Silla was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose in 57 BC , around Gyeongju in the southeast part of the Korea peninsula . Silla ( 57 BC â `` 935 AD ) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea , and one of the longest sustained dynasties in Asian history . Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose , who is also known to be the originator of the Korean family name Park ( ë , æ ) , the dynasty was to see the Gyeongju Kim ( ê , é ` ) clan hold rule for most of its 992-year history .