Prince Gwangjuwon was born as the son of King Taejo and Lady Sogwangjuwon.
Gwangjuwon's maternal grandfather, Wang Kyu, was the head of an influential regional family.
In 945, Wang Kyu sent assassins to kill King Hyejong while he was sleeping in his room so that Gwangjuwon could ascend to the throne.
However, Hyejong, after hearing a prophecy from astronomer Ch'oe Chi-mong, slept in another room, avoiding the assassination attempt.
[4][5] A historian Kim Chang-Hyeon (김창현), on his book The Empire of Gwangjong (광종의 제국), estimated that the Prince was also executed by both of his half brothers, Jeongjong of Goryeo and Gwangjong of Goryeo who had tragically ruled the Prince's maternal grandfather, Wang Kyu (왕규) at this time.