King Gaero of Baekje (?-475, r. 455-475) was the 21st king of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the last to rule Baekje from its historic heartland in the Han River valley. His name is sometimes given as “Geun-gaeruwang,” (근개루왕, 近蓋婁王) which suggests he was named for his ancestor, King Gaeru.
In 469, he ordered a surprise attack in which the city of Cheongmongnyeon (청목령, 靑木嶺 ; near modern Kaesong) was retaken from Goguryeo. In 472, he sent an embassy bearing tribute to Northern Wei which sought to enlist that country’s support against Goguryeo’s attacks. However, these advances were rebuffed by the Wei court, which viewed Goguryeo as a loyal tributary.
In the early 470s, according to the Samguk Sagi, King Gaero was visited by a Buddhist monk from Goguryeo named Dorim, who was actually a Goguryeo agent. Dorim used the king’s passion for the game of baduk to ingratiate himself, and persuade the king to neglect the country’s defense in favor of public works. This laid the country open to the planned Goguryeo attack.
Whether that story is true or not, King Jangsu of Goguryeo did launch an attack and overrun Baekje’s defenses in 475, taking the Han River valley including the capital. King Gaero was taken to Acha Mountain Fortress and slain.
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