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Based on a fictional book about a Robin Hood in Korea, Hong Gildong, this drama is very loosely based off of that book and the time it was set in. Hong Gil Dong was the illegitimate son of a high ranked minister. A local monk took him under his wing and taught him martial arts. Hong Gil Dong was inspired to fight for the injustice in this society that divided people into nobles and ordinary citizens whereby the former enjoyed all the privileges due solely to their birth. The heroine, Heo Yi Nok, had just returned to Korea from China with her grandfather. They made their living by putting on shows and selling their special brand of medicine in the marketplace. Lee Chang Hwi had been told since he was young that he was the rightful heir to the throne which had been usurped by his half brother. He had also returned from his exile in China and was plotting to overthrow the emperor. The three got entangled in love, hate, loyalty and betrayal and only one side can win.

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  • Jun 16, 2011 24 of 24 episodes seen
    Jeaniessi
    19 of 21 people found this review helpful
    Other reviews by this user
    • Overall  9
    • Story  9
    • Acting/Cast  9
    • Music  9
    • Rewatch Value  9
    I just marathoned this drama and I loved it. Wow can Kang Ji Hwan act his pants off! Typical of the Hong Sisters, this drama starts off looking like a comical farce but develops into a much richer, more dramatic story fairly quickly. I liked how they start out before the legend of Hong Gil Dong has begun and show you how it all started. Hong Gil Dong goes from a layabout wastril to reluctant hero to deserving of his legend and a true hero to the people. Kang Ji Hwan is so good at playing a carefree and careless rogue on the outside who is boiling with sadness, rejection and abandonment on the inside.

    There is the central theme of the Gil Dong legend running
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    report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful
  • Jan 27, 2012 24 of 24 episodes seen
    rad_lisette
    11 of 13 people found this review helpful
    Other reviews by this user
    • Overall  7
    • Story  8
    • Acting/Cast  8
    • Music  7
    • Rewatch Value  7
    A tale of heroism and love, this fusion sageuk (the setting and the costumes are set in Joseon-era times, yet the jokes and such seem more modern) shines with a lot of warmth, humor and love.

    Kang Ji Hwan was quite lovely as the main character and his acting stood above the rest of the cast.

    The plot moves quite well, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. By the last third of the series, however, I started to feel that the plot was getting a bit repetitive and not as engaging. The ending was a bit predictable to me, but, it was still touching and hopeful.

    But all in all, a quite satisfying and suprisingly meaningful drama.
    report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful

Make a Recommendation More recs.Recommendations

  • Both are historical dramas from South Korea. Both have similar plot with "robin hood" characters.
    reportRecommended by HAVA-RAVA
  • It is another period piece (although much more modern than Hong Gil Dong) that was written by the amazing Hong sisters. The lead actor is also the same as in Hong Gil Dong: Kang Ji Hwan.
    reportRecommended by loois

Comments (14)

  1. 1800 characters remaining Spoiler?
  • Ranchy 22 days ago
    Was it only me? I just couldn't get to the story nor to the acting no matter how much I try to. Perhaps because Hong sisters writing style is simply not my style (so far MGIG is the only show from their portfolio I could genuinely enjoyed, and it's not my first show of them). Perhaps because I've seen KJH in his previous show right before this (Capital Scandal) where his role there is pretty much similar to his role here, so I felt dejavu many many times. But the problem is, the rest of the cast is not touch it up either (I mean SYR & JGS's acting, I won't comment on the rest of the cast, except Kim Ri Na, she did pretty good job)

    I only like its supporting elements like the unique setting where Joseon period meet fantasy, the music, and the ending. That's all. Perhaps my taste is just not common.. *shrug*
    It's a shame how I need to label this one as mediocre at its best, since I really like the premise, setting, and the fusion concept, and had been enthusiastly following it from the early production stage.. :(
  • aha Mar 18, 2013
    why it aint marked as historical? wtf
  • illlee123 Feb 16, 2013
    I finished watching it, but honestly I'm a bit disappointed at the end, I won't spoil it and say what happens, but the ending sucked even if the story line was great. I loved it from the start until the ending came, I couldn't help but be disappointed at the un-originality, it's like the writer didn't know what to do for an ending.
    • Ranchy 22 days ago
      I felt the opposite. ;)
      I couldn't enjoy the story but found the ending is pretty nice for me.. :)
  • Dark_Howler Feb 15, 2013
    I liked it alot. Took me a bit getting used to the modern style that they added. The ending was wasn't what I was expecting from this drama. But it was very memorable and touching.
    1 ❤
  • Dark_Howler Feb 15, 2013
    Park Sang-Wook acting are explosive. After I saw him acting in God of War, I was super surprised by how he could act so differently with different character.
  • diana_list Nov 27, 2012
    Watch it...you won't be disappointed. This drama stayed with me long after watching it
    2 ❤
  • MinSung Jul 31, 2012
    My drama rating for Hong Gil Dong: 6
    The soundtrack: 10
    3 ❤
  • Imzadi Jul 31, 2012
    What a fun, extraodinary series, I loved every single episodes
    2 ❤
  • emily235 Jul 30, 2012
    One of, if not my absolute, favourite.
    1 ❤
  • Artemis23Xx Jun 28, 2012
    This has to be one of my all-time favorite dramas!!
    1 ❤
  • stormy Jun 19, 2012
    looking really forward to this one :D
    1 ❤
  • sweet_angellesley Apr 29, 2012
    interesting!!
    2 ❤
  • darkn3ss Jan 25, 2012
    Nice one
    3 ❤
  • 1

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Hong Gil Dong

Hong Gil Dong

Title

  • Main Title: Hong Gil Dong
  • Native title: 쾌도 홍길동
  • Also Known as: Sharp Blade Hong Gil Dong

General Details

  • CountrySouth Korea
    TypeDrama
    NetworkKBS2
  • Aired: January 2, 2008 to March 26, 2008
  • # of Episodes 24
    Average Duration 1 hr. 3 min. per episode
  • Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Historical, Romance

Statistics

  • Score: 8.00 (scored by 1,470 user)
  • Ranked: #174
  • Popularity: #145
  • Members: 3,029
  • Favorites: 0
4.0 stars - based on 1,470 votes

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