The Story of Hong Gildong by Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Minsoo Kang

and wept as she spoke to him. “I wanted you to grow up to become a person of importance, so I prayed night and day that you would one day find the opportunity to strengthen our family. But then I could do nothing but watch as Chorang deceived His Lordship. How desolate my life became then. What has happened now that you must abandon me to my solitude? Once you leave, there is no telling when we will see each other again. If you must go, then go. But return to me as soon as possible for the sake of my love for you.”
    As Gildong bowed down twice and took his final leave of her, he could hardly speak for the emotions that overwhelmed him. As the golden rooster crowed with the coming of the new day and sunlight came blazing from the east, there were no more words that could be uttered to express the love between mother and son. Their inevitable parting was drenched in tears.
    Gildong stepped out of the house and gazed upon clouds and mountains raised in layers upon layers and a great body ofwater stretched out through the land. He realized that he was now a wanderer without a master, who would travel aimlessly with no destination, and he thought how lost a single individual was in the immensity of the world. No matter how hard he tried to suppress his feelings, he was overcome with grief at not knowing what would become of him.
    Meanwhile, Chorang became concerned when no news came after she had sent the assassin to Gildong’s sleeping chamber, so she dispatched a loyal maid to spy upon the cottage. She returned after a while and informed her, “The noble son is nowhere to be found, but there are three headless corpses lying about in the room.”
    Shocked by the report, Chorang went to the inner chamber and told the minister’s wife of what her maid had seen. The minister’s wife became terrified, so she summoned her son and related the news. He went out and searched for Gildong but could find no trace of him.
    He went to the minister in great trepidation and informed him, “Gildong murdered people in the night and ran away.”
    The astounded minister spoke out. “Gildong came to me last night and took leave of me with great sorrow. It was all because of this.”
    The assistant section chief dared not conceal things from his father any longer, so he told him the truth of what had happened. “Because Gildong was causing you worry, to the extent of making you ill, I considered various ways to allay your anxiety. When I consulted Chorang about the matter, she suggested that we hire an assassin to quietly get rid of Gildong. She thought that would avert future disaster and restore you to health. That is what led to Gildong committing this serious act and leaving home.”
    The minister heard him out before scolding him. “With such a simple mind, how could you serve at the royal court?” He spoke out in anger. “My fury can only be relieved by seeing Chorang dragged out of the inner chamber and killed.”
    And so he ordered. “Go get Chorang right now and execute her.” But then he stopped to think. “What if people hear of what transpired? Gildong’s mother might be blamed for the murders and receive punishment. It would be best to send Chorang away quietly and make her disappear.”
    He berated Chorang when she was brought to him. “In my rage, I was going to have you killed but I decided to banish you instead. But if you should leak a word of what happened here, I will find you and end you even if you should be a thousand
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40 away. So watch yourself.”
    He ordered a loyal manservant to seize Chorang, take her to a faraway place, and abandon her there. He then had the dead bodies disposed of and set the household in order, firmly ordering everyone to let no word of what had occurred get out.
    At the same time, after the shaman and the physiognomist who lived outside of Sungrye Gate disappeared in the night, their relatives went out searching