Hong Gildong jeon

Hong Gildong jeon
Opening page of Hong Gildong jeon.
Korean name
Hangul
홍길동전
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHonggildongjeon
McCune–ReischauerHonggiltongjŏn

Hong Gildong jeon (Korean: 홍길동전) is a Korean novel, often translated as The Biography of Hong Gildong, written during the Joseon period. The novel is considered an iconic piece of Korean literature and culture.

Hong Gildong, an illegitimate son of a nobleman and his lowborn concubine, is the main character of the story. Gifted with supreme intelligence and supernatural abilities, he steals from rich and corrupt aristocrats. Historical sources point to the existence of a bandit named Hong Gildong who was arrested in 1500,[1] but the historical inspiration for the character was the Korean bandit and folk hero Im Kkeokjeong, who lived in the early 16th century.[2]

"During the 15th year of King Sejong's reign in the nation of Joseon, there was only one prime minister[3] outside of the doors of Hong Hee-mun; his surname was Hong and his given name was Mun...[4]"

This is the first sentence of the novel, introducing the main character, Hong Gil-dong's father. It is the beginning of the complete 36-chapter edition of Hong Gildong-jeon. Among the various editions of Hong Gildong-jeon, this is the most widely used edition in academia. It is a different edition (이본/異本) written much later than the original.

Hong Gildong jeon can also be referred to as just 'Hong Gil-dong', abbreviating the word jeon (전/傳), meaning 'novel' or 'story' in Hanja.

  1. ^ "The Rumpus Interviews With Minsoo Kang". The Rumpus. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. ^ (in Polish) Joanna Rurarz (2009). Historia Korei. Dialog. ISBN 978-83-89899-28-6. P.237
  3. ^ Jaesang (Hangul:재상)
  4. ^ 됴션국 셰둉ᄃᆡ왕 즉위 십오 연의 홍희문 밧긔 ᄒᆞᆫ ᄌᆡ상이 잇스되 셩은 홍이요 명은 문이니... (original, middle Korean)