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Malgal(靺鞨: Ch. ‘Mohe’) is a long-time resident of the northeastern part of China (East of Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, and Heilongjiang Province) along with Yemaek(濊貊), which is the mainstream of our nation. Around the 5th century, it was called Moolgil(勿吉), but after the mid-sixth century it was called Malgal; formerly similar people were also called Sooksin(肅愼), and Eubloo(挹婁). Culturally, unlike Yemaek, it is recorded that Jodoo(俎豆: Plate with legs, used for sacrifice) was not used, and language and lifestyle were different. Politically, it was not unified, and there was no commander of army, and development was slower than Buyeo and Goguryeo.

However, Moolgil grew significantly in the middle and late 5th century politically and militarily, and in 494 it was so large that it destroyed North-Buyeo. And by the time of the move from Moolgil to Malgal, seven villages(部) appear as the largest force. Depending on where the main residential area is, it is called Sogmal Malgal, Baeksan Malgal, Heuksu Malgal, etc. Malgal, who lived in the current Songhua river basin, is called Sogmal Malgal. They also destroyed North-Buyeo. However, at this stage, Malgal should be seen as a multiracial group that includes a large number of Yemaek people(Buyeo, Okjeo, etc.) rather than a single race group.

From some point on, it is clear that Goguryeo dominated the Sogmal Malgal. To examine whether there is an archaeological basis for this, first, we should examine whether the cultural characteristics of the Sogmal Malgal are divided into archaeology. The Sogmal Malgal's representative remains include the upper relics of Laoheshen(老河深: 6th to 7th centuries), the third phase relic of Dahaimeng(大海猛: 6th to 7th centuries), and the relic of Chariba(査里巴: 6th to 8th centuries) in Jilin Province, China.

The elements recognized as the remains of Malgal are pit-house, pit-tomb, and Malgalguan(靺鞨罐: Malgal style jar). However, pit-house are common in prehistoric, cold climates where architectural technology has not developed. Pit-tomb is also a common tomb style. Therefore, the most representative indicator of the Malgal remains is Malgalguan. Malgalguan features a mouth bent outward, deep depth, flat bottom. It is made by hand with clay mixed with a lot of sand, and it is baked at relatively low temperatures and has weak strength. In particular, Malgalguan, which was excavated in the Songhua River basin, is characterized by its slim body.

The Sogmal Malgal culture of the Songhwa River basin is clearly distinguished from the Heuksu Malgal culture of the Heilong River basin. Because they have long been in a relationship with Buyeo and Goguryeo and lived in adjacent areas or lived together, they are inevitably influenced by the culture of the two countries. The pit-tomb with wooden coffin and the stone chamber tomb in Sogmal Malgal tombs were influenced by the tomb style of Buyeo and Goguryeo. The two handle-mounted pot from the remains of Sogmal Malgal are the pottery style of Buyeo, and the technique of making pottery using fine clay and spinning wheels is the influence of Goguryeo.

However, this fact is not an archaeological evidence that Goguryeo dominated Sogmal Malgal. So the Chinese academic community denies the control of Goguryeo over Sogmal Malgal. How can we prove that Goguryeo ruled Sogmal Malgal? In fact, this problem is easily solved by understanding the way Goguryeo ruled the group that was subjugated. Goguryeo was a country that achieved the formation and development of the nation through conquest, and a multi-ethnic country where various cultures and powers coexist. Goguryeo did different ways of dominating according to the nature of the subjugation group. The most efficient way of domination was chosen considering the characteristics of Malgal: farming, hunting, and non-sedentary. Goguryeo organized subordinate villages around it in the castle, village, and provincial rule system. For example, Lee Da-jo(李多祚, 654-707), a figure of Sogmal Malgal family, was a person who had a great relationship with Goguryeo to refer to as ‘the precious lineage of The Three Han(三韓: the nickname of Korea in ancient times). His Epitaph states ‘Lee Da-jo was born in Gaejoo(蓋州) located in the area of ​​Gaemoseong(蓋牟城) during the Goguryeo period. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father ruled as dodok of the Goguryeo administrative organization, the state of Ohmong(烏蒙州)’. The Epitaph of Lee, Ta-een(李他仁, 609~675) shows 37 Malgal villages that were subjugated to the state of Chaek(柵州) in the area of Goguryeo.

Early on, Goguryeo expanded its territory to the Buyeo area: either re-utilizing Buyeo’s castles or building new castles near Jilin(吉林) City to rule Sogmal Malgal. Yongdam-sanseong(mountain castle) was a representative base that dominated Sogmal Malgal. Goguryeo also mobilized military forces in time of emergency, imposing lower taxes on groups subjugated to Sogmal Malgal than settlement farmers, and allowing semi-autonomy in village units. This was a special form of domination that did not force their lifestyle and culture to change, but paralleled direct and indirect domination.

Therefore, even if the Goguryeo artifacts do not come out of the remains of Sogmal Malgal, it can not be concluded that Goguryeo did not dominate Sogmal Malgal. Moreover, the remains of Sogmal Malgal, which has been reported properly in academia, are not enough, so it is not possible to exclude the possibility of discovering Goguryeo artifacts in the future.