[2] Led by the charismatic and capable Kyŏn Hwŏn who was also a competent field commander, Later Baekje in its early days was advantageous in the power game against the newly found kingdom Goryeo and the declining Silla.

When it came to Baekje, the vast majority of its populace including the ruling class was admitted to the polities of Silla onwards.

Though some were awarded, hence granted prestigious titles by Silla, the prizes that were bestowed upon them was far lesser of the old status back in Baekje.

However, as it proceeded to decline, the local gentries across the country known as hojok began to have a desire to revolt, feeling that the central government's control over the provinces it held gradually weakened due to the endless struggle for the throne amongst the True Bone-class nobility.

Thus, officials were sent by the central government to urge the peasants and farmers across the country to have their taxes paid, infuriating them in the process.

At this time most of the power on the peninsula was held by local gentry, who lacked strong loyalty to the central government.

Kyŏn Hwŏn, who was originally a military officer in Silla, was deployed in the southwest sea (South Jeolla Province) to wipe out pirates.

These measures were advantageous in the sense of gaining support from the Baekje refugees living in the area and rationalizing the rebellion against Silla above all else.

Afterwards, envoys were sent to Wuyue across the sea to establish diplomatic relations while territorial expansion policies were being implemented to subdue local gentries and independent castellans beyond.

South Korean historian Ki-baik Lee writes of Kyŏn Hwŏn that "Had Kungye and Wang Kŏn not stood in his way, he surely would have had little difficulty in toppling Silla.

Before the attack, Silla had sent for aid from Goryeo, and Wang Kŏn arrived with a large army shortly after Gyeongju was taken.

Later Baekje triumphed, and Wang Kŏn himself only escaped through the daring self-sacrifice of his general Sin Sung-gyŏm and Kim Nak.

However, because Later Baekje's existence largely coincided with the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in China, neither side was able to parlay these ties into military support.