A soothsayer prophesied that the newborn baby would bring disaster to Silla state, so the king ordered his servants to kill him.

Silla, after nearly a millennium as a centralized kingdom, was quickly declining, and Kung Ye instigated his own rebellion and absorbed Wang Kon's forces at Songak.

He eventually defeated Yang Kil and other local military lords and warlords in central Korea to proclaim himself king in 901.

As a result, in 918 four of his own generals—Hong Yu, Pae Hyŏn-gyŏng, Sin Sung-gyŏm and Pok Chigyŏm—overthrew Taebong and installed Wang Kon as King Taejo.

He encouraged Buddhism and changed the manners of national ceremonies Buddhist, including the Palgwanhoe (팔관회, 八關會) and Seokdeungnong (석등롱, 石燈籠, Stone lantern).