[Article] 4 Famous Joseon's Thief : Korea's Robin Hoods.

[Article] 4 Famous Joseon's Thief : Korea's Robin Hoods.

In my knowledge there were five most famous thief and conman during Joseon Dynasty.Four famous thief who stole from rich and helped poor commoners and peasants. There are many films and TV series made from these four famous Korea's Robin Hood like heroes.Particularly North Korean TVs and movies idolized these four characters because they shows symbolic meaning to cultural revolution.

1. Hong Gil-dong (홍길동)
This name is often used today as "John Doe" or "John Smith" in Korea.
There is still no clue whether if this thief was real historical character or not because his name lived on from famous folk tale of "Hong Gildong" novel by Heo-Gyun during 1500s. However there is record (quote) of Hong Gil - dong being captured at Joseon-Silrok.

This was during King Yeonsangun and King Jungjong of Joseon Dynasty, famous for wide spread corruption from ruling class society. He trick corrupted Yangbans and even steals their belongings and gave it to poor and sick people. He was Korea's most popular Robin Hood and hero. The story ends with his capture by the Joseon's police but he escaped to foreign country.



2. Iljimae (일지매/一枝梅)
Another popular fictitious character, another legendary thief who stole from rich & powerful people to help these in needs and poor/sick. The novel was written by Cho Soosam during late Joseon period, 18th century.

His story is remarkably similar to Hong Gil - dong but this thief actually get caught and killed by cunning local magistrate. This one is famous for Ninja like style. The story tells life of lost male child who grow up foster parent in Qing Dynasty then he returns to Korea to seek his lost mother (Girl who became Geisha or Geishang after getting raped by Yangban). Then during his trip he endured typhoon at sea and landed in Japan, and from there he learn to become Ninja. Then he returns to Korea again, and met several famous local fighters and thugs and fought them and started learning their skills to become No.1 thief that actually stole's King's treasures.



3. Im Guk-jung /Lim Gguk -jung (임꺽정 / 林巪正)
Perhaps the most famous and worse real-life thief that 16th century Joseon Kingdom have ever faced. This one is famous for being one of best sword's man that he mastered the art of two handed long sword and also known to be most powerful & largest thief. He and his thugs were captured and executed in 1562 under the direction of King.

He's comparable to William Wallace of Scotland. Where Ggukjung gathered large number of thugs waged war against to corrupted Joseon Yangban ruling classes. Ggukjung's thugs stole from rich and powerful ruling class and helped these in needs & poor. Because his gang was so successful, they were able to capture towns and villages easily, then killed corrupted Yangbans.

He was son of Butcher, lowest class of Joseon class system. He was said to be very strong and large even at his child days. Then out of desperation he lived by his own and went over to mountain when he met famous swordsman and he became student and mastered the art of sword.

Anyway, he lived his life as not only as famous thief but also as rebel leader which formed large group of thugs at various mountain's hidden fortresses, kidnapped & killed Yangbans and steal from rich.

According to story, he and his wife/relatives are able to kill bears and tigers in bear hands suggesting they were quite good hard people, not too mentioned most of his life have been hard. The story goes, he and his force were trick & betrayed by captured Yangban and he and his men died at last fight.



4. Jang Gil-san (장길산 / 張吉山)
Second most famous real life 17th century thief and that actually became most cunning tactical thug leader.
He was almost close to achieving his goal when Anti-government Yangbans sided with him but he too was betrayed.
Remarkably there is no record of him being captured, believing Joseon court failed to bring him down or they could not located his body or because he was involved with some other ruling class's conspiracy he may have became less important target. In 1692, him and his thugs were last scene from Pyongando (Now far North of North Korea) and Joseon King tried to capture him and his rebel force for 10 years after the disappearance but unsuccessful according to Joseon Silrok. So unlike Hong and Ggukjung, Gilsan never was captured or killed.

Folk villagers believes he and his men fled to Manchuria.