| Hangul: | 홍길동 |
| Hanja: | 洪吉同 |
| Rr: | Hong Gil-dong |
| Mr: | Hong Kil-tong |
Hong Gil-dong (; 1440–1510?) was a Korean outlaw from the Joseon period.[1] He was the leader of a group of bandits during the reign of King Yeonsangun of Joseon.[2]
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and a few other documents briefly mention his activities.[3], It is said that he lived in Chungcheong Province.
Hong Gil-dong (洪吉同) was a Robin Hood-like Yangban born in the village of Achisil in Agok-ri, Jangseong County, Jeolla province. He was the illegitimate son (孽子) of Hong Sang-jik (洪尙直) and illegitimate grandson of Hong Jing (洪徵). Hong Gil-dong, in the Annals of the Joseon dynasty, was recorded to be born around the year 1443, or the 25th year of the reign of King Sejong (世宗 25年). During the tyrant's reign Yeonsan-gun, peasant armies rose throughout the country. One of the most well-known was the peasant army led by Hong Gil-dong. He, dressed as an aristocrat, attacked the government offices with many armed peasants.[4]
In 1500 (燕山 6年), he was captured for his robberies. He allegedly died around the year 1510, or the 5th year of the reign of King Jungjong (中宗 5年).
Hong Gil-dong's name in Chinese characters (漢字) is 洪吉同, unlike the spelling in Heo Gyun's (許筠) fictional novel Tale of Hong Gildong (洪吉童傳), which is 洪吉童 of the same pronunciation.