''Hong Gil-dong'' (; lit. ''Fast sword Hong Gil-dong'') is a 2008 South Korean television series starring

Kang Ji-hwan Kang Ji-hwan (born Jo Tae-gyu; March 20, 1977) is a South Korean actor. He began his career in musical theatre, and has since starred in television dramas such as ''Be Strong, Geum-soon!'' (2005), ''Capital Scandal'' (2007), '' Hong Gil-dong ...

in the title role, Sung Yu-ri,

Jang Keun-suk Jang Keun-suk () is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for starring in the Korean television dramas ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), '' You're Beautiful'' (2009), ''Mary Stayed Out All Night'' (2010), '' Love Rain'' (2012), ''Pretty M ...

and Kim Ri-na. The drama is loosely based on Hong Gil-dong, a fictional book about a

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...

-like character during Korea's

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

, but with modern influences and comedic tones. It aired on

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

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, however was told that he could not accomplish anything in this world, due to his illegitimate status. Thus he grew 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 has taught 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, 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 has arrived 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 is planning a revolution, in which he tries to overthrow the king and takes his place as, he believes, 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, Yi-nok with her murdered parents and their revenge.

Cast

as Hong Gil-dong ** Lee In-sung as young Gil-dong * Sung Yu-ri as Heo Yi-nok *

as Lee Chang-hwi ** Choi Soo-han as young Chang-hwi * Kim Ri-na as Seo Eun-hye * Kim Jae-seung as Hong In-hyeong, Gil-dong's half-brother * Cha Hyun-jung as Jung Mal-nyeo * Park Sang-wook as Shim Soo-geun *

Choi Ran Choi Ran (born November 30, 1960) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1979 and became best known as a supporting actress in television dramas, notably those written by the Hong sisters Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong ...

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Noh *

Kil Yong-woo Kil Yong-woo (born December 17, 1955) is a South Korean actor. In 2010, he played one of the main characters in the stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theat ...

as Minister Hong Pan-seo, Gil-dong's father *

Ahn Suk-hwan Ahn Suk-hwan (Hangul: 안석환; real name: Ahn Jin-hyeong (Hangul: 안진형); November 1, 1959) is a South Korean actor. Ahn has been active in theater, film and television since 1986. His onscreen roles include both comedic and villainous sup ...

as Minister Seo Yoon-sub, Eun-hye's father *

Jung Eun-pyo Jung Eun-pyo (born March 27, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is active in both stage and screen since 1990, notably in the film ''Kilimanjaro'' (for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards) and the television dramas ''Moon ...

as the monk Hye-myung, Gil-dong's master * Jung Gyu-soo as the elder Heo *

Moon Se-yoon Moon Se-yoon (born May 11, 1982), is a South Korean comedian and television personality. He made his debut in the entertainment industry as a comedian and is a fixed cast member of ''2 Days & 1 Night'', '' Amazing Saturday'' and '' Delicious Guy ...

as Mr. Yeon * In Sung as Chi-soo, Chang-hwi's personal guard * Lee Deok-hee as Mrs. Kim *

Jo Hee-bong Jo Hee-bong (born August 23, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Hee-bong began his acting career in 1997 as part of the theatre troupe Bipa (비파). He later became known as a supporting actor onscreen, in films such as '' Blind'' (2011) and ''Inco ...

King Gwanghae Gwanghae-gun or Prince Gwanghae (4 June 1575 – 7 August 1641), personal name Yi Hon (Hangul: 이혼, Hanja: 李琿), was the 15th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. As he was deposed in a coup d'état, he did not receive a temple name. ...

* Maeng Ho-rim as Choi Seung-ji * Kim Jong-seok as Eunuch Go * Park Yong-jin as Eunuch Jang * Choi Seung-kyung as Mr. Wang * Byun Shin-ho as Hal Meom * Maeng Se-chang as Gom * Jang Ah-young as Shim Chung * Choi Soo-ji as

Queen Inmok Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mothe ...

, Chang-hwi's mother * Heo In-young as Poong-san's wife

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.

References

External links

''Hong Gil-dong'' official KBS website
* * {{Hong sisters Korean Broadcasting System television dramas 2008 South Korean television series debuts 2008 South Korean television series endings Korean-language television shows South Korean historical television series South Korean action television series Television shows written by the Hong sisters Television series set in the Joseon dynasty Works based on Hong Gildong jeon