In March 935, Pak Yong-gyu's father-in-law, Kyŏn Hwŏn was overthrown in a palace coup and imprisoned at Geumsansa Temple (금산사; 金山寺) by his oldest son, Kyŏn Sin-gŏm, then in June, Kyŏn Hwŏn escaped and fled to Goryeo.[3] In September 936, after secretly discussing and consulting with his wife, Princess Kyŏn Aebok, Pak sent an envoy to Goryeo to express his intention to defect and said that he would welcome the Goryeo army. Goryeo's king, Wang Kŏn, then rejoiced greatly about this and treated that messenger generously and sent him back to Pak. Later, when Wang Kŏn finally won in attacked the Later Baekje, Pak helped to contribute to the unification of Later Three Kingdoms.[4]
After this, Wang Kŏn rewarded Pak Yong-gyu with land of an area of 1,000 kyŏng (경; 頃). Wang Kŏn also granted Pak's wife with 35 horses (역마 35필) and gave their two sons government posts.[5] Due to Pak's contribution in helping Wang establish the new Goryeo Dynasty, Pak became officially titled as one of the Three Major Grand Lords (삼중대광; 三重大匡), along with Yu Ch'ŏn-gung and Hwangbo Che-gong.[6]
Since Pak was the one of Three Major Grand Lords, both him and his wife had a good relationship with Taejo of Goryeo, they regarded and treated each other like siblings.[7] Because of this too, Pak's oldest daughter became 17th wife of Taejo and his other two daughters became the first and second wives of Taejo's son, Jeongjong of Goryeo.