He was a hero of a fictitious novel and a real person who once existed in history at the same time. In history, he was recorded as a traitor or a robber. However, in the novel, he led the group Hwalbindang to fight against feudalism and promote equality. Later, he founded an ideal country in the legendary Yuldo, which is said to be Okinawa.
According to the investigation, Hong Gil-Dong was born as a son of a nobleman in the mid-15th century.
During that time, the national law prohibited the sons of a concubine from entering into government
position. His future, along with that of others who received unequal treatment, was at stake,
with no path to sucess. He organized Hwalbindang, by uniting discouraged and angry who were
treated unequally by the upper classes. He led a heroic yet priactical life and realized social justice.
Under the suppression of the feudal government of Joseon, he was captured by the
government
troops. Nevertheless, he managed to escape and led his party and moved to
Okinawa, Japan,
in which he became the leader of a civil rights movement who represented
the voice of the
people from Joseon.
Until now, the historical records of Hong Gil-Dong have been often falsified.
Now Hong Gil-Dong transformed from the fictitious hero of novel to a real person in history,
and from a traitor or robber to a hero. In the southernmost island of Japan, Okinawa,
far from
Joseon by boat, there is a monument that is established in memory of
Hong Gil-Dong , the leader of the Civil rights movement.
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