The Story of Hong Gil-dong
Hong Gildong jeon (The Story of Hong Gil-dong, Hard Copy)This is the hard copy of Hong Gildong jeon (The Story of Hong Gil-dong), Korea’s first Hangeul novel, written by Heo Gyun.
Main Text of Hong Gildong jeon (The Story of Hong Gil-dongThis is Hong Gildong jeon (The Story of Hong Gil-dongg), Korea’s first Hangeul novel, written by Heo Gyun. It is a woodblock-printed book of the nineteenth century kept at the National Museum of Korea.
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LocationBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryRegional Overview
- Korean「홍길동전」
- Chinese洪吉童傳
- FieldOral Tradition, Language and Literature / Literature
- Contents TypeArts / Literary Work
- Background LocationUban-dong, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A piece of fictional prose written in Hangeul (the Korean alphabet) by Heo Gyun, a renowned man of letters, at Jeongsaam Buddhist hermitage in Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Heo Gyun (1569-1618), the author of The Biography of Hong Gil-dong (or Honggil dongjeon), was a Confucian scholar-official of the mid-Joseon period (1392-1910) who served as a Junior Minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs (Hyeongjo Chamui) and as a Left State Councilor (Jwachamchan). He was a member of a clan based in Yangcheon, and had a number of courtesy names including Gyosan, Haksan, Seongso, Baegwolgeosa and Danbo. His father was Heo Yeop, a pupil of the renowned Neo-Confucian thinker Seo Gyeong-deok (1489-1546), while his mother, Lady Kim from Gangneung, was a daughter of Kim Gwang-cheol, then serving as the Minister of Rites (Yejopanseo). Heo Gyun was a brother of two renowned writers, Heo Bong and Heo Nanseolheon, and also had a half-brother named Heo Seong, who served as Diary Keeper (Seojanggwan) of the Communication Envoys (Tongsinsa) sent to Japan just before the outbreak of the Imjin waeran, the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, and the following war which ended in 1598. He was executed by dismemberment at the marketplace on a charge of high treason.
Heo Gyun left behind a book titled Manuscripts Worthy of a Jar Cover (Seongso Bubugo), which contains some noteworthy ideas concerning Korean history, philosophy and literature, particularly with respect to bureaucracy, government, military affairs, and divine gifts. He was also a distinguished critic, as evidenced by the Woodcutter's Words from Haksan (Haksanchodam), which he wrote when he was twenty-five years old, Poetic Discourse of a Smart Old Man (Seongsusihwa) in the Manuscripts, and the poetic anthology, Selected Chinese-style Poetry of the Dynasty (Gukjosisan). Heo Jun is admired as, among many other things, the author of the first fictional work published in Hanegul, The Biography of Hong Gil-dong (Honggildongjeon).
Heo Gyun’s authorship of the famous biography of the fictitious hero is confirmed by the record in “Miscellaneous Records” (Sallok) of the Additional Collection (Byeoljip), Volume 15 of Collected Writings by Taekdang, a book written by Yi Sik (1584-1647). Some doubt it, however, as they believe that the related record in the Collected Writings could have been changed during its compilation or revision; and that it was not in the list of his books presented as evidence of his treasonous plan and reported to the authorities when he was executed. Meanwhile, some pay attention to the resemblance of the plot of The Biography of Hong Gil-dong to that of some of his short stories written in Chinese, such as The Life of Gentleman Eom (Eomcheosajeon), The Life of the Songok Hermit (Songoksaninjeon), The Life of Hermit Jang (Jangsaninjeon) / The Life of Master Namgung (Namgungseonsaengjeon), which are critical of a society that marginalized talented intellectuals due to their lowly social origins. The story in which corrupt administrative heads are chastised for exploiting local farmers is in the same vein as the topics he dealt with in his essays, such as On Deserting Talents (Yujaeron) and On the Valiant (Homillon). It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that Heo Gyun is the author of The Biography ofHong Gil-dong given that there is no evidence that can effectively refute Yi Sik’s record.
- Composition
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The Biography of Hong Gil-dong narrates a plot consisting of five parts, i.e. exposition, development, crisis, climax, and resolution. The first part (exposition) describes a situation in which Hong Gil-dong, born an illegitimate son of Minister Hong, is discriminated against due to his status. Knowing that a threat to his life looms on the horizon, he leaves home. In the second part (development), he becomes the head of a large gang of bandits called the Hwalbindang (“Poor Relief Band”), who rob the rich to relieve the poor. In the third part (crisis), as the government launches a nationwide campaign to capture him, he leaves the country for a distant place called Yuldoguk. In the fourth part (climax), he established an utopian country called Yuldoguk.
- Content
- The protagonist of The Biography of Hong Gil-dong was born an illegitimate son of Minister Hong. When he encountered a dragon in his dream, he believed it to be an auspicious sign that he would have a son who would become a great hero, and chose his housemaid, Chunseom, to be the mother of his future child. Gil-dong learned how to perform magic even when he was very young, showing every sign of becoming a great man. As Gil-dong grew up, he became increasingly discontented with his lowly condition, as he was not legally allowed to call his father by the rightful term of “father” or his half-brother, who was legitimate, by the rightful term of “brother”. In addition, other members of his family increasingly envied and even feared his outstanding talent, which they thought he might later use against them, and hatched a plot to assassinate him.
Hong Gil-dong was able to overcome this critical moment thanks to his ability to perform magic deeds, and left home to join a gang of bandits. He eventually promoted himself to chief of the bandits, and robbed Haeinsa Temple of its treasures. He gave his gang the name Hwalbindang ("Poor Relief Band"), and continued using fantastic tactics and magical tricks to "retrieve” the fortunes piled up by the corrupt administrative heads of the country's eight provinces. When Gil-dong publicly revealed himself to be the ringleader of the campaigns he had led in the past all across the country, both the government and the people were astonished because all these operations had taken place at the same time. The Governor of Hamgyeong-do tried to capture the ringleader to no avail. Now, the governors of all eight provinces urged the central government to take action, launching the national police strike forces led by Yi Heup, whose operation also came to naught. Finally, the king ordered his arrest, resulting in the arrest of over 300 people who were known as Hong Gil-dong, because they couldn’t capture real the Hong Gil-dong due to his magical ability to change into many different shapes.
Eventually, Hong Gil-dong bound himself up in steel chains and appeared at the court, demanding to be promoted to the head of the Ministry of Military Affairs in return for his retirement from a life of robbery. As his demand was rejected outright, Gil-dong cut the chains and disappeared. The government finally agreed to give Hong Gil-dong the position he wanted, and guided his father, Minister Hong, and his half-brother, Hong In-hyeong, to persuade Hong Gil-dong to accept the government’s offer. Finding that his longstanding anger and bitterness over the tradition by which illegitimate children were denied an opportunity to serve in the public sector were finally resolved, Gil-dong thanked the king for his merciful decision before vanishing into thin air. He reappeared later to say farewell to the king, left his homeland for the Southern Capital, and discovered along the way a mysterious and beautiful kingdom called Yuldoguk. Finding thatparticularly critical about the tradition of discriminating against illegitimate children, raising questions about the dominant ideology shared by the ruling class of Joseon and the orde the kingdom was ruled by a demon, Hong Gil-dong killed it and became its new ruler.
- Characteristics
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The Biography of Hong Gil-dong is a fictional work that advances a highly critical view of Joseon society. Its author was r established by them. The story reflects the author’s progressive viewpoint that the inequality inherent in Joseon’s hierarchical social system was in dire need of reform.
- Historical Significance
- The Biography of Hong Gil-dong (Honggildongjeon) is generally regarded as the earliest example of long fictional prose written in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and writing system. The fiction is based on the traditional literary format consisting of a “chronological biography of a hero” but, unlike most other works which maintain conservative viewpoints and are faithful to the dominant ideology, it maintains a reformative and progressive attitude towards the traditions of Joseon society, such as discrimination against illegitimate children and the predatory behavior of corrupt officials. The fiction is also highly regarded for its connection with the natural and cultural heritage preserved in the area around the Byeonsan Peninsula, as it contains a wealth of geographical and social information about the area at that time.
In 1608 Heo Gyun was dismissed from his position in the government and left the capital for Buan, where he took shelter at Jeongsaam Hermitage in the Byeonsan Peninsula. It is generally agreed that he wrote The Biography of Hong Gil-dong while staying at the hermitage. Experts also believe that the bandits commanded by Hong Gil-dong and the kingdom of Yuldoguk were related with the local communities of the Byeonsan Peninsula. The area around Byeonsan in Buan was in fact a haven for many gangs of bandits during the Joseon period due to its rough mountainous terrain, which made it difficult for the government forces to campaign effectively against the bandits. Such difficulties are recorded in the Veritable Records (Sillok) of the Joseon dynasty.
The story of a government official who becomes the leader of a gang of bandits is the subject of various local folk tales transmitted among the communities of the Byeonsan area, such as The Legend of the Long-legged Officer and The Tale of the Bandits of Byeonsan and the Scholar Heo. During his time in Byeonsan, Heo Gyun would certainly have heard stories about poor, innocent wanderers who were driven to the Byeonsan Peninsula in search of food, only to become bandits. He must also have been deeply impressed by such stories as they inspired him to write a literary work. It is significant that Heo Gyun created in his fiction an ideal society called Yuldoguk, which for him meant “a mountain where there are no robbers.” For some, Yuldoguk was probably inspired by present-day Wido Island in Buan-gun.