He was the son of King Sindeok by Queen Uiseong, and was the younger brother of King Gyeongmyeong, who preceded him to the throne.

Gyeongae ascended the Silla throne in the midst of the Later Three Kingdoms period, and thus ruled over only a small portion of what had once been Unified Silla. He attempted to make common cause with Taejo of Goryeo, against Later Baekje such as sending troops to jointly fight against them, but this only provoked retaliation from Later Baekje. In the end, even that last remnant of Silla was overwhelmed by Later Baekje forces under Kyŏn Hwŏn.^[2]

When Kyŏn Hwŏn's army sacked Gyeongju in 927, they found Gyeongae partying at the Poseokjeong pavilion.^[3] The king was captured by the army of Later Baekje, but killed himself rather than surrender.^[4][5] Kyŏn Hwŏn set Gyeongsun on the throne in his stead, and returned to the west.

King Gyeongae was buried on Namsan. His tomb is called "Haemongnyeong."

Parents

• Father: King Sindeok of Silla (? – 917)
  • Grandfather: Pak Ye-gyŏm (박예겸) or Park Moon-won^{[6][page needed]}
  • Grandmother: Madame Jeonghwa (정화부인)
• Mother: Queen Uiseong of the Gyeongju Kim clan (의성왕후 김씨)
  • Maternal Grandfather: Heongang of Silla
  • Maternal Grandmother: Lady Uimyeong (의명부인)

Consorts and their Respective Issue:

1. Unnamed wife
   1. Grand Prince Park Kyo-sun of Geumseong(박교순 금성대군)–was general of Silla and the founder of Ulsan Park clan
   2. Grand Prince Park Sun-hyŏn of Gyerim (박순현 계림대군)

• Portrayed by Moon Wi-Won in the 2000-2002 KBS1 TV series Taejo Wang Geon

• List of Korean monarchs
• List of Silla people
• Later Three Kingdoms of Korea