The Legend of Hong Kil Dong, The Robin Hood of Korea, retells the classic 17th-century Korean tale, considered by scholars to be the first novel written in Hangul, the Korean alphabetic script, in an engaging and enjoyable graphic novel style.

"The story begins this way ..."

Hong Kil Dong, the son of a powerful minister, is forbidden his birthright as his mother is a maidservant in his father's household. Although smart, spirited and studious, Kil Dong's illegitimate birth makes it impossible for him to pursue those professions open only to the upper classes. The household staff and his father's favorite concubine torment him so he leaves to study martial arts, divination, swordplay, the uses of magic, and the wisdom of the I Ching, Book of Changes at a monastery far from home.

After many seasons, he returns to the household but is worse off than before. The concubine arranges to have Kil Dong murdered. However, sensing the coming danger, he uses his magic to kill his assassin and once again leaves the house of his birth to wander the mountains in search of his destiny.

Impressing a ragtag group of bandits with his incredible physical strength, the bandits elect him leader and share with him their personal tales of injustice that have brought them to a life of shame and crime. Kil Dong, infuriated and emboldened, trains the bandits to become a personal army to steal back from the corrupt what rightfully belongs to the people.

At the story's conclusion, Kil Dong and his father have made peace with each other and Kil Dong, now having the respect of the King himself, shares his personal vision of justice for his people. Then, in a swirl of clouds and mist, he vanishes. It is said he and his men sail to an island with Kil Dong as its ruler, a place where men advance by skill and virtue, not by class or parentage.