Hong Gil-dong Was Modern-Minded Idealist

By Chung Ah-young

Staff Reporter

Hong Gil-dong is widely known as a fictional hero pulling Taoist magical tricks ― such as flying ― in the Joseon Kingdom in a novel by Heo Gyun. The Korean version of Robin Hood, Hong punished the evil ``yangban,'' the noble class, robbing them to help the poor.

Hong was a real person, who lived during the reign of King Yeonsan, but he was more than a hero who helped the poor; he was an idealist who dreamed of building a new nation free from a rigid social hierarchy.

``Nation of People,'' an epic novel written by Kang Chul-keun, head of the Institute of Hallyu Culture, is based on historical records that show his footsteps that remain both in his hometown of Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province, and Okinawa, Japan. The novel is the first of its kind to shed light on Hong as a real person through historical records.

Hong was the son of a ``yangban'' and his concubine born in the mid-15th century. However, the Confucian state of the time forbade sons of concubines from attaining government positions.

As the rigid social hierarchy blocked any opportunity for success, he harbored a grudge against the system and learned Taoist magical tricks in order to punish corrupt officials, stealing their illicitly gained properties and distributing them to the underprivileged.

He formed ``Hwalbindang,'' a bandit group made up of people who had been treated poorly by the state.

However, they realized that their efforts produced no signs of improvement in society ― people still suffered poverty under the tyrannical and inept king, and corrupt officials.

Founded on Confucianism, the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) created divides that led to social discrimination between men and women, and the upper and the lower classes. Under the system, the upper class continuously exploited those they viewed as beneath them.

The state was a closed society ruled by Confucian ideals and doctrines, severing its historical connection with the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), which was full of dynamic spirit and social openness.

Hwalbindang fought against feudalism and promoted equality, but many copycat bandits ― with less altruistic purposes ― sprung up and threatened innocent people.

So Hwalbindang opted to leave Joseon and settle in a new region far from Korea ― Yugu (Okinawa). Hong and his group were allowed to move there by promising the government never to return.