Dobang (都房), also written as Tobang, was a

Goryeo Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

private military unit that originated as the personal body guard for

Gyeong Dae-seung Gyeong Dae-seung (Hangul: 경대승, Hanja: 慶大升) (1154 – 4 August 1183) was the third of many military dictators who ruled during the late period of the Goryeo. Unlike his predecessors, General Gyeong was determined to fix Goryeo's prob ...

(경대승). After the military revolt of the generals in 1170 during the reign of King Uijong of Goryeo, a series of generals culminating in the Choe military dictators, held the real power in Goryeo. In their first year, General

Yi Go Yi Go (?–1171) was a military ruler in Korea. He, with many other military colonels, overthrew King Uijong in the year 1170. When he proceeded to plan a revolt, he was murdered by Yi Ui-bang. Popular culture * Portrayed Park Jun-gyu in the 20 ...

(이고) was murdered by General Yi Ui-Bang (이의방) who subsequently died at the hands of Jeong Gyun (정균). Jeong's father, Jeong Jung-bu (정중부). Jeong Jung-bu next held sway for several years until he was overthrown by

. Gyeong Dae-seung was the next to last general to seize power before the Choe family gained and consolidated military control for a longer period of time. Noting the great personal risk that had plagued the previous generals, Gyeong Dae-seung organized a personal bodyguard of 100 troops, known as the Dobang, which attended him at all times. The Dobang disbanded upon Gyeong Dae-seung's death but was reconstituted by

Choe Chung-heon Choe Chung-heon (1149 – 29 October 1219) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period. Choe's father was a Grand General in the Goryeo military, hence precipitating his own entry into the military. Choe witnessed military men become ...

(최충헌) shortly after he came to power. Choe expanded the Dobang and divided it into six units (Yuk-beon 육번) which became known as the Yuk-beon Dobang (육번도방) This enabled a regular rotation of the guards. When

Choe U Choe U (; 1166 - 10 December 1249) was the second Choe dictator of the Ubong Choe Military regime. He himself went out on the battlefield to lead in fighting off the Mongolian invasions. Then he realized that the government was no longer safe ...

(최우) came to power, his private army became known as the Inner Dobang (Nae Dobang, 내도방) and the Outer Tobang (Woe Dobang, 외도방).

See also