Hong Gil-dong is a 2008 South Korean television series starring Kang Ji-hwan in the title role, Sung Yu-ri, Jang Keun-suk and Kim Ri-na and is written by the Hong sisters. The drama is loosely based on Hong Gil-dong, a fictional book about a Robin Hood-like character during Korea's Joseon Dynasty, but with modern influences and comedic tones. It aired on KBS2 from January 2 to March 26, 2008 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.

Synopsis

Hong Gil-dong is the illegitimate son of a minister. He is very bright and smart, but was told that he could not accomplish anything in this world due to his illegitimate status. Thus he grows up spending most of his time being lazy and causing trouble for the people around him. However, a local monk thinks he is destined to be much more, and so teaches Gil-dong martial arts. As the series progresses, Gil-dong realizes the severity of the injustices of the ranked world, and starts to fight against these injustices by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Heo Yi-nok is an upbeat, naive and carefree girl. At the beginning of the series, she arrives from China with her grandfather, who has raised her. She meets and befriends Gil-dong. Yi-nok has a past she is unaware of — she does not know her grandfather is not her blood-related grandfather, and that her real parents were murdered. She eventually develops feelings for Gil-dong, who reciprocates her feelings. Lee Chang-hwi also arrives in Korea from China at the beginning of the series. He seems cold and calculating as he also has a dark past in which his older brother, the current king of Joseon, tried to murder him. Chang-hwi plans a revolution, in which he will overthrow the king and take his place, as he believes he is the rightful king of Joseon. He coincidentally bumps into both Gil-dong and Yi-nok. Both Gil-dong and Yi-nok help Chang-hwi realize what it takes to become a good king. He forges an alliance with Gil-dong, and develops feelings for Yi-nok. As the question of rightful succession comes into play, Gil-dong and Yi-nok are forced to take sides, all the while having to deal with their own personal problems: their love, Gil-dong with his father issues, and Yi-nok with her murdered parents and their revenge.

Cast

Ratings

Source: TNS Media Korea

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

In Thailand, the drama aired dubbed into Thai under the title ฮง กิลดอง จอมโจร โดนใจ (Hong Gil-dong Jomjone Donejai; literally Hong Gil-dong The Thief) on the Channel 7 from April 4, 2009 to June 13, 2009 on Saturdays and Sundays at 09:15.