Kim Alcheon (aka, So Alcheon, 577-654). He was a well-known general during Queen Seondeok's era and served as a

Sangdaedeung {{Short description, Office of the Silla state in Korea Sangdaedeung (상대등, 上大等, the First of Daedeungs or Peers, Extraordinary Rank One) was an office of the Silla state. It was considered as the highest and most prestigious office that ...

during Queen Jindeok's reign.

Biography

He was the son of Hyeongong - a man of Seonggol rank, who deliberately married a woman of a lower rank ( Jingol), in order to keep his children away from the bloody fight over the throne, which eventually made Alcheon a Jingol. According to

Samguk Yusa ''Samguk yusa'' () or ''Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms'' is a collection of legends, folktales and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, duri ...

, Alcheon was a member of the

Hwarang Hwarang, also known as Hwarang Corps, and Flowering Knights, were an elite warrior group of male youth in Silla, an ancient kingdom of the Korean Peninsula that lasted until the 10th century. There were educational institutions as well as social ...

, during King Jipyeong's reign. Year 636,

Queen Seondeok Queen Seondeok of Silla ( ko, 선덕여왕 ; 595~610 – 17 February 647/January 8, Lunar Calendar) reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first re ...

, ordered him to drive off the Baekje forces in Yeoguen-gok. He helped

Kim Yushin Gim Yu-sin (sometimes romanized Kim Yu-shin, Gim Yu-sin, or Gim Yu-shin) (595 – 18 August 673) was a Korean military general and politician in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean Peninsula by Silla under the reign of King ...

to suppress Bidam's rebellion, against Queen Seondeok, on February of year 637. After Queen Seondeok died, he was appointed as the next Sangdaedeung for Queen Jindeok. He led his soldiers to victory over the Goguryeo forces, when the Goguryeo army invaded Chiljung castle, on year 638. Year 654, Queen Jindeok died without a successor. Being a Sangdaedeung, Alcheon, had the strongest chance for the throne. However, he refused, saying, "He is already too old for the position and doesn't even have the desire to do so." He then gave his support to Kim Chunchu, who became King Taejong Muyeol. After that, Kim Alcheon changed his last name from ''Kim'' to ''So''. He was the founder of the So clan in Silla. The So clan from Jinju had a prestigious lineage, as they held the office of Sangdaedeung - the highest and most prestigious office that one could attain next to the throne itself. A famous legend about Alcheon's bravery relates that once, Alcheon was out in the forest together with the other . Suddenly, a tiger appeared and was about to attack them. The were terrified and started to panic, but Alcheon just smiled and attacked the tiger alone and killed it with his bare hands.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by

Lee Seung-hyo Lee Seung Hyo (; born 5 May 1980), is a South Korean actor. He debuted as an actor in 2006. He rose to fame as Kim Alcheon in ''Queen Seon Deok''. Biography He had military service as a sniper in Joint Security Area (JSA) from December 2000 u ...

in the 2009 MBC TV series ''

''. * Portrayed by

Im Hyuk Im Hyuk (born Im Jung-hyuk; May 31, 1949) is a South Korean actor. Im has starred in television series since 1969, notably in historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past tim ...

in the 2012-2013

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series ''

The King's Dream ''Dream of the Emperor'' () is a South Korean television series that aired on KBS1 from September 8, 2012 to June 9, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:40 for 70 episodes. Plot Kim Chun-chu is the grandson of King Jinji, but when his grandfat ...

''. * Portrayed in the 2021 WEBNOVEL titled QUEEN JINDEOK by author GLORIAN.C.REGNARE.

References

*^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book One, page 64. Silk Pagoda (2006). {{DEFAULTSORT:Alcheon Silla people Silla Buddhists Korean generals Korean warriors 577 births 654 deaths 7th-century Korean people 7th-century deaths Jinju So clan 6th-century Korean people