Gil Dong,
have you heard of the Mighty Child?
I have never heard of that.
He was strong like a bear and quick like a tiger.
No matter how much he got hurt, he got better overnight.
He was like a general.
A Mighty Child cannot hold back.
That is why he is dangerous.
What happens if he cannot hold back?
Everyone dies.
The Mighty Child dies.
His father, mother, and brothers...
will all die with him.
Who kills them?
His Majesty.
(Winter of 1505)
(11th year of King Yeonsan's reign)
I like the scent.
He came to see me.
Hong Gil Dong.
I hear you knew each other...
before you came to the palace.
Ga Ryung.
This is the last warning!
Open the gate...
or I will kill your girl!
If you stop because of me,
I will never see you again!
- Gil Dong! - Gil Dong!
- Gil Dong! - You shouldn't!
Halt!
I have a question for you.
Answer truthfully.
I heard you descended from an exterminated Goryeo royal family.
Is that true?
If not,
I heard you rose up...
because you were angry about your life as the son of a concubine.
Is that true?
Then what is it? Who do you think you are?
I am not the descendant of a Goryeo royal family,
the son of a concubine,
or the son of a fallen noble.
I am just...
my father's son. My father is...
the servant Ah Mo Gae.
That cannot be.
Such a lowly man...
could not have a son like you.
Then why did you become such a lowly man...
when you were born from such a mighty king?
(Hong)
(The Rebel)
(Episode 1)
My father.
He was born of a servant and lived as a servant.
He was called Ah Mo Gae, which means "nameless",
until his death.
I can never forget...
the voice and manner in which he called me.
"Gil Dong." "Gil Dong."
- Do you understand? - Yes, my lord.
My goodness.
You could cause a miscarriage doing that.
Are you pregnant again?
Or do you...
- want us to make another child? - Goodness.
- Someone might see. - Who cares?
What are you doing?
- Let me do it. - Straighten your back for a while.
Right.
Have you heard about Sam Seon's son?
He died suddenly as if he had eaten something bad.
The villagers put the boy in a large crock and buried him.
Apparently, the boy had protruding bones...
on his upper back.
The people say the Mighty Child has died.
That is just nonsense. There is no Mighty Child.
I guess not.
What would you do if I gave birth to the Mighty Child?
Do not be so silly.
- I would get rid of the child. - What? Come on.
Mom, the baby is hungry.
Come to Mom, my child.
Hold on.
No one is watching.
Stand watch for me.
Do not feed him too much.
You will get in trouble if you lack milk.
I will let him suckle only a while.
Ouch. That hurt, little one.
Do not suck too hard.
I have never seen such a strong child before.
Can you come up with a name for our son?
I named him already.
Our master said we cannot name him that.
Here you are.
- Come and feed the young master. - Okay, I will.
Do not let the lady hear that you suckled your child first.
She only let the boy suckle for a short while.
- Take him. - Come with me.
Come along.
Hurry up.
She is coming.
Your meal was cut short and you still will not cry?
Sam Seon's son.
He died suddenly.
Apparently, the boy had protruding bones...
on his upper back.
The people say the Mighty Child has died.
Whatever they say, your name is Gil Dong.
I will not name you Meok Swe or Gae Ddong.
Do not worry.
Gil Dong.
The servants who get to move out this year...
- are Al Ddong and Dae Geun. - Yes, my lord.
Once the harvest is done, I will give you what is in storage.
Increase your fortune.
The annual tribute is three rolls of cotton cloth.
Pardon? Three rolls is too much, my lord.
You get to keep everything else you make.
Mak Gae worked hard to earn a living...
and now he owns three rice paddies.
You are excused.
What is it?
My lord.
You said that this year, I would be allowed to move out.
It is not yet your turn.
You have said for years that I can leave next year.
Next year, I will do whatever it takes to move out.
I do not mind living here.
How can you say that when they steal your milk?
Other servants do just as much for their masters.
Those who starved during the famine...
said they envy us.
If we were to move out,
how would we come up with the tribute?
Living with the master means our children will not starve.
Gil Dong.
- Gil Dong, say, "Father." - Gil Dong.
Gil Dong.
Come outside.
Okay.
Hurry up. We are waiting.
We need rocks to build a wall.
Collect smooth and flat ones.
Do you understand?
- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master.
Go.
Be careful.
Watch out. Be careful.
Gil Dong.
- Watch your head. - Okay.
Go on.
Can we...
- take a rest? - No.
My mom said she boiled me some crusted rice.
He is so mean, is he not?
I wish there were someone else...
to carry this home for me.
Gil Dong.
Gil Dong?
Gil Dong! Gil Dong!
Gil Dong!
Did you sleep well?
- Who carried the rocks? - These, you mean?
- Can I play? - Hey.
You should have told me you would carry my load.
Thank you.
Come along, Gil Dong.
What did he mean?
- Mother. - Which one is it?
Mother.
Hello, Gil Dong.
All right.
- Where is your brother? - He is back, too.
Eob Seon's mother boiled crusted rice.
I want some.
Okay. Once I wipe this clean...
I will give you steamed yams.
I want boiled rice, not yams.
Okay, okay.
All done.
Oh dear.
My goodness.
Oh dear.
Gil Dong.
Go and play with the other boys.
Ah Mo Gae.
Move a crock for me.
You should have come to me sooner.
Did you try already?
- Show me which one. - Okay.
He loves his wife too much.
- Which crock needs moving? - That...
Hold on.
Oh, my. The crock was right here.
Blue sky, crusted rice
- Blue sky, crusted rice - How did this...
get over here?
Crusted rice, please.
Crusted rice.
Here. Eat up.
Eat.
I had fallen asleep...
and Eob Seon carried my load back for me.
He sounds gruff when he speaks...
but he is actually very kind.
I carried the rocks back.
Stop talking such nonsense.
Gil Dong must be a strong man.
Oh dear.
Do not take your father's food.
Little pig.
I am not a pig.
Let me introduce our group.
We are full of energy.
- We are Hwal Ryeok. Go! - Hwal Ryeok. Go!
This man over here is Chil Ddeuk.
He used to be so weak he could barely swallow porridge.
Since he joined Hwal Ryeok,
he grew to become this strong, young man.
Chil Ddeuk.
- Show them your power. - Okay!
Show them.
Are you ready?
Show them.
Go!
Why is Chil Ddeuk so weak?
That is because it is time to take his Hwal Ryeok medication.
Chil Ddeuk, drink up your medication.
There, there, there.
The effects are showing already.
Here it comes, here it comes.
Here it comes!
Did you see that?
That is nothing. Even I could do that.
That is Hwal Ryeok for you.
No way you can do that.
Do it, then.
This time, we shall...
This boy said...
even he can break that log.
What?
- You cannot. - Sorry.
Why did you say that?
It is true.
Where are Gil Hyeon and Gil Dong?
A performing troupe is in town.
They took the young master to watch.
They break huge logs and rocks.
One of them is a strong man.
Really? Can I have more water?
Sure.
Gil Dong said...
he wants to see if he is...
stronger than the strong man.
Yes, I can do it.
Do you really want to break a log?
Why not?
He said, "Why not?"
- Gil Dong. - He is cute.
Kids these days are too brazen.
You little brat.
You little brat!
Why, you little brat.
- You are the size of a booger! - Ever seen a booger this big?
Your breath stinks.
Hey.
Can you really break this?
You bet I can.
Get the real thing.
Let us see how strong he is.
Gil Dong!
- Father. - What are you doing?
He really did it.
- Is he the Mighty Child? - The Mighty Child?
- He is the Mighty Child. - He probably is.
What is this?
You made a crack in the wood.
- And why is the wood so light? - What do you mean?
Is this fake wood?
- It is not true. - This is fake.
They are committing fraud.
Look at this.
This is fake.
With this fake wood,
even this child can easily break it.
Let us go.
That is not true.
That cannot be true.
No, this wood...
This wood is real.
I promise you that the wood was real.
This is unfair.
Is he the Mighty Child?
My legs hurt.
I said my legs hurt.
Master, ride on my back.
All right.
I told you. It is impossible for you to break the wood.
- It is impossible. - I could do it.
No, you could not. Stop lying.
Gil Eun.
Gil Dong, be quiet.
Why are you not sleeping?
Is something troubling you?
I used to be really strong when I was young.
You are still the strongest in the village.
I was really strong.
The head of the village...
used to tell my mother that my strength would bring...
misfortune to the village.
Were you as strong as the Mighty Child?
Perhaps?
I do not know.
Somehow,
that strength all disappeared.
Maybe the strength disappeared because I was scared to use it.
But...
why are you suddenly talking about your strength?
It is about Gil Dong.
Look after him.
- What do you mean? - He loses his temper easily.
Look after him so that he does not cause trouble.
All right?
How big of a trouble would that little boy make?
Come on, now.
I understand.
The master...
takes after his father and is beyond brutal.
He used to suck your milk.
Personalities run in the blood, but not in the milk.
Nothing runs in the milk.
- Let us go. - All right.
You lied that the straw was wood.
I was not lying.
Then...
try breaking this.
At least try.
I will tell my father and kick you all out.
I will kick out your brother first.
My back hurts.
It is about Gil Dong.
Look after him.
He would not cause trouble.
Try to break it.
I will just sweep the floor.
I knew it.
He is always lying.
My father told me.
You have to be aware of lowly things because they are all liars.
Master!
Soo Hak!
Soo Hak.
Oh, my.
Gil Dong did it.
That is not true.
I tried to save him from the flying mortar...
How can a mortar fly? That is impossible!
That is...
I told you...
when you started breastfeeding my son.
If you leave one scratch on my child,
I will do the same to yours.
How dare you hurt my son?
I did not sell away your children and let you live together...
but look what happened.
Pull up your skirt!
I will not let you get away with this.
Even if you are a young master, you will not get away with this.
I will break your legs.
I will not let you get away with this. Never!
Master, please forgive...
my wife just this once.
Please.
She used to breastfeed you.
I do not want to eat anymore.
Father.
Ah Mo Gae.
My lady,
I will teach him a lesson today.
Ah Mo Gae!
What is he going to do with him?
Ah Mo Gae!
Father...
Why did you not try to escape?
I knew you would not hurt me.
I was not worried. Not even a little bit.
If you were not worried, why did you cry?
I cried because I was sad.
I saw tears in your eyes.
How can that not make me cry?
Are you saying you want to move out?
I could not cut off my son's wrists.
Instead,
please let us move out.
You should be apologizing with everything you have.
How dare you want to move out?
The dried pollack we received over the summer are...
still piled up in the shed, right?
They are pretty old so they will get spoiled soon.
If you let me have a box of that,
I will repay you with 10 rolls of cotton.
How will you turn dried seafood into 10 rolls of cotton?
I will have to make it happen no matter what.
If I do not keep this promise,
I will not say anything even if you sell Gil Dong off to somewhere far.
Father, is alcohol that good?
I can never have enough of it.
Do you want to try some?
This tastes weird.
Gil Dong.
I am going off to work...
and do not know when I will be back.
Do you want to hear...
an interesting story before I leave?
- An interesting story? - Yes.
Have you heard of the Mighty Child?
I have never heard of that.
There was this barren couple.
They prayed to the skies for 300 days for a baby.
They finally got a baby, and my goodness,
it was the Mighty Child.
He was strong like a bear and quick like a tiger.
No matter how much he got hurt,
he got better overnight. He was like a general.
My goodness. That must be great.
No. That is not the case.
It is great if the Mighty Child is born to a noble family.
But he will be punished if he is born to a servant's family.
Servants put up with everything because we have no power.
But what about the Mighty Child? He is strong, is he not?
Then...
would he put up with things or would he not?
He would not.
That is correct.
A Mighty Child cannot hold back.
That is why he is dangerous.
What happens...
if he cannot hold back?
Everyone dies.
The Mighty Child dies.
His father, mother, and brothers...
will all die with him.
Who kills them?
His Majesty.
The King will not let the Mighty Child...
be born of a servant's family.
What should the Mighty Child do in order for him to live...
and to save his father, mother,
and his brothers?
He cannot say who he is to anyone.
No matter how unfair things are,
the Mighty Child...
must not use his power.
Do you understand?
How will you repay...
a box of rotting, dried seafood...
with 10 rolls of cotton?
What if you get hurt...
during your long journey?
How will I live?
I should not have...
tied you down next to me.
I should have let you...
fly away freely...
with the wind.
Do not say that.
I became someone worthy after meeting you.
Do not say that.
No.
I am sorry, Ah Mo Gae.
You should be strong.
And remember what I have told you.
From now on,
I will become a different man.
Here.
Have the millet cake for lunch.
I packed some grain powder. Do not starve yourself.
I will not.
It is cold. Go inside.
He is so cold.
Father!
Bring some rice cakes on your way back.
I will.
Father!
Bring some honey taffy, too.
Of course. Go back home.
Father!
Come home quickly!
I will!
I will bring the alphabet book for Gil Hyeon...
and honey taffy for Gil Dong!
Father!
(Gaeseong County)
Look at this.
We have a lot of things. Take a look.
Come and take a look.
Come over here.
Hello.
Take a look at this.
I dried these in the southern area. They are chewy and tasty.
Do you want some? Come on, just take a look.
Can you take some?
I have dried pollacks! Come and see.
I dried these in the southern area.
Hey, everyone. I have dried pollacks.
Come and get some dried pollacks!
May I have a bowl of red bean porridge?
- Sure. Take a seat. - No, thanks.
- I will slurp it down and leave. - Okay.
Get him!
- Oh, no. - Come!
- Get him. - Get him!
- Are you okay, Master? - Are you okay?
- Get him! - Go after him!
Are you a human? You drink like a fish.
Why are you not drinking?
Can you not drink?
You.
Why did you help me?
Just because.
Goodness.
That was the first time in my life I had as much alcohol as I wanted.
Goodness. I am a busy man, so I have to go.
Thank you for the drink.
It looks like...
you are a servant who came here to sell those.
You are useless to your master.
No matter how hard you try,
who will pay...
for those rotten, dried pollacks?
Then...
what can I sell to make money here?
Do you know...
what is happening in there?
Envoys from the Ming Dynasty are throwing a banquet.
Those in high offices are...
scared of those envoys from the Ming Dynasty.
- I am sure you know that much. - So what?
Why do you ask?
I am saying that they have a lot of food and women.
If you steal bits of food from that banquet, that is money.
Are we stealing food and not clothes?
He is saying this because...
he has no idea what those in high offices are eating. Yong Gae.
For seafood, they eat...
croaker, jumbo shrimp, prawn, shrimp roe, mullet roe, and abalone.
For meat, they eat pork, head meat, beef, and chicken.
For dessert, they eat quince, bamboo shoot, ginseng,
ginger, and grape preserves.
For alcohol, wine, soju, red soju, and all kinds of rice wine.
- Let me take a breather. - No, that is enough.
But still.
Food rots. Who would buy that?
Kisaeng parlors would.
If you steal food from the envoys and sell them to kisaeng parlors,
you will make a huge profit.
But the thing is,
we are incredibly infamous in this town.
If we get caught,
we will be in big trouble.
So here it is.
During the banquets, they take in a lot of kisaengs.
I will let you go in as a porter to this kisaeng I know well.
Just follow her...
and hide in the shed. That is all.
- Okay? - Will you join us?
Master!
Oh, my.
Over here.
- Let us wrap things up and leave. - Yes, Master.
Go.
- Is that you? - Hand them over.
That is all.
How will I get out?
No, no. You can just stay there.
Mae Wol, who took you in before,
will let you out when the morning comes.
- Do you understand? - Yes, sure.
Close the window. Close it.
Good, good. Hey.
He must be really stupid.
When the morning comes...
and they see the shed empty, he will be caught red-handed.
How could Mae Wol get him out of the shed?
Hey, be quiet.
Let us hurry up and go.
Hurry.
What happened here?
Who did this?
- Oh, no. - What happened?
- Where did it all go? - Goodness.
Somebody, please help.
Goodness.
Somebody, please help.
Goodness.
Goodness. Goodness.
- I think some bones are broken. - Goodness.
Goodness. Goodness.
His teeth as well.
Let me check his legs.
Goodness! Goodness.
Do you remember his face?
Goodness. Goodness.
He will draw what you describe,
so tell him.
Well... His face...
was round and flat.
His eyes looked like a hoe.
As for his nose... He had...
a large mole on the left side of his nose.
Goodness. Goodness.
- Come have a drink. - What is it?
- This is bad. - What is it?
What? What happened to this?
Darn it.
It looked exactly like you.
Look. Look at that.
I tore this down.
What will you do?
Why, what...
Is it him?
- It looks just like him. - Right?
That is right.
Arrest him.
- Arrest him. - Arrest him.
Let go.
Darn it.
Stay still.
Is the thief among them?
Take a close look.
No.
Next.
- No. - Next.
Come on.
Next.
Hurry.
Next.
- No. - Next.
Hold on.
Is this the man?
- This man. - This man?
- This man is definitely... - Definitely?
- not him. - He is definitely not?
How would I not recognize the man who beat me up like this?
Go back and look more!
- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master.
Have your drinks and finish up...
what you are doing.
You are so lazy.
Boss, have a drink.
- No, thanks. - Then I will drink it.
You rats. Do you know how much this costs?
Why does the food taste so good today?
Where is my cut?
Why, you...
crazy fool.
Do you want to get beaten up by a crazy fool?
Why, that rat...
Let me ask you something.
Why did you not turn me in?
Just because.
Come visit me sometime.
You are a good drinker.
You may be useful.
That rat.
Who is he to say I am useful?
Father.
Are you on your way back with the honey taffy?
Gil Hyeon.
Gil Dong.
Your father is coming.
(The Rebel)
- Will you buy me? - Do you trust me?
I will trust in your ambition.
Why did he have to choose Ah Mo Gae...
to take with him?
You cannot cause any trouble...
until we cross over safely.
How dare you block the path...
of a nobleman?
He was after their wealth.
Are you positive?
You should just die.
Why did I not think of this back then?