Hong Gil-dong (Korean thief)
# Hong Gil-dong (Korean thief)

Hong Gil-dong (Korean: 홍길동; Hanja: 洪吉同; 1440 – 1510?) was a Korean outlaw from the Joseon Dynasty.

## Biography

Hong Gil-dong (洪吉同) was a Robin Hood-like Yangban born in the village of Achisil in Agok-ri, Jangseong County, Jeolla province. He was the illegitimate son (孽子) of Hong Sang-jik (洪尙直) and illegitimate grandson of Hong Jing (洪徵). Hong Gil-dong, in the Annals of the Joseon dynasty, was recorded to be born around the year 1443, or the 25th year of the reign of King Sejong (世宗 25年). During the tyrant's reign Yeonsan-gun, peasant armies rose throughout the country. One of the most well-known was the peasant army led by Hong Gil-dong. He, dressed as an aristocrat, attacked the government offices with many armed peasants.

In 1500 (燕山 6年), he was captured for his robberies. He allegedly died around the year 1510, or the 5th year of the reign of King Jungjong (中宗 5年).

Hong Gil-dong's name in Chinese characters (漢字) is 洪吉同, unlike the spelling in Heo Gyun's (許筠) fictional novel Tale of Hong Gildong (洪吉童傳), which is 洪吉童 of the same pronunciation.

## In popular culture

### Actors who have played Hong Gil-dong

* Portrayed by Kang Ji-hwan and Lee In-sung in the 2008 KBS2 TV series Hong Gil-dong.
* Portrayed by Sungmin and Yesung in the 2010 musical Hong Gil-dong.
* Portrayed by Yoon Kyun-sang in the 2017 MBC TV series The Rebel.
* Portrayed by Han Joo-wan in the 2015 Korean movie The Tale of the Bookworm.
