The Story of Hong Gildong

There are two real-life outlaws in the Joseon era whose stories may have served as models for The Story of Hong Gildong: Im Kkeokjeong (d. 1562) and Hong Gildong (c. 1500). Research these figures and compare them to the Hong Gildong in the story. What evidence can you find that either of these figures inspired the fictional Hong Gildong?

Read Kang’s “A Note on the Translation” (xxi-xxiii). How many Korean versions of the text are there, and how did he choose which one to translate? How might the English version have been different if he had chosen one of the other texts?

How does The Story of Hong Gildong relate to Korean culture and identity? Why did the story achieve such iconic status?