Geumwa- Korean FigureMortal"King of Eastern Buyeo"

The Golden Frog King

Geumwa's name means "Golden Frog." The previous king of Buyeo found a golden frog-shaped child beneath a great stone by the Gumran River, recognized the boy as divinely marked, and adopted him as heir. When the old king died, Geumwa inherited the throne of Eastern Buyeo.

The Discovery of Yuhwa

Fishermen on the Ubal River found a weeping woman caught in their nets. This was Yuhwa, daughter of the water god Habaek, cast out by her father after the sun god Haemosu abandoned her. Geumwa took her into his court. Sunlight followed Yuhwa wherever she went, slanting through windows to find her, illuminating rooms where she was confined. No matter how Geumwa tried to block it, the light entered from different angles. Before long, Yuhwa was pregnant. She gave birth to a large egg.

The Miraculous Egg

Geumwa was alarmed. He ordered the egg destroyed. He had it thrown to the dogs, who refused to eat it. He cast it before horses, who stepped around it. He abandoned it in the wilderness, where birds gathered to shelter it with their wings. He tried to crack it open, but the shell would not break. Defeated, Geumwa returned the egg to Yuhwa. From it hatched Jumong.

The Jealous Princes

As Jumong grew, his skill with a bow surpassed every son Geumwa had fathered. Prince Daeso and his brothers saw a rival who would eclipse their claim to the throne. Geumwa assigned Jumong to tend the royal horses, a menial post meant to keep him low. But Yuhwa warned her son of the growing danger, and Jumong fled south with a small band of followers. He founded Goguryeo.