Thursday, June 30, 2016

The Story of Hong Gildong

The Story of Hong Gildong Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Minsoo Kang, 100 pages.
Hong Gildong, a legendary character in Korean literature, was the illegitimate son of a high minister during the reign of King Seonjong. This may have referred to a king who reigned in the late 1500s, or it may have been one of two who reigned in the 1400s. It's also possible that he may have been fictional. Scholars disagree. In any case, it was common during that time for illegitimate sons to be treated poorly; barred from civil service, kept from taking important exams, etc.
Hong Gildong, while a loyal son, who loved his mother and respected his father, rebelled against the system. He used his intellignce, his training, and his incredible strength to quickly rise to the top of a large group of bandits. Hong Gildong and his band win every prize they seek to steal. Hong's band grows to become an army and they conquer many lands. Hong Gildong has great power, but never quite forgets the slights he suffered because of his birth.

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