This timeless favorite is retold in a refreshing idiom that is both accessible to today’s young readers and reflective of the tale’s considerable variety and long heritage.
Born of a state minister and a concubine, Hong Gil-dong experiences legally stipulated discrimination from early on. Though upright, intelligent, and beloved by his father, the boy can neither take the civil service examination for a government post nor even call his own father “Father.” Moreover, out of jealousy, another concubine has a fortuneteller falsely prophesy that Gil-dong will commit treason, which so disturbs his father that he falls ill. The same concubine then persuades the minister’s lawful wife and eldest son to hire an assassin to kill the innocent boy. Although he defends himself, Gil-dong decides to leave home for good and wanders deep in the mountain, where he becomes the leader of a ring of bandits with his strength and martial skill. His band is different from all others, however, for it robs from the unrighteously rich to give to the poor masses and punishes covetous and corrupt magistrates. The court is highly agitated and tries to capture this righteous robber, who finally leaves Korea and settles on a Chinese island to build a utopia. Despite vast changes in social and political structures that have swept Korea, this work, partly based on historical facts, will prompt readers to rethink the true meaning of justice and equality.
Korean Classics Are Fun” Series