The Tale of Hong Gildong

by Heo Gyun · 2026-08-25

"I encountered an unexpected villain in my dream and my life is about to end."

"Do not let this scoundrel escape, and avenge me."

With that, he breathed his last.

The Ul-dong brothers simultaneously drew their swords, rushed out, and rebuked him.

"For what crime did you kill my brother! Take my sword!"

Gil-dong smiled coldly.

"His time had simply come. How could I have killed him?"

The Ul-dong brothers became greatly enraged and raised their swords to strike Gil-dong.

Gil-dong tried to fight back, but he had no sword in his hand.

The situation was critical, so he leaped into the air and fled.

However, Ul-dong was originally a monster tens of thousands of years old, capable of summoning wind and clouds, with endless magical powers.

Countless monsters rode the wind and pursued him upwards.

Gil-dong had no choice but to summon the Six Ding and Six Jia spirits.

Suddenly, countless divine generals descended from the sky, bound all the Ul-dong brothers, and made them kneel on the ground.

Gil-dong snatched the swords they were holding and cut down every single Ul-dong brother.

Then he went inside and tried to kill the three women.

The women cried and said,

"We are not monsters."

"Unfortunately, we were captured by monsters, and we simply couldn't find an opportunity to die, even though we wished to."

Gil-dong asked for the women's names.

One was the daughter of Baek-yong from Nakcheon-hyeon, and the other two were the daughters of Jeong and Jo.

Gil-dong took the three women back and found Baek-yong to tell him what had happened.

Baek-yong could not contain his joy upon recovering his beloved daughter, whom he had cherished his entire life.

He spent a fortune to hold a grand feast, gathered the villagers, and made Hong-saeng his son-in-law.

Praises resounded throughout the entire village.

Jeong and Jo also invited Hong-saeng and expressed their gratitude.

"There is no way to repay your kindness, so we will each offer our daughters to become your concubines."

Gil-dong had not known the affection between a husband and wife until he was twenty years old.

But then, in one morning, he took three wives and grew close to them, and their affection became as strong as glue and lacquer, incomparable.

Baek-yong and his wife also could not contain their love.

Soon, Gil-dong, with his three wives, Baek-yong and his wife, and all his relatives, entered the capital.

The soldiers came out to the riverside to greet them and offered comfort for their safe journey over a long distance.

They escorted them into the capital, held a grand feast, and enjoyed themselves.

Time flowed like water, and it had already been three years since they entered the capital.

One day, Gil-dong, loving the moonlight, walked beneath it and suddenly observed the constellations in the sky.

He then realized his father was about to die and wept bitterly.

Baek-ssi asked,

"My lord, you usually never grieve, but why are you shedding tears today?"

Gil-dong sighed and said,

"I am an unfilial son between heaven and earth."

"I am not originally from this place, but a child born to a concubine of Prime Minister Hong of Joseon."

"The contempt in my household was severe, and I could not enter the government, so I could not bear the injustice of a great man, and after bidding farewell to my parents, I hid myself here."

"Even so, I always longed for my parents' well-being, but today, observing the heavens, my father's life will soon end."

"My body is ten thousand li away and cannot reach in time, so I will not be able to see my father while he is still alive."

"That is what grieves me."

Baek-ssi listened and admired him in her heart.

'He does not hide his origins; he is truly a great man.'

Then she comforted him two or three times.

At that time, Gil-dong led his soldiers into Mount Ilbong, surveyed the terrain, and chose an auspicious burial site.

He chose an auspicious day to begin construction, decorating the mountain valleys and burial sites on both sides like a king's tomb.

Then he returned and called his soldiers, saying,

"On a certain month and day, prepare a large ship and wait at Seogang in Joseon."

"I will bring my parents, so be aware and carry out the task in advance."

The soldiers received the order, withdrew, and made preparations.

On that day, Gil-dong bid farewell to Baek and the two Jeong and Jo, then hastened a small boat towards Joseon.