Gim Daeseong (700-774) was a chief minister of Silla during the reign of King Seongdeok in the Unified Silla period. He was the son of a previous chief minister, Gim Mullyang. He is credited with the establishment of the famed Bulguksa temple and Seokguram shrine in Gyeongju.
The Samguk Yusa relates a tale that Gim Daeseong was the reincarnation of the child of a pious but poor woman who offered up a field which she had worked long and hard to buy. He is said to have built Bulguksa in memory of his parents of the current life, and Seokguram in memory of his parents in the former life.
Construction began in 742 when GimDaeseong resigned his position in the king's court or in 751, the 10th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla.
The grotto was completed by the Silla court in 774, shortly after Gim's death.
The legend relates that the Bulguksa Temple was dedicated to Gim’s parents in his present life while the Seokguram Grotto was dedicated to Gim's parents from a previous life.
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