Hong Gil-Dong
Special episode
Gil Dong dreamt of a different world and rebelled against the king.
Chang Hui was a king who tried to protect his world.
Hong Gil Dong's dreams of making a new world...
...were dashed when he met a tragic fate.
Although Hong Gil Dong died in the drama, he will live on forever in our hearts.
We'd like to tell you the rest of Hong Gil Dong's story.
Hong Gil Dong, the Hero
It reinterpreted Hong Gil Dong's story to fit modern times, and caused quite a stir.
The fusion clothes from the drama were also very popular.
That's what we have on right now.
I'm dressed like Yi Nok. How do I look?
So that's what Sung Yuri was wearing?
So that's the actual dress she wore?
You must've have had it altered.
Whose clothes are you wearing, Hyeon Mu?
More like Jang Geun Suk than you, so that's whose clothes I'm wearing.
How do I look?
- Geun Suk doesn't seem so pleased. - No kidding.
He looks annoyed.
The clothes I'm wearing are Kang Ji Hwan's.
That's not true. Those are Yeon Ssi's clothes.
I'm sorry.
Those are Yeon Ssi's clothes?
Mun Se Yun wore them.
We haven't introduced you yet.
Sorry about that.
Anyway, we're wearing their clothes.
"Hong Gil Dong, the Hero" caused quite a stir, didn't it?
And just yesterday, the main characters were killed.
- That was so sad. - Lots of people cried.
Lots of viewers, including all of us, were glued to the TV.
That's why we prepared this Special.
We have lots of extras prepared for you, including never-before-seen footages.
Director Lee Jeong Seop, the three stars of the show,
as well as the rest of the cast, are here with us today.
Hello!
Ji Hwan, why don't you say hello to the viewers tuning in?
Hello. I'm Kang Ji Hwan, who played Hong Gil Dong.
Yesterday, our drama came to an end.
And I would like to thank you for all the love and support you have shown us.
We've prepared this Special in order to show our gratitude for your support.
We'll show you many behind-the-scenes footages, and those never seen before,
so I hope you'll enjoy this Special.
Although it's his first greeting to the viewers, it sounds very familiar, doesn't it?
He must have memorized it.
Director Lee Jeong Seop is also here with us today.
Lee Jeong Seop - Director
Although the show aired only for three months,
I heard you spent eight months preparing it.
How does it feel now that the shoot's over?
The weather is warm.
We started preparations when the weather was warm,
shot through winter, and finished it now that the weather is warm again.
Our staff and crew experienced difficulty while shooting during the cold winter.
But with many viewers that sent us their love,
and support in return for that hard work, I'm very grateful for them.
Listening to him talk somehow makes me feel very solemn.
- Almost like it's affecting me. - Almost like we should end the program now.
In the show, Sung Yuri tried her hand at comical acting.
Is that how you're in real life?
I was worried because I thought the character was my exact opposite,
but the people around me told me that she's exactly like me.
Yeah, right.
But they don't know me at all.
Seems no one here agrees with Yuri's statement.
Everyone is laughing.
What do you think, Se Yun? What is Yuri like in real life?
She has such a great image.
And I've a crush on her, but she's like the female version of Kim Gura.
A female Kim Gura.
Why did you think that?
There are things about her that aren't appropriate for TV.
You should ask her yourself.
She is very outgoing and looked after the younger cast members like a big brother.
I was so flattered when she gave me her number at the start of shooting.
But I don't think I'll be needing it.
What do you think? How is Yuri in real life?
Yuri's pretending to be all proper and prim since this is television.
But in actuality, she is exactly like Yi Nok.
- So she is masculine? - That's right.
She's so perverted.
- Now we're going over the line. - Did I say something I shouldn't have?
Knowing what I know now, I'm so curious about Yuri's behind-the-scene footage.
Geun Suk successfully portrayed Chang Hui, the fallen prince.
How was it? Did you feel lonely playing the part?
I didn't get to shoot many scenes with the Hwal Bin Dang.
But I became close to the people of the guild,
like Choi Ran, who played Madam Noh.
I hope to become close to the rest of the cast today.
- Anyone here you've never seen before? - Yes.
- Who? - Merchant Wang.
Merchant Wang!
Choe Seung Yeong – Merchant Wang
I've never met him before.
This is my first time meeting him as well.
Why don't you say hi to each other?
Take this opportunity to say hello to each other.
This is actually our second meeting.
We met each other at the script reading.
So this is your second meeting?
You played the role of a tyrannical king.
Although you played the bad guy, you made the character very engrossing.
Did the people around you mention that a lot?
Yes.
That was a short answer.
That was a very short answer to a long question.
The other day while I was shooting my final death scene,
a passerby called me a mean bastard.
That's a pretty strong thing to say.
A fan?
Many people confuse you with Jeong Du Heung, the famous martial arts director.
Cha Hyeon Jeong – Jeong Mal Nyeo
Lots of people thought that you were him.
He has a very common face.
It's Jang Geun Suk's final day on the drama set.
He acts the part of Chang Hui, who is heartbroken...
after letting his love go. Chang Hui gets the director's okay in one take.
He's a nice guy who doesn't forget to thank the crew for all their hard work.
Where are you going now?
Chang Hui can't bring himself to leave even though the shoot's over.
He looks back at the costumes which brings back memories.
This is the hat I wore.
This is the one.
I haven't wore this in such a long time.
I wore this hat a lot during the first half of the series.
This is something I wore as king.
There's a dragon embroidered on the chest. It's a large, golden dragon.
There are three of them,
but to us, this doesn't look like a dragon's face but a monkey's face.
That's why people called me the Monkey King on the set.
This doesn't look like a dragon at all, more like a monkey.
This is the Yamyeongbong Staff.
It's something that only the leader of the Hwal Bin Dang carries around.
I'm Hong Gil Dong, the leader of the Hwal Bin Dang.
Where are you suddenly running off to?
I've prepared a small present for the cast and crew.
Follow me.
They're shooting over there, so they probably don't know.
What's a pizza truck doing on the set?
Oh! So pizza is the surprise present!
He's ordered pizza for the entire cast and crew.
He's such a nice guy.
Geun Suk puts on a costume in order to present his gifts, and rushes to the set.
- Enjoy the pizza. - Thanks.
- Do you like pizza? - I love it.
- Enjoy. - Thanks.
- Here, take one. - Okay.
- Have a pizza, Director. - Is this a bribe?
No, it isn't.
What's this?
You're all so lucky. I wish I could have a bite.
We didn't know that the king liked to eat pizza.
The cast and crew worked ceaselessly for eight months to shoot the drama.
Here are some unforgettable memories.
Cold
The cold was the biggest obstacle for the cast and crew.
They had to endure the cold wherever they went.
The cast and crew had to brave strong winds as well.
They suffered quite a bit.
The ocean wind in Sokcho was especially cold.
The weather's quite cold, isn't it?
It's very cold and the wind is blowing hard.
The wind is making it especially cold.
Why not shoot indoors? Why come outside to shoot?
The writers insisted that we shoot outside.
I wish I were back home, all warm and cozy.
So, how's the weather in Tae-an?
It's so cold.
That is so embarrassing.
Don't you feel embarrassed hiding behind a woman like that?
The cast can only rely on this small heater for warmth. They must be so cold.
The cold has made our star, Hong Gil Dong, blow smoke like Godzilla.
The temperature must be below freezing,
but Chang Hui must bare his stomach to shoot the scene.
That's freezing!
That small heater's hardly going to be enough.
He'll have to endure it with his youthful vigor.
Yi Nok falls asleep in between the shoots.
She could freeze to death like that.
It's so cold that wine will freeze as soon as you pour it.
That's why I feel completely out of it right now.
To make matters worse, it even starts snowing.
They stop shooting because of the snow.
The cast and the crew are worried sick.
Am I right, Director?
But they can't give up.
They change the script and push through with the shoot.
Su Keon wails, lying on the ground.
It's a sad scene which brings everyone to tears.
- Aren't you cold? - I feel like I'm freezing to death.
I'm so wet.
You're completely drenched.
I'm sorry for laughing.
Finally the snow stops and the crew gets busy.
They use brooms to sweep away the snow.
We have a very tight schedule, and we have to clear the snow quickly.
Hong Gil Dong crew, fighting!
Wirework
During the eight months of shooting, wirework action was another thing that...
made things difficult for the cast and crew.
The crew received martial arts training in summer
and performed their own action scenes.
So there were many injuries.
But the cast and crew worked even harder filming the action scenes.
As the story progressed, the action scenes became more and more intense.
Oh my god.
What in the world is that enormous machine?
We're going to shoot a wirework scene where two people jump over a fence at once.
Gil Dong and Mal Nyeo jump at the same time.
Yi Nok also tries her hand at wirework action.
She almost bumps into a tree.
Let's hope that our lovely Yi Nok doesn't get hurt.
She attempts it one more time.
The third time proves to be the charm.
Raise it higher, raise it higher.
Almost hit the tree
Take her down slowly.
How does it feel?
It was fun.
Gil Dong has the most wirework scenes.
He jumps while performing a back flip, but keeps messing up.
A bad landing could lead to head injury.
But this doesn't stop him.
Our hero wants to try it again.
Now are you satisfied?
Now, let's take a look at the scenes that they worked so hard to shoot.
The actors and crew hard at work to film a good scene
Companions
The cast and the crew spent eight long months together.
They saw each other more frequently than family.
They joked around whenever they could, and the set was always full of laughter.
I hope they can get a picture of her with her eyes half closed.
What game did the cast find most fun? Mimicking the director.
Now, let's see if he really sounds like that.
Wow, they are exactly the same.
Who can forget the snacks?
On the menu today is roasted fish jerky.
Geun Suk roasts the fish jerky on a heater.
You don't look very warrior-like sitting there.
We're shooting in Sokcho.
Sokcho is famous for its fish jerky and cuttlefish.
So we bought some to eat, and we're roasting it over the heater.
The "Tell Me Dance" was popular with the cast and crew.
Everyone was busy trying to learn the dance.
That even included our hero, Gil Dong.
Even Gil Dong learns the Tell Me dance
It seems that all Gil Dong did in his spare time was practice the dance.
Dancing during every gap in filming!!!
From wire skill to dance skill
What's Chang Hui doing next to Yi Nok instead of Gil Dong?
Are they having an affair?
We're always like this.
Whenever I take a seat,
Yuri sits next to me as if that was only natural.
I wish she'd stop following me around.
Is that the truth?
He has a youthful energy that I want to take from him.
I'm yours.
We'd like to thank the cast and crew for all their hard work and effort.
You brought us so much joy.
I bet you have so much to say today.
You prepared and shot the drama for eight long months.
It must've been a very meaningful experience.
Next, I'd like to ask Kwang Ji Hwan…
- That's your name, isn't it? - It's Kang Ji Hwan.
You don't even know his name!
It's just that I have a slight accent.
- I apologize. - It's all right.
Kwang Ji Hwan…
Hyeon Mu, you should take over.
- It's Kang Ji Hwan. - What did I say?
- You said Kwang Ji Hwan. - I am sorry.
Anyway, it must've been a special experience for Ji Hwan.
What does the drama mean to you?
I ate bibimbap for lunch today.
Since the drama is a fusion period drama, a hodgepodge of various different things…
Why is everyone laughing?
Let's hear him out.
Since it's a hodgepodge of different genres, like bibimbap with different ingredients,
I'd say it's like bibimbap to me.
Since it is a mixture of different elements?
Did you by chance prepare your answer ahead?
- Not at all. - I see.
But I've heard that statement somewhere.
What do you think, Yuri?
What does the drama mean to you?
"Hong Gil Dong, the Hero"... is like a birthday cake to me.
That sounds like an impromptu.
Why a birthday cake?
A very special drama to me... Like a birthday cake that you receive only on special days.
- Wow! Sounds cool. - It's cool.
Next, I'd like to ask Park San Guk. What did it mean to you?
"Hong Gil Dong, the Hero" is crazy.
You realize the director is sitting in front of you, don't you?
When I say "crazy," of course you can take that to mean crazy like a lunatic.
But I'm using the word "crazy" as a compliment.
If you consider the weather, shooting environment, and hardship we went through,
it's a drama you couldn't shoot unless you were half crazy about it.
Our director was crazy about the drama and his work. Weren't you, Director?
And he worked on it as passionately as if he were completely crazy.
Jeong Seop, do you like the "crazy" description that he used?
- Well… - He's blushing a little.
I was crazy.
If I wasn't,
I couldn't have worked on the drama like that for six months.
So he's saying he put in immense effort to shoot the drama.
I would say this drama was like a comedy competition.
I mean, in order to raise everyone's spirits,
we would all mimic each other on the set.
As you know, I'm originally a comedian, not an actor.
And my pride was hurt often because everyone was funnier than me.
Who was the funniest?
Geun Suk has his head down and is chuckling.
- He wants to show us something. - No, I don't.
Tell us the truth.
- You want to mimic someone for us, right? - Try mimicking Gwang Hui!
He's going to mimic Gwang Hui.
Played by Hui Bong.
The questions are over!
Where is Chang Hui? Give him to me!
I really don't like showing people this.
Okay. Since everyone is here for the final time,
I'll try it and cover my face, so listen to my voice.
The questions are over! Where is Chang Hui? Give him to me!
He sounds like him.
That sounded exactly the same.
But Hui Bong doesn't seem too pleased with Geun Suk's impression of him.
I'm surprised because I thought he'd mimic Kang Ji Hwan like he always does.
Can you do an impression of Kang Ji Hwan?
Go ahead and try it.
Let's stop with the impressions after this one.
Who am I? I'm Hong Gil Dong.
That was uncanny.
How's that the same?
- Try it again. - Yeah.
Let's compare!
You stupid thieves. Get out of here if you don't want to die!
Do another impression.
You stupid thieves. Get out of here if you don't want to die!
It's really similar.
He sounded exactly the same!
He's got that slightly arrogant tone in his voice like Gil Dong.
You must be quite close to each other to do impressions of one another.
Se Chang, who played Gomi, does impressions of Yi Nok.
Maeng Se Chang – Gomi
You guys mimic each other a lot.
- They work well together. - Se Yun's very good at mimicking Geun Suk.
- Then you try it, too. - Really?
Then Se Yun can play Chang Hui and Se Chang can play Yuri.
We'll do a scene where Chang Hui is worried about Yi Nok and runs to her.
They've practiced this millions of times.
It's this scene
Are you all right?
I'm all right.
Are you all right?
Chang Hui, I'm all right.
They've really practiced this a lot
I was worried that I'd lose you.
I'm all right. I'm faster than an arrow, you know.
If you ever scare me again, I'll be the one to kill you.
Let's take a look at the bloopers from "Hong Gil Dong, the Hero"!
Here are some bloopers made by Gil Dong.
Yi Nok feels jealous of Eun Hye
Gil Dong eats his soup without paying attention
He takes a sip of the broth…
Are you jealous?
Gil Dong gets a face full of rice
Are you jealous?
Gil Dong gets another face full of rice
I'll stay calm
But Yi Nok stammers
I kept my cool through the big one, I should've kept calm a little longer...
Gil Dong makes an incredible landing
But…
Ah, life is hard...
Slam!
But he gets up again and walks off nonchalantly...
Are you all right?
- Ow, that really hurts - Is the wood okay?
Yi Nok looks for the pouch she made
She first checks to see if Gil Dong's asleep...
and begins looking for the pouch...
Grope
Don't laugh...
More groping
Ha!
This feels weird~
It's weirder for me~
The action scenes are so difficult!
Gil Dong uses a staff for this spectacular scene
He blocks and kicks, and lets go of the staff...
I'm sorry.
I won't let go next time
It's his second attempt
The brilliant action scene is played out~
He completes the spin…
but loses the staff again
I really can't let go next time!!
The third attempt
His expression is even more serious
They act out the fight scene again~
And the staff flies off…
Lost it again We'll be here all day...
It's a fight scene between Yeon and the soldiers
And he spins around...
and slips~
Aren't I flexible?
The Hwal Bin Dang and Gil Dong fight for the first time
Yeon's hit in the face
- Does it hurt? I hurt too... - Ah, ouch...
Mal Nyeo attacks Gil Dong
But the attack doesn't go well...
and Mal Nyeo ends up on her back
Gil Dong rolls her around
She's not supposed to fall...
What happened?
Mal Nyeo can't seem to get out
They lift her out and unfurl her
- Was I funny? - You're a hit
Chang Hui and Chi Su ride on horses
Chang Hui says a line on his horse~
Chi Su wears a serious expression~
But they are sitting on ladders?
Ladders are scary too~
Cute and adorable Yi Nok; even her mistakes are cute.
Yi Nok takes care of Chang Hui who is hurt
Chang Hui faints
She slaps Chang Hui
Yi Nok keeps slapping him
She could stop hitting me...
She keeps hitting him...
Yi Nok~ What are you doing~
Yi Nok doesn't want to study
Were you scolded again?
Was that all right? That really hurt~
Yi Nok tries to comfort Gil Dong
What a cute gesture~
Gil Dong says his line~
But!
What's wrong with me~
Yi Nok gives Gil Dong the taffy she was eating!
Gil Dong realizes that the taffy was in the creek~
And spits it back out
She pops the taffy that Gil Dong was eating into her mouth~
Yi Nok tries hard to get Gil Dong to eat her taffy
Eat it!
I'll get you to eat it somehow~
Thanks to the interesting characters and the plot twists in the drama,
there were tons of viewer comments posted in the drama's website.
That's why we prepared the next segment.
It's the Hong Gil Dong Viewers' Comment Talk!
It's time for the Hong Gil Dong Viewers' Comment Talk.
We'll ask the cast questions,
based on viewers' comments posted on the drama's website.
We chose the most interesting comments from the countless comments posted.
We're looking forward to hearing some frank answers.
I'll ask the first question.
The secret to Ji Hwan's muscular body is four layers of long johns?
What does this mean? Did you wear four layers of long johns?
This is a comment that a viewer actually posted.
We shot a lot in the mountains, and we filmed outdoors all day without heating,
so the cold was our greatest enemy.
That's why most of the cast and I wore
3-4 layers of long johns, underneath our costumes.
I see. Since you shot all day in the mountains,
your clothes look very thick even now.
But are you really muscular?
Yes.
Well, there's no way to confirm that.
We showered together at the action school and he's really muscular.
- Really? - He's almost as muscular as me.
What?
He's talking about himself.
Everyone's boasting about themselves today.
Yes, no kidding.
Anyway, the atmosphere must've been quite cheerful on the set.
Another viewer commented that,
fragile-looking Yuri really has an enormous appetite.
Do you have a big appetite?
I do have a big appetite.
But it's not as big as Yi Nok's.
We had to roam the fields and mountains shooting for six months,
so I ate more than usual.
- You became obsessed with food? - Yes, I did.
If I heard the rustle of someone opening a bag of chips,
my head would turn in that direction.
Has anyone seen Yuri acting out her obsession with food?
Yes, Hui Bong.
Well, I did receive a little help from her.
- What kind of help? - I forgot to bring my lunch to a shoot.
Lunchtime came around,
but I couldn't go out to buy my lunch in my costume.
So I decided to skip that meal.
Meanwhile, Yuri ordered pork cutlets with members of the crew,
and had this gigantic pork cutlet in front of her.
So I inched next to her and she said,
"Oppa, there is kimbap* over there." (*rice rolls)
So she told you to eat kimbap? She won't give you her pork cutlet?
She told him to eat kimbap.
- That's why I ate the kimbap. - But she wouldn't let you touch her food?
That's not it.
- That's mean. - That's not it!
- That's how she is. - That's not it.
I couldn't give him what I was eating, so I pointed out the kimbap to him.
You could have cut a little of your pork cutlet for him.
The kimbap was so bland,
and I wish I could at least dip it in the pork cutlet sauce.
That must have been a traumatic experience.
- And he's the king, no less! - It was a traumatic experience.
I see.
Now for the next viewer's comment.
Jang Geun Suk and Yuri are practically sisters.
Does Geun Suk look that feminine?
- Do I look that feminine? - Yes.
Then have any of the male cast members...
felt momentarily attached to Geun Suk because he looks so pretty?
- Male cast members? - Yes.
Yes, Jae Seung?
He suddenly raises his hands.
So you felt momentarily attracted to Geun Suk?
- Yes, and I almost slugged him for it. - Why?
Because he's so darn good-looking.
Once, we were playing soccer together at the action school...
when all of the sudden, he turned to me all sweaty...
and told me to pass the ball to him.
Man, he was so good-looking.
- How can you feel attracted to a guy? - I didn't feel attracted to him.
It was just he was so good-looking that I wanted to slug him one.
- You misunderstood what I'm saying. - From what I heard,
Jae Seung gave Geun Suk chocolate for Valentine's Day.
Did you tell him that?
I'm just saying he is good-looking, that's all.
I didn't think he was so frank.
He's saying how good-looking Geun Suk is.
Now to the next comment.
This is something I mentioned earlier.
Doesn't Hui Bong resemble martial arts director Jeong Du Heung?
And people also say he looks a little like the soccer player Yi Yeong Pyo.
Only, with a slightly longer face.
- So that's what the viewer said? - Yes. Verbatim.
You should ask him how many people he resembles.
- Are there more people? - There must be quite a few.
Well…
They are all successful people in their respective fields...
and I'm going to do my best to live up to my face.
We're asking you who you resemble.
So you're saying that you're going to play for the English Premier League?
No kidding.
I heard Yi Yeong Pyo saying that he was only truly happy out on the soccer field.
They're asking who you resemble, so stop drifting off!
Who do you resemble?
Give me Chang Hui!
What are you talking about out on the soccer field?
Then between Yi Yeong Pyo, martial arts director Jeong Du Heung, and yourself,
who do you think is the most handsome?
Well, you know how people are…
Why do you keep straying from the question? Just answer it!
The drama stirred new excitement through its new attempts.
Let's try analyzing the secrets of the drama's success.
Here's the first secret.
Characters which are uncharacteristic for period dramas.
Hong Gil Dong is a comic fusion drama and the characters are comic as well.
Differing from the traditional story of Hong Gil Dong,
at the start, he is a slacker...
who likes going to the bordello.
His curly hair and sunglasses give him a unique look.
He causes trouble wherever he goes, so everyone gets out of his way.
The worst thing you can say to a person is that you're just like Hong Gil Dong.
A slacker and neighborhood thug,
he steals everything he wants and even extorts money.
He captivates the viewers with his comic and disarming charm.
There's never been a character like her.
A complete departure from the usual prim and proper female characters in period dramas.
Heo Yi Nok is a girl with a ceaseless appetite.
This isn't enough for two people to eat.
I've never been full in my life.
Yi Nok cannot control her ravenous appetite and eats whatever and whenever she can.
Her life's mission is to eat as much as possible.
She is also completely stupid and doesn't hesitate to throw childish tantrums.
Even worse, she sings at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night,
bathes in the middle of a creek,
and even does the unthinkable in the water.
Yi Nok is always very frank with her emotions.
Are you really following me around?
Misconstruing the situation is her speciality.
It's not like we've seen each other that many times.
I love you, Gil Dong.
She's a simple and frank character.
As the only legitimate heir to the throne,
Chang Hui is a lonely and charismatic figure.
That's something a subject must never say to his king!
He has a silent personality and wears long wavy hair,
which he complements with a series of bamboo hats.
He always poses, showing off his chiseled face.
Chang Hui has an odd way of confessing his feelings for Yi Nok.
You're such a strange person.
You're so clueless.
Sometimes, you seem so stupid.
Chang Hui is usually so silent, and doesn't express himself frankly,
while Gil Dong keeps harassing Yi Nok.
I don't like either type. I like men who are more tender and kind.
Now let's take a look at the structure of their brains.
All Gil Dong thinks about is Yi Nok, while aside from Gil Dong,
Yi Nok is also thinking about her dead cobra and bread,
while Chang Hui's brain is full of the Sa Yin Sword and silk clothes.
Here's the second secret behind Hong Gil Dong's popularity.
It's the drama's eclectic style that transcends time.
The drama is full of modern elements.
There are flashing strobe lights in the traditional bordello...
as well as dancers who dance in a sexy manner.
They also play a sport reminiscent of golf.
After the ball drops into the hole, they shout…
They even shout the same "Nice shot!" cheers.
The chat behind the folding screen was truly ingenious.
They converse by pointing out characters on the screen,
and the conversation was expressed through text messages.
You surprised me.
What's up with the clothes?
Why? Do they look strange?
This was how the scene was played out.
This is fun!
Another charm of the drama was the use of cartoonish humor and imagery.
The cartoonish depiction of Gil Dong's superpowers.
There's nothing he couldn't change into.
The scene where Joseon and Chinese ghosts were compared was fresh.
The drama's cartoonish humor helped it transcend limits of traditional dramas.
Here's the third secret behind Hong Gil Dong's success.
Social satire and parody.
Here is the sedan chair scene which satirized corrupt officials.
You've purchased a new sedan chair?
I know that I should ride in a domestically manufactured sedan chair,
but this gives such a smooth ride.
It's beautiful.
It's light, agile, and lightning fast.
I wish we could purchase a sedan chair from China.
It also criticized high-interest loan ads.
The interest is equally low. We lend money to anyone!
Since he became famous, he's starring in those darn high-interest loan ads!
- The interest is really cheap! - Don't you do that, you rascal!
It also criticized the military draft dodgers.
From now, even aristocrats will be drafted!
If you can dodge the draft just because you're rich and powerful,
only the weak and the poor will have to defend this country.
Minister of Defense, please exempt me.
I have diabetes.
l have a sprained hamstring.
I'm crazy.
What?!
Next, it satirizes Korea's obsession with English education.
It's not easy to learn a foreign language.
I was thinking that they should teach in the Chinese language in schools.
And they should use Chinese in all government offices.
What do you think?
Hong Gil Dong, a fusion period drama, took dramas to a new and unprecedented direction.
But there were also things about the drama that could have been better.
Kang Myung Seok (popular culture critic)
I think Hong Gil Dong contains the nihilism and confusion of the younger generation.
It shows that no matter how enlightened you become and how hard you work,
you can't overcome your circumstances.
Thus, it shows the nihilistic attitude of our teens and people in their twenties.
Are there other parts of the drama that you thought could be better?
When Gil Dong does something, Chang Hui talks about it and interprets that action.
But that interpretation is too one-sided and tells the story from one perspective.
I think they could have taken a more rounded...
approach in their criticism of social issues,
instead of making it black and white, the good guy versus the bad guy.
"Hong Gil Dong, the Hero" was created
through the effort and hard work of countless people.
Even though the drama is over, it will live on forever in our hearts.
- Yuri? - Yes?
Jia you! (Go for it)
Jia you.
She seems uncomfortable.
How can I make that sound a little more natural?
You made the phrase famous.
You just have to say it as cheerfully as possible. Jia you!
It became quite a famous catch phrase.
What does it mean?
It means "Go for it."
I'm a fan of badminton, and I often attend international competitions.
And the Chinese supporters are almost invariably there.
They beat their thunder sticks and say something which I didn't understand.
But I found out through Hong Gil Dong that they were saying "Jia you."
Go for it?
"Jia you! Jia you!"
Excuse me, but you're not by any chance drunk, are you?
- He's just so enthusiastic. - I guess so.
There must have been quarrels among the cast members as well.
People who are close rely too much on each other and tend to be hurt easily.
I bet Yuri, Ji Hwan, and Geun Suk, who spent eight months together,
have lots to say about each other and things they want to know about each other.
Next, it's time for "Behind the Scenes Interview"!
We'll ask all three of you a question, so answer as frankly as possible.
If you think the person isn't being frank and thinking about their image too much,
feel free to interject and tell us the truth.
That's right.
Now, here's the first question.
You had ulterior motives when you agreed to play your character.
Kang Ji Hwan, we heard you took the part without hesitation...
when you found you'd be starring opposite Yuri.
That rumor is really popular.
Tell us the truth.
It's the hottest topic of conversation on the Net.
I didn't agree because of Yuri.
I was actually cast before her.
As the PD was choosing the main female role, he had one or two people in mind.
That's when I mentioned that I'd love to act with FinKL's Sung Yuri.
Because we'd be acting in the drama for six months, or over half a year,
I wanted to act opposite a person that I had such a crush on for so long.
That's why I said that to the director.
So you were a big fan of Yuri?
But I bet you stopped being a fan when you saw her big appetite.
I bet Jae Seung also jumped at the chance of starring with Geun Suk.
I bet he didn't think twice about it.
He just wanted to be in the same place as him.
He just wanted to watch him from afar.
He came straight to the action school.
Geun Suk and I starred together in another show and I'd known him for a long time.
- That's when you fell in love with him? - So it's an old crush!
It made me feel at ease around him. That's all I'm trying to say.
I see. I hope things work out for you two.
We wish you luck.
This is what I'd like to know.
We were on a really tight schedule for eight months.
- That's right. - Yes.
Of course.
We didn't sleep much, and we didn't have enough to eat.
It was a very taxing schedule,
and I am wondering how everyone avoided skin problems.
We didn't get much sleep as we were filming from early morning.
And we didn't have enough time to take care of our skin.
That's why my skin became really bad during the shoot.
Hearing that, Jae Seung seems to be on the verge of tears.
He'd give up his skin for you.
But Ji Hwan and Yuri had such great skin...
even when they were captured up close and on high definition.
- It seemed their skin glowed. - Their skin glowed?
I heard that Ji Hwan uses a set of five different cosmetics.
- Actually, it's seven. - Oh, seven?!
- How did you hear about it? - So it's true?
His skin was practically glowing. It was dazzling.
I've not seen such complexion before,
so I asked how he took care of his skin. He told me…
that he used seven different kinds of cosmetics.
What cosmetics do you use?
Well… I originally used a set of five,
but Choe Ran gave me another two from her Internet shopping site.
They were for eliminating wrinkles.
She gave me the cosmetics saying they were,
the most popular products on her site.
So, aside from the set of five,
I used them whenever I could.
He's very high maintenance.
Did you ever feel hurt by the cast or crew, Lina?
I never felt hurt. I just feel so grateful to everyone.
But I heard that the director was quite hard on you.
That the director beat you up.
He did scold me a lot.
This is my first drama and I had lots of difficulties.
But he taught me so many things and helped me out immensely.
Also, at the start, Gil Dong oppa threatened me a lot and told me to prepare thoroughly.
That's why I prepared as much as possible, but I was still new to acting...
and everyone around me helped me adjust and be successful.
Have you ever had wicked thoughts during your kissing scenes?
- How about you, Geun Suk? - Why are you pointing to us?
San Guk?
We didn't do anything wrong.
Were you attracted to Hyeon Jeong during the kissing scenes, San Guk?
We were actually married on screen and I had some thoughts.
There was a kissing scene.
But before they shot it, he had some time off.
Usually, people will brush their teeth before a kissing scene.
But to prepare for the scene, he took a bath.
But it was only a kissing scene!
It wasn't like he was preparing for a sex scene.
So he took a bath and his hair was glowing. That's how he prepared.
But he forgot to do the most important thing.
He forgot to brush his teeth.
- So he only took a bath? - That's right.
Maybe he thought he was going to shoot an intimate scene?
I somehow felt the urge to take a shower before the kissing scene.
Was that your first on-screen kiss?
On small screen, yes.
But I did do a bed scene in a movie and maybe it was force of habit.
So you were used to taking a shower?
There's a wedding scene, and even though there wasn't a kiss in the script,
the director insisted that they kiss and his face turned red.
Ji Hwan always turns red when he kisses on-screen.
But couples kissed in the scene.
How?
After we kissed, everyone started chanting, "Kiss. Kiss." So the two kissed...
And Ji Hwan's face turned all red.
It was like he had something else on his mind.
I see.
- Is that really the truth? - Did you have ulterior motives?
Well, actually, in Korea, when people kiss in the dramas,
it's usually a peck on the lips.
But I felt so tired and I wanted to really give her a deep kiss.
What the heck?
And my face flushed with anger,
because all I could do was give her a peck.
- It wasn't because I felt embarrassed. - So your face was flushed with anger?
How was it for you, Geun Suk? I remember you kissed Yuri on-screen.
- Yes. There was an on-screen kiss. - You kissed on-screen.
It pulled the heart-strings of our female viewers.
Although I haven't really kissed much on-screen,
I think that each on-screen kiss should be full of emotion.
As Ji Hwan stated, I think it's meaningless...
for the actors to just peck each other on the lips like we do in Korea.
Then you should just star in a movie.
- Anyway… - I know what you mean.
It looks a little too dry.
That's why in my case, when I kissed Yuri,
I didn't just touch her lips with my lips, but I stuck out my lips slightly.
So you stuck out your lips?
It was a scene where I stole a kiss from Yuri while she was asleep.
At that moment, Chang Hui was deeply in love with Yi Nok,
but he couldn't express his love for her, so the kiss had to be full of longing.
That's why I stuck out my lips and she was taken slightly aback.
Your lips seem to be thicker in the scene.
Why does Jae Seung look so depressed right now?
He's staring off into space.
We've asked all the questions that we've prepared.
Now, is there anything that you would like to ask the other cast members?
This is something that I'd like to ask Hui Bong.
The entire cast and crew were wearing layers and layers of long johns.
The set was freezing cold.
But you had to shoot with your torso half bare for hours and hours.
- Yet you never asked for a costume change. - That's strange.
And you never asked to be allowed to close your robe.
So my question is, how were you able to bear it for hours with your robe open?
This is the first costume I received.
This was how it was and I even had a band around my waist.
But this didn't look crazy enough.
Since you played the mad tyrant?
It looked so stuffy and so strait-laced. That's why I opened my robe.
But the place where I did that was very warm.
But as I entered the set step by step,
it was freezing.
But not much time had passed and we had rehearsed the scene, so I tried to bear it.
But sometimes, the shooting went on for hours.
And sometimes, we stayed up all night shooting.
That's when I thought about that old saying,
"The first step is always the most important one."
I started off wrong.
You should have worn a warm costume to begin with?
I suffered so much because of that.
That's too bad.
No kidding.
Sometimes he flew into a rage, other times he seemed as innocent as a child.
There's never been a king like this before.
Jo Hui Bong's performance of Gwang Hui was a true tour de force.
He's the greatest supporting actor of our age.
A tyrant that you could not hate!
Here's Jo Hui Bong!
Hello!
Hi.
Just dashing!
Jo Hui Bong (born in 1971)
- You look dashing in the suit. - Thank you.
- Are those your clothes? - No.
- They're borrowed? - They're borrowed.
- So you'll have to return them? - Exactly.
Like Gwang Hui in the drama, you have your shirt partly unbuttoned.
You look great today.
Why don't you show the female fans of the drama your bare chest?
- Here? - Of course.
- Really? - For old times' sake.
You're Gwang Hui, aren't you?
The undiscovered gem of an actor Jo Hui Bong takes off his veil
Gwang Hui was a mad tyrant.
So, what were the challenges of portraying him?
I couldn't figure out how to say, "I command," in the beginning.
How did you say it?
I didn't want to say it like the other actors on television.
I wanted to give it my unique imprint.
But saying, "I command," sounds strange.
- You sound like Kim Guk Jin. - That's right.
"I command" sounds so weird,
and I had a difficult time with it at the beginning.
So how did you do it in the end?
Could you say it for us one more time?
It's really difficult.
I'll give you some time to get into the mood.
- I'm ready. - Then go ahead.
- I just do it without thinking. - So you can do it right away?
Thinking too much will make it all the more difficult.
Then go ahead.
"I command."
Like that?
There's something unusual about this guy
Gwang Hui's best scenes
You wept in the scene where the Interior Minister died.
People were very moved by the scene.
- Were you really crying then? - Sometimes.
What do you mean by that?
Well… To shoot a scene like that, it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.
But I can''t keep crying for two hours straight, right?
It's impossible to do that.
I actually did really cry at the very beginning.
I was really emotional. So I cried.
But they caught it on full shot. They shot it from afar.
- Even though you were really crying? - Yes.
I looked like a dot on screen.
- I couldn't bring myself to cry after that. - I see.
- You couldn't keep crying. - But I'm a serious actor.
Serious
So, what do you think is your most charming feature?
Well, people usually look at my face and think that it looks ferocious.
But when they talk to me, and look me in the eye,
they say that I seem very gentle and mild.
I think that's my greatest charm.
But the funny thing is, you know how people get into arguments when they're drunk?
People will avoid getting into arguments with me.
I see. But the thing is, when I look at you,
you don't seem very mean-spirited at all.
Of course not.
You look like someone from the provinces,
who had to overcome difficult circumstances...
in order to get to where you are.
But later I found out that it's quite the opposite.
I grew up in very affluent surroundings.
And you were class president in your senior year?
- Yes. - I see.
I was a little surprised.
Doesn't this surprise other people around you as well?
People laugh a lot when they hear that. So I don't tell people that anymore.
People laugh when I say I was born in Seoul and grew up in an affluent neighborhood.
They laugh in disbelief?
- They can't believe I was class president. - So they laugh?
Yes. They just can't believe it.
Another thing that people don't believe is that you and Park Yong Wu are the same age.
Yes. I look a lot younger than him, but we're the same age.
Do you take care of your skin?
I do take care of my skin, but people don't believe me.
- Do you really? - Yes. I do my best to take care of it.
I heard your father was against you becoming an actor.
He acted the way any father would act.
I heard you put in much effort to persuade him.
Yes.
When I decided that I wanted to become an actor,
I stayed up all night and wrote a letter.
- A long one? - Yes. About 4 or 5 pages long.
And at the end I wrote, "Your son beseeches you with tears flowing from his eyes."
And because I couldn't bring myself to cry,
I dipped my pen in water.
At the end of the letter?
And put drops of water on the page and tipped it like this.
Then I dried the tears...
and gave it to my father when he was going to work.
- Your father must've read the letter. - Yes. He read it at work.
And that evening, in response to what I had asked him in the letter, he said...
he would support me with a weekly allowance for three years.
But he would cut off the support after that, so I had to make it by then.
That's how I started out.
- So you received his permission? - That's right.
Does your father know that the tears were fake?
He does now.
What do you want people to say when they see you in the future?
How do you want them to react?
I want people to say, "Huh!"
Is that how you want them to react when they see you in the future?
For example, let's say that I'm a waiter here.
He'll say, "Here's your coffee, sir."
I'll pretend I'm you.
- They usually walk off after that. - That's right.
But instead of leaving, the waiter will look back at me like this.
That's the kind of actor I want to become.
After this, our viewers can't see Gwang Hui's character, that lovable tyrant, again.
So could you use his voice and say a final goodbye to our viewers?
- Do you need time to get into the mood? - That won't be necessary.
Thank you for all your love and support.
Jo Hui Bong is an actor who's always changing.
We hope he continues to take on new challenges.
Now, it's time to end our 70-minute Hong Gil Dong Special.
- That's right. - Yes.
After this, the cast will never put on those costumes again.
And they'll have to say goodbye to the characters they played for six months.
And they'll have to take off their long johns.
Why don't each of you say goodbye to our viewers?
It seems like the six months would never end, but they finally did.
First, I'd like to thank the cast and crew for working so hard.
And I'm grateful no one was seriously hurt despite the many action scenes that we shot.
I'm grateful to our viewers for giving us so much of their love and support.
We'll see you again in other dramas and movies.
Thank you for your support.
How about you, Yuri?
I put all my energy into my character for the past six months.
But for the first time in my career, there was a synergy effect among the entire cast.
So it was a wonderful experience for me.
So you needed all that food to keep going?
Is that it?
I did put in a lot of energy into my part,
and I did have to eat a lot to get all that energy.
Thank you for everything. This has been an unforgettable experience for me.
Now, why don't we hear a word from the director?
After we started shooting…
He sounds sad.
There is a reason for that.
The show aired for three months.
In that three months, I only gave the cast and crew,
about ten days off to go back home.
They only spent ten days at home and I feel bad about that.
He was so passionate about the project and that's why he's so emotional.
Let's all give him a round of applause.
He's both sorry and grateful.
His tears say everything.
I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to be here.
I hope the viewers out there had fun today.
It's finally time to say goodbye.
Goodbye and thank you for joining us.
Hello, I'm Tae Yeon from Girls' Generation.
Finally, the long saga of "Hong Gil Dong, the Hero" has come to an end.
I'm sure that you've seen the show.
Each episode was full of not-to-be-missed, precious moments.
That's why I've prepared a list of the five best moments in the drama.
Let's take a look.
Here are the five best scenes from "Hong Gil Dong, the Hero."
Here is No. 5.
Gil Dong and Hwal Bin Dang come to seize the opium
You have to protect the people.
Hearing this, Chang Hui starts to act against the guild's warrior
Following orders by Madam Noh, a warrior from the guild shoots an arrow at Gil Dong.
But Chang Hui gets in the way of the arrow...
just in the nick of time.
Here's the fourth best scene from the list.
Grandpa!
Blood!
Why is there so much blood?
Old Man Heo is killed as he tries to protect Yi Nok from the Interior Minister.
Open your eyes, Grandpa! Open your eyes!
You're hurt because of me.
What am I to do?
It's all my fault…
Grandpa.
Grandpa!
The scene that earned Sung Yuri praise for her rediscovery as an actor
Yuri's powerful acting was great.
Here's No. 3 on the list.
Chang Hui's unrequited love for Yi Nok moved female audiences all over the world.
Gil Dong…
His heart breaks to see Yi Nok searching for Gil Dong even in sleep...
Yi Nok.
Please look at me.
Look at me just once.
Here's No. 2 out of the best scenes from "Hong Gil Dong, the Hero."
I'm sorry that I couldn't stay by your side until the very end.
His loyalty to the king is evident even as he drinks poison
My son…
My son must be looking at me.
The sudden expression of love for Gil Dong moved many people to tears.
Father…
Here's the scene at the top of the list.
Yi Nok is such a charming and adorable character.
Let's take a look.
Let's go to China together.
Asking her to go to China together shows Gil Dong's feelings for her
Yi Nok, pleased but shy at his words
We'll have to receive your grandfather's permission first.
No. I already got his permission.
Gil Dong, you don't have to catch anymore tigers because I've made lots of money.
I'm glad I asked you to come along.
I feel so embarrassed.
I love you, Gil Dong.
She even succeeds in her love confession
What are you talking about?
I'll tell you in China.
Those were the five best scenes chosen by you, the viewers.
Even though the drama is over, it will always live on in our hearts.