The Story of Hong Gildong
by Heo Gyun · 2026-05-12
The place called Chachon was originally a den of bandits.
That day, the bandit stronghold was unusually noisy.
Hundreds of bandits were drinking and making a ruckus over the issue of choosing a new leader.
Some claimed they were the right person, while others pushed forward someone else.
However, a conclusion was not easily reached.
Gil-dong, who had been quietly observing the scene, thought to himself.
‘After wandering without a place to display my talents, I have finally come to a place like this.’
He slowly closed his eyes.
‘This, too, must be the will of heaven.’
Gil-dong’s eyes grew cold.
‘Good. I will entrust myself to the greenwood and fulfill the aspirations of a true man.’
Having made up his mind, Gil-dong immediately stood up from his seat.
And he walked into the midst of the hundreds of bandits gathered there.
The murmuring sound instantly subsided.
It was because an unfamiliar young man had suddenly appeared.
Gil-dong opened his mouth without the slightest bit of intimidation.
“I am the son of Prime Minister Hong from the capital…”
The crowd instantly stirred.
“After killing a man and fleeing, wandering everywhere, I have come to this place today by the will of heaven.”
Gil-dong slowly looked around.
And he spoke clearly.
“How would it be if I were to become the leader of the greenwood heroes?”
The air inside the stronghold instantly froze.
A moment later—
Harsh laughter erupted among the bandits.
“Isn’t he crazy?”
“How dare a brat from who knows where!”
“There are hundreds of us, and he claims to be the leader?”
The drunken bandits openly mocked Gil-dong.
One man pointed his finger and shouted.
“We are all men of extraordinary strength!”
“Yet, we are facing two major problems and can’t find a solution, so we haven’t even chosen a leader yet—”
He scanned Gil-dong up and down.
“How dare a mere young man like you come in here and raise your voice?”
Others joined in, showering him with insults.
“If you value your life, get out now!”
Eventually, a few bandits pushed Gil-dong and his companions out.
However—
Gil-dong did not get angry in the slightest.
Instead, after stepping out of the mountain fortress, he quietly broke off a large branch.
And then he began to carve words onto it.
“A dragon submerged in shallow water is scorned by fish; a tiger that loses its forest is mocked by foxes and rabbits.”
Gil-dong’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“If I soon gain the winds and clouds, its brilliance will be immeasurable.”
A moment later.
A soldier discovered the writing and brought it inside the mountain fortress.
A man sitting in the highest seat read the writing and his eyes changed.
“Wait.”
He looked around at the people nearby and said,
“That boy… he’s no ordinary fellow.”
“His demeanor is extraordinary, and the talk of him being the son of Prime Minister Hong is not to be taken lightly.”
He chuckled softly.
“Whether we kill him or let him live, how about we test his skills first?”
At his words, heads nodded here and there.
In the end, the bandits called Gil-dong back in.
This time, they didn’t carelessly chase him away.
After seating him near the highest seat, one of the chieftain candidates spoke.
“We have two problems right now.”
He held up two fingers.
“First.”
“There’s a rock called Cho-bu-seok out front, weighing a thousand geun. No one in this mountain fortress can lift it properly.”
Then he lowered his voice.
“The second is an even bigger matter.”
“Haein-sa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongsang Province.”
Suddenly, the eyes of a few bandits gleamed.
“That temple has thousands of monks, and wealth piled up like mountains.”
“But there are too many people, so there’s no way to lay a hand on it.”
He glared at Gil-dong.
“If you can accomplish these two things…”
The air inside the mountain fortress settled with tension.
“From today, I will serve you as our general.”
Upon hearing those words, Gil-dong let out a small laugh.
“When a great man faces the world…”
He slowly rose from his seat.
“How could I fear such a small matter?”
And then he immediately walked towards the Cho-bu-seok.
A massive stone said to weigh a thousand geun.
Even the bandits were reluctant to approach it—
Gil-dong effortlessly lifted it with both arms.
“……!”
Suddenly, the mountain fortress fell silent.
Gil-dong walked dozens of steps with the massive stone resting on his arms.
Not a single breath was disturbed.
And then he placed the stone back in its original spot.
Even then, there was no sign of effort on Gil-dong’s face.
Exclamations burst from the bandits simultaneously.
“He’s a true strongman!”
“He’s a monster!”
“This guy is no ordinary man!”
The atmosphere was instantly reversed.
Those who had scoffed at him as a mere youth just moments ago now raised their wine cups and praised Gil-dong.
“From today, he’s our general!”
“Bring wine to our General!”
Cheers shook the mountain fortress.
Gil-dong remained calm amidst the clamor.
Soon, he commanded the soldiers.
“Bring a white horse.”
A moment later, a white horse was led in.
Gil-dong made a blood oath on the spot.
And then he loudly shouted to the hundreds of bandits.
“From today, we share life and death, joy and sorrow!”
The mountain fortress fell silent.
“If anyone betrays this promise or disobeys military orders—”
Gil-dong’s eyes grew cold.
“They will be dealt with by military law.”
At that moment, hundreds of bandits simultaneously knelt.
“General!”
“We will obey your command!”
The entire mountain fortress shook with their shouts.
From that day—
Hong Gildong became the true leader of the Nokrim.
Several days later.
Gildong gathered all the soldiers of the mountain fortress.
Hundreds of bandits held their breath, looking at their new leader.
Gildong sat in the highest seat and spoke quietly.
“I will personally go to Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon.”
Immediately, murmurs erupted here and there.
Haeinsa Temple.
It was a massive temple renowned throughout the land.
There were thousands of monks.
It was rumored that he had countless riches, but—
But its security was equally strict.
It was a place even the former leaders dared not approach.
However, there was no hesitation on Gildong's face.
“I will return after all plans are set.”
Having said that, Gildong immediately set off.
That day, Gildong's attire was completely different from usual.
Silk clothes and a scholar's outfit.
Riding a fine horse, he looked like the son of a prestigious family to anyone.
With dozens of attendants accompanying him, it was clearly the procession of a young master from a noble family.
When Gildong's party arrived near Haeinsa Temple, he first sent someone to announce their arrival.
“The son of Prime Minister Hong from Gyeongseong is coming to study.”
The news quickly spread throughout the entire temple.
The monks were greatly surprised.
“The son of Prime Minister Hong?”
“If a prime minister's son stays at the temple, the temple's prestige will rise.”
“We must treat him with utmost respect.”
The monks hurriedly came out of the temple to greet Gildong.
Gildong rode his horse into the temple with a calm face.
He looked like a young master from a noble family to anyone.
After settling in a spot near the main hall—
Gildong looked around at the monks and smiled gently.
“I hear Haeinsa Temple is a renowned temple throughout the land.”
He leisurely sipped his tea.
“I came all this way not because it's far, but to see the temple and to study.”
The monks bowed their heads repeatedly.
Gil-dong continued speaking naturally, as if he had no suspicions whatsoever.
“So don’t feel uncomfortable because of me.”
And he added very calmly,
“Instead, send out all the miscellaneous people staying inside the temple.”
“...!”
The monks tensed up for a moment.
But Gil-dong’s face showed no emotion.
“I just want to live quietly for the few days I’m staying.”
Then he added again,
“Also, I will send one hundred and twenty seok of white rice through an ajeon from a certain village.”
The monks’ eyes widened.
One hundred and twenty seok of white rice.
It was an enormous amount.
Gil-dong smiled.
“Prepare plenty of food.”
“On that day, we will set aside the distinction between monks and laypeople and enjoy ourselves together, and then begin our studies thereafter.”
Upon hearing those words, the monks, with faces full of emotion, repeatedly bowed.
“We are overwhelmed!”
“It is the grace of Buddha that you bestow such a great offering!”
However—
No one knew.
What the subtle smile on Gil-dong’s lips meant.
After that day, Gil-dong spent several days walking around inside the temple, examining the terrain.
The location of the main hall.
The location of the warehouse.
Where treasures were hidden.
The monks’ movement paths.
Even escape routes.
He took in everything, one by one.
And secretly had dozens of his subordinates send white rice.
“It is sent by an ajeon from a certain village.”
He only had that message conveyed.
The monks did not suspect anything at all.
On the contrary, they believed Gil-dong was a truly noble guest and treated him with utmost hospitality.
Moreover, they even sent out all the miscellaneous people who had been staying in the temple, as per Gil-dong’s command.
Haeinsa Temple was gradually—
Transforming into the form Gil-dong desired.