Buyeo,^[27] also known as Puyŏ or Fuyu,^[28] was an ancient kingdom located in northern Manchuria and modern-day northeast China between the 2nd century BCE to 494 CE. It is sometimes recognized as a Korean kingdom due to its ties with the Yemaek people, considered precursors to modern Koreans.^[29] Buyeo is viewed as a significant predecessor to the Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje. Initially, during the later Western Han period (202 BCE – 9 CE), Buyeo was under the jurisdiction of the Xuantu Commandery, one of the Four Commanderies of Han.^[30] However, by the mid-1st century CE, Buyeo emerged as a crucial ally of the Eastern Han dynasty, serving as a buffer against threats from the Xianbei and Goguryeo. Despite facing invasions and political challenges, Buyeo maintained a strategic alliance with various Chinese dynasties, reflecting its significance in the region.^[31]

Throughout its existence, Buyeo faced multiple external threats. An invasion by the Xianbei tribe in 285 led to the relocation of its court to Okjeo. The Jin dynasty later assisted in restoring Buyeo, but the kingdom underwent further decline due to attacks from Goguryeo and another Xianbei invasion in 346. By 494, under pressure from the rising Wuji tribe (or Mohe), the remnants of Buyeo moved and eventually surrendered to Goguryeo, marking its end. Notably, historical texts like the Records of the Three Kingdoms highlight the linguistic and cultural ties between Buyeo and its southern neighbors, Goguryeo and Ye.

The legacy of Buyeo persisted in subsequent Korean kingdoms. Both Goguryeo and Baekje, two of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, regarded themselves as the successors of Buyeo. King Onjo of Baekje was believed to be a descendant of King Dongmyeong, the founder of Goguryeo. Furthermore, Baekje officially renamed itself Nambuyeo (South Buyeo) in 538. The Goryeo dynasty also acknowledged its ancestral ties to Buyeo, Goguryeo, and Baekje, signifying the lasting influence and legacy of Buyeo in shaping Korean identity and history.