and open questions
Whether the coup was a foreign takeover or a change of dynasty within Joseon depends on Wiman's disputed origins.
▸Han conquest of Gojoseon ended Wiman JoseonWell documented
The connection
Han's 109–108 BC campaign destroyed Wiman Joseon after about a year. Military pressure split the court: ministers defected, King Ugeo was assassinated, and the minister Seonggi's last stand ended when the capital fell. Wiman's dynasty lasted three generations, about 86 years.
When and how
Wanggeom-seong, 108 BC; Emperor Wu's generals Yang Pu and Xun Zhi against King Ugeo and his court.
How we know
Sima Qian's detailed account in the Shiji, written shortly after the war.
Debates and open questions
Where the capital stood, and how much Han won by force rather than through betrayal inside Joseon, are debated.
▸Wiman Joseon drove the deposed King Jun south to Samhan: the Mahan, Jinhan and Byeonhan confederaciesMostly agreed
The connection
When Wiman seized the throne in 194 BC, King Jun fled south by sea with his attendants to the land of Han and, Chinese records say, called himself King of Han. Korean historians see refugees like his, carrying northern bronze and iron culture, as one ingredient in Samhan's growth.
When and how
From Gojoseon to the Mahan area of southwestern Korea, 194 BC; King Jun and his followers.
How sure are we?
The Weilüe and the Records of the Three Kingdoms record Jun's flight and add that his line soon died out.
Debates and open questions
Where Jun landed (tradition says Iksan), and whether his arrival shaped Mahan or was a minor episode, are debated.