koreanlit1-5, Exercise 1: Hong Gildong

Model answer:

Part 1: Gildong, an illegitimate son of a nobleman, grows up in the Hong family home, denied full status as a second-class son, and leaves after stopping an assassination attempt. Part 2: he leads an outlaw band, the Hwalbindang, robbing the wealthy until forced into exile. Part 3: he overthrows the king of Yul, becomes king and rules benevolently.

Traditional author: Heo Gyun (1569 to 1618), based on writings by his former student Yi Sik.
Against: (1) Professor Lee Yoon-suk says it cannot be Heo Gyun's because it mentions later figures and institutions, and proposes Hwang Il Ho; (2) Minsoo Kang says the attribution rests on flawed scholarship and suggests an anonymous writer of secondary or commoner status.

Date: the article describes the period as the 16th or 17th century, but Kang argues the extant version was written around the mid-19th century or not long before. "The original author of Hong Gildong remains an open question" and scholars are uncertain which, if any, is the original manuscript.

Source: Wikipedia, The Tale of Hong Gildong (flagged as needing expansion).