Hong Gil Dong

Dramatic Hour Long Dramedy, Historical Fiction, Korean Drama



In 2008, the Hong Sisters decided to try their hand at a sa geuk, or historical drama. Being who they are, however, their attempt morphed into an anachronistic comedy littered with toilet humor, gag words, and ridiculous puns. Hong Gil Dong (쾌도 홍길동, lit. Sharp Blade Hong Gil Dong) is the result.

Based on a novel published during the Chosun era, the story tells of Hong Gil Dong, the illegitimate son of a (political) minister who settles into a life of professional laziness, after being discouraged by his father. He gets the call and tries to repeatedly run away to China. In a weird twist of fate, his jealous half-brother In Hyung attempts to frame him for theft, and ends up framing him for murder. In his efforts to clear his name, Gil Dong gets framed some more, and later becomes leader of Robin Hood-like bandit group, Hwal Bin Dang.

Gil Dong's heroic efforts are repeatedly thwarted by King Incognito Lee Chang Hwi who, after escaping an assassination attempt to China years ago, is back to reclaim his throne from his half-brother Kwang Hwi. Chang Hwi's methods are less than honorable as he tries to avenge his mother's death and return to his rightful place. His encounters with Hong Gil Dong force him to reexamine himself.

This series provides examples of:
"Minister Hong: I don't want to see you anymore.
 * Accidental Hero: Gil Dong.
 * As he attempts to find the real murderer and clear his name, Gil Dong searches through different groups of crooks and ends up freeing their captives. He's not being benevolent, but rather trying to setback the crooks.
 * Accidental Marriage
 * Accidental Truth
 * Adorkable: Enok
 * Affably Evil: Seo Eun Hye
 * Affectionate Nickname:
 * Both Chang Hwi and Gil Dong call Enok "Dummy"
 * Su Geun calls Enok "Doe Eyes"
 * Enok calls Gil Dong her "Gallant Moonlight Black-Clad Sir."
 * All Asians Are Alike: Played With. See Fauxreigner below.
 * Altar the Speed:
 * Alternate Aesop Interpretation: In Universe.
 * Young Gil Dong misinterprets all of the lessons the monk Hae Myung tries to teach.
 * Hae Myung makes the young Gil Dong clean and sweep. Lesson taught: Self-discipline. Lesson learned: Nothing in life is free.
 * Hae Myung makes him hang from a tree branch. Lesson taught: Patience. Lesson learned: Trust no one.
 * Hae Myung makes him fill a leaky barrel. Lesson taught: Non-possessiveness. Lesson learned: Over-working achieves nothing.
 * Hae Myung makes him repeatedly bow to pray. Lesson taught: Tranquility. Lesson learned: Shamelessness.
 * Anachronism Stew: Sunglasses, hip hop, techno, among others.
 * You Fail History Forever
 * Armor Piercing Question: "When you look at them, don't you feel anything?"
 * Armor Piercing Slap: Su Geun to In Hyung in episode 7, while Gil Dong is experiencing Heroic BSOD.
 * As Long As It Sounds Foreign: Mandarin Chinese is brutally raped by the characters, especially by Mr. Wang.
 * Ax Crazy: King Kwang Hwi is execution-happy.
 * Badass Monk: Buddhist monk Hae Myung, a father figure to Gil Dong
 * Belligerent Sexual Tension: Gil Dong and Enok
 * Berserk Button: Kwang Hwi, who has a concubine executed for daring to think she can bear a son for the king. Apparently, his less-than-legitimate status has given him a complex.
 * I Can See Her: Shim Chung's blind father
 * Break the Cutie: Gom subverts this trope. Gil Dong is Genre Savvy enough to know it's not going to happen.
 * Brilliant but Lazy: Everyone knows how smart Gil Dong is, but society rules that he would never arise much above the status of a servant. Even In Hyung, who knows this, feels threatened enough to frame Gil Dong.
 * Calling the Old Man Out
 * The Call Knows Where You Live: Gil Dong tries repeatedly to run off to China, but then he is Mistaken for Murderer.
 * Call to Adventure: Hae Myung, Enok, the bandits, etc. - just about everyone that Gil Dong comes in contact with try to get him to do something better/different with his life.
 * Character Development: Gil Dong
 * Chinese Girl: Enok plays with this trope.
 * Clear My Name: Gil Dong
 * Cool Shades/Sunglasses At Night
 * Create Your Own Nemesis: Chang Hwi to Kwang Hwi: "You have no right to sneer at one who saves the poor. You created [Gil Dong], because you made the world poor. The poorer you make your people, the bigger he gets."
 * Crouching Moron Hidden Badass: Enok's grandfather Heo
 * Death Faked for You/Faking the Dead: Chang Hwi.
 * Derailing Love Interests:
 * The Determinator
 * Died in Your Arms Tonight:
 * Distant Finale: The last scene takes place in modern-day South Korea, long after the characters are dead.
 * : The ending.
 * Double Speak:
 * The Dragon: Lady Noh
 * Empathic Environment: In the scene where Gil Dong last confronts Kwang Hwi, the day immediately changes to night to signify the darker turn of the scene.
 * Epic Fail: Enok does this, as a Running Gag
 * Epunymous Title
 * Throughout the series, the name 'Hong Gil Dong' is discussed as if it isn't one person in particular, i.e. Hong Gil Dong is alive through you. Hong Gil Dong is a placeholder name in Korea, like John Doe.
 * Also, the Korean title is Sharp Knife/Blade/Sword Hong Gil Dong. In the ending narration, Hae Myung says, "The sword that looks the world in the face, takes note of it, and changes it — in any world, there must be a Hong Gil Dong." That is, anyone who stands up against injustice is a sword, or anyone is Hong Gil Dong.
 * Everybody Was a Martial Artist
 * Et Tu Brute: Gil Dong : "Do you hate me that much?"
 * Everyone Can See It:
 * Fauxreigner: Enok plays with this trope to scam people. She is ethnically Korean but grew up in China.
 * Mr. Wang as well
 * For Your Own Good: Lady Noh says this to Chang Hwi
 * Frame Up: Everyone in this fictional world wants to frame Gil Dong.
 * Gambit Pileup:  Rinse. Repeat.
 * Giant Mook: Opium dealer has one of these.
 * Gratuitous English: "I love you!"
 * Gratuitous Mandarin
 * "Jiayou!" ("Good luck")
 * Enok teaches Gil Dong the Chinese words for "father" and "brother," so that he can properly address his family, even when society would dictate otherwise.
 * Heel Realization: Chang Hwi.
 * Her Heart Must Go On:
 * Heroic BSOD: Gil Dong has one of these.
 * He also has another one when.
 * Hitman With a Heart: Chang Hwi is not a hitman per se, but he doesn't have the heart.
 * Honor Among Thieves: Hwal Bin Dang
 * Hooked Up Afterwards: In Universe. Mal Nyeo/Su Geun
 * I Am Who: Enok has the same unusual name as the daughter of a murdered minister.
 * I Didn't Mean to Turn You On:
 * I Have No Son/You Have No Son
 * I Have No Son/You Have No Son

Gil Dong: Then, next time you see me, pretend you don't know me."

"Gil Dong: Those clothes don't suit you.
 * If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her: Various members of Hwal Bin Dang say this to Gil Dong
 * Imagine Spot
 * Imperial Korea
 * Incoming Ham: Hong Gil Dong, in his very first appearance. His friends even lampshade it.
 * Insult Backfire

Enok: Mal Nyeo said I was pretty.

Gil Dong: That you're pretty -- it makes me even madder ."


 * Intentional Engrish for Funny: Mal Nyeo thinks "I love you" means something that ends sadly.
 * He Will Find Me: Enok says this.
 * Jerkass Facade: Hong Gil Dong, who pretends not to be bothered that his older brother In Hyung can participate in ancestral rites, while he can't.
 * Just Friends: Enok tries to convince herself that she and Gil Dong are just this.
 * Just Like Robin Hood/We Help the Helpless: Hwal Bin Dang
 * Keeping Secrets Sucks:
 * Kick the Son of A Bitch:
 * King Incognito: Chang Hwi
 * Kiss of Life:  to Enok, when she's stuck under water and losing oxygen
 * Korean Honorifics
 * Lost in Translation: In Hyung always speaks casually to Gil Dong while Gil Dong uses Korean Honorifics. While this makes sense for their older brother/younger brother and legitimate/illegitimate dynamic, the effect is particularly jarring during the conversation.
 * Love Triangle
 * Manipulative Bastard: Chang Hwi
 * Manly Tears
 * Meet Cute: Enok meets Chang Hwi on a boat from China. When he asks her why she keeps staring, she admits that she finds him handsome. Chang Hwi tells her to bug off. Enok then notices that he stepped on her last sweet bun and cancels the handsome statement.
 * Mexican Standoff:
 * Minion With an F In Evil: In Hyung. His mother is behind all his schemes.
 * Mistaken Declaration of Love: Enok makes assumptions often.
 * Chang Hwi says to Enok, "stay with me a bit longer." Which she mistakes for a love declaration.
 * Gil Dong tells Enok, "don't forget this day."
 * Eun Hye asks Enok to deliver a message to Gil Dong, that she's sorry she couldn't go to him that time; Enok thinks that Gil Dong had asked Eun Hye to elope with him.
 * Mistaken for Murderer: Turning point in Gil Dong's life
 * Mommas Boy: Gil Dong's half-brother In Hyung
 * Necessary Evil
 * No One Could Survive That:
 * No Social Skills: Chang Hwi
 * Not Quite Dead:
 * Oh Crap
 * Two Scenes One Dialogue:
 * Not Quite Dead:
 * Oh Crap
 * Two Scenes One Dialogue:


 * Parental Betrayal:
 * Parental Substitute: Hae Myung
 * Enok's "grandfather."
 * Pay Evil Unto Evil: Gil Dong's band announce that they will steal from the most corrupt minister. They instead steal from all four top ministers. Hilariously, each minister begs the thieves not to tell anyone that they were robbed.
 * Pinch Me: Enok bites Gil Dong to make sure that she isn't dreaming
 * Please Don't Leave Me: Enok can't you stay?"
 * Chang Hwi : "Don't go to him, stay with me. I'll protect you."
 * Poke the Poodle: In Hyung didn't want to fame Gil Dong for murder, just for theft.
 * Professional Slacker: Hong Gil Dong
 * Punny Nickname: Gil Dong is fond of giving these out.
 * Raised By Grandparents: Enok who was raised by Grandpa Heo
 * Rebellious Princess: Eun Hye
 * Refusal of the Call: No, Gil Dong, it's not as easy as running away to China
 * The Reason You Suck Speech: Gil Dong to Chang Hwi: "Why must you be king? Because you're legitimate? I was born to a servant, so I have to be a servant; you were born to be king, so must you be king? As promised, I'll die. You live and think about that. Why must you be king?"
 * The Reveal:
 * Royal Suitor, Common Suitor:
 * Roman a Clef:, he tells the nobles that, regardless of their social status, nobody will be exempt from military service. In South Korea, military service is required for all men. That hasn't stopped the rich from trying to get out of it.
 * Romantic False Lead:
 * Rousing Speech
 * Rule of Romantic
 * The production employs fuzzy-focus to tell the audience that the scene is supposed to be romantic.
 * Sun Geun talks to Enok in romantic language ("Let us merely think of this encounter as briefly mingling our scents underneath the moonlight sky"), even goes as far as calling her "Doe Eyes", when he's pretending to be Gil Dong pretending to be someone else
 * Sadistic Choice: Kwang Hi tells Minister Hong  in order to prove his loyalty
 * Sanity Slippage: The king Kwang Hwi, who happens to be Chang Hwi's half brother
 * Single Tear
 * Shoot Everything That Moves: Kwang Hwi isn't sure who in his court is loyal to him or to Chang Hwi, so his plan is
 * Shout Out
 * Bollywood musicals
 * Somebody Elses Problem: Gil Dong (repeatedly): "Why should I care?"
 * Something Only They Would Say: To get Gil Dong's attention while she's in disguise, Enok shouts out repeatedly,
 * The Stoic: Lee Chang Hwi
 * Stoic Woobie: In Universe. Gil Dong who, accepting his fate as an illegitimate son, knows society doesn't expect much of him and, at the beginning of the story, doesn't expect much of himself also. Everyone he meets tries to get him to accept The Call.
 * Submissive Badass: Chang Hwi's bodyguard, Chi Su
 * Taking the Bullet
 * Toilet Humour: In spades
 * Throwing the Distraction: Gil Dong throws money in the air to provide a distraction.
 * Troubled Backstory Flashback: Gil Dong. 12-year-old Gom.
 * Two Person Love Triangle: Gil Dong - Enok - Her Moonlight Rescuer
 * Weddings for Everyone: A sad one.
 * Well Done Son Guy: Hong Gil Dong
 * Undying Loyalty: Group of bandits, especially Su Geun who wants revenge, to their dead leader;
 * You ALL Share My Story
 * You Have No Idea Who You're Dealing With: Gil Dong says this.
 * You Killed My Parent:
 * You Remind Me of X: Enok notes that Minister Hong looks like Gil Dong,
 * Undying Loyalty: Group of bandits, especially Su Geun who wants revenge, to their dead leader;
 * You ALL Share My Story
 * You Have No Idea Who You're Dealing With: Gil Dong says this.
 * You Killed My Parent:
 * You Remind Me of X: Enok notes that Minister Hong looks like Gil Dong,