This clan traces their origin to King Suro and his legendary Queen Heo Hwang-ok, who are mentioned in the 13th-century Korean chronicle Samguk Yusa.
[3] The Gimhae Heo clan and Incheon Lee clan, descended from the two sons of King Suro who used their mother's Queen Heo Hwang-ok's surname, instead of their father's.
According to Samguk Yusa, Queen Heo Hwang-ok became the wife of King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya at the age of 16, after having arrived in Gaya confederacy in Korea in the year 48 AD by boat from a distant kingdom called "Ayuta",[1][4][5][6][7] making her the first queen of Geumgwan Gaya.
Her native kingdom is believed to be located in India by some, there is however no mention of her in any pre-modern Indian sources.
[7] There is a tomb in Gimhae in Korea, that are believed by some to be of King Suro and Queen Heo,[8] and a memorial of Queen Heo Hwang-ok in Hindu holy city of Ayodhya in India.